The Egyptian style had a great deal of influence on Greek and Etruscan Art. Though the household furniture of the Egyptians was somewhat limited, the cabinet-makers produced beautiful inlaid work at a very early period. Egypt was poor in timber, and therefore cedar and other woods were imported and ebony and ivory were procured from Ethiopia and Mesopotamia. Human and animal forms, as well as floral devices, were used for the decoration of furniture, which was adorned with brilliant color designs. The wood was sometimes gilded and sometimes inlaid with precious metals, stones and colored glass.

"For furniture, various woods were employed, ebony, acacia or sont, cedar, sycamore, and others of species not determined. Ivory, both of hippopotamus and elephant, was used for inlaying, as also were glass pastes; and specimens of marquetry are not uncommon. In the paintings in the tombs, gorgeous pictures and gilded furniture are depicted.

For cushions and mattresses, linen cloth and colored stuffs, filled with feathers of the waterfowl, appear to have been used, while seats have plaited bottoms of linen cord or tanned and dyed leather thrown over them, and sometimes the skins of panthers served this purpose. For carpets they used mats of palm fibre, on which they often sat. On the whole, an Egyptian house was lightly furnished, and not encumbered with so many articles as are in use at the present day." 1