The art of shaping articles in metal, stone or wood in a lathe was probably known to the ancient Egyptians. Some writers have ascribed the invention of the lathe to Talus, a grandson of Daedalus, about 1240 B.C. Be that as it may, turning in connection with furniture became of interest in Europe during the Renaissance. In Tudor times both turned baluster and bulbous legs were usual. Late in the sixteenth century the boffet chair of Scandanavian origin made its appearance, with its profusion of knobbed turning. Baluster, bulbous, and knob turning were in fashion until the middle of the seventeenth century, when ball or bulb turning had a brief vogue. Then followed the elegant spiral turning of Portuguese and Indian origin, and afterwards, in the reign of William and Mary, the "spindle," the "cup and cover," and "vase" shaped turning. At the beginning of the eighteenth century the fashion for turning declined in favour of the cabriole and square forms for table and chair legs. Towards the end of the century it was again received into favour. During the whole of the century, the turned bedpost remained a usual feature.