Speaking generally of the furniture of Italy, there are one or two points to be noticed in conclusion. The palace of the Italian nobleman was large and commodious, as distinct from cosy, comfortable and homelike. The walls of the spacious and lofty rooms were hung with richly-decorated leather, tapestry or old damask, and the chairs, tables, chests and cabinets which furnished them were on a large scale, more adapted for receptions and for effect, than for social intercourse and what may be termed fireside comfort. The climate of Italy, the life of the owner of the "palazzo," were all in the direction of "show" furniture, which is not adapted for the use of English people who have not large country houses for its suitable display.

The methods of Italian gilding may be glanced at in passing; by the use of a rather thick preparation, in which red lead was an ingredient, a great deal of burnish in the gold was rendered possible, and when in course of time some of the gilding wears off, the signs of this red preparation showing through the gold leaf, give a rich tone of colour to Italian gilt woodwork, more artistic than when the gilding is quite fresh; in fact, the highly-burnished surface of unworn Italian gilding is somewhat garish and aggressive.