This word is sometimes used to embrace everything that is movable in a house. If so used it must include among other items, pictures, engravings, tapestry, carpets, textiles, china and pottery, sculpture, glass, hardware, silver, even kitchen utensils. Volumes have been written on most of these subjects, and it is therefore out of place to include them as furniture in a small glossary. Nor is it possible to give a short history of furniture spreading over the whole world and a period of nearly six thousand years. Confining attention to England, furniture may be said to have had little importance, except in churches and feudal castles, until the Tudor period. Previous to that time the whole country seemed to be a field for civil warfare rather than for the arts and crafts. When, however, Henry VII. reached the throne political affairs became more settled, and time and energy could be spared to commerce and a more luxurious manner of living.

Thus the way was made clear for the influences of the Renaissance - a movement which began in Italy in the fourteenth century, and spread gradually through Germany, Flanders and France. The patronage accorded to the movement by Henry VIII. and the wealth of the merchants in the time of Queen Elizabeth caused much attention to be directed to furniture, both of the useful and the ornamental type, and this interest continued to grow even during the Commonwealth.

The luxurious tastes which Charles II. imbibed during his exile, his marriage with Catherine of Braganza, who brought with her Portuguese tastes and influence, and the introduction of walnut in place of oak, were factors which made for a marked improvement in the beauty of furniture. This development was greatly promoted by the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which caused several thousands of the best French artificers to seek refuge and a living in England. About this time a taste for Chinese lacquer furniture arose, which lasted for about a century. When William and Mary came to the throne, Dutch influences and artists brought about further important changes, and by the time of Queen Anne and onwards England had a body of cabinet- and chair-makers second to none in the world. In their efforts towards perfection they were aided or directed by a succession of renowned architects, from Sir Christopher Wren to the brothers Adam, and by such famous workmen and designers as Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Sheraton and others mentioned in this Glossary.