Every book ought to have a definite reason for its being. In the present instance that reason is that hitherto there has never been a book of brief compass and succinct arrangement for ready reference to tell the reader what he wished to know and all that he needed to know in order to identify and classify any piece of period furniture, whether original or a reproduction, that he might own or intend to buy. The Illustrated Chronological Key at the beginning of the book is of inestimable value in showing at a glance the dominant characteristics of each period style. For the idea and plan of this Key the authors are wholly indebted to Edward Stratton Holloway, Esq., of the J. B. Lippincott Company, and they here desire to express their full acknowledgment and appreciation. In the preparation of the following pages the authors have made an extensive and independent examination and analysis of much furniture in many places and trust that they have thereby been enabled to correct some inadvertent errours and inaccuracies and supply some omissions of other books dealing with this subject; they have also made an exhaustive study of the available sources and authorities.

They desire to express their obligations to the authors whose works are named in the bibliography, but especially their indebtedness to the illuminating publications of Mr. Macquoid, Mr. Cescinsky, Mr. Foley and Mr. Lockwood. To Mr. Lockwood they are also indebted for his kind permission to quote in extenso from his "Colonial Furniture in America" the ingenious and original analysis of the forms in which the cyma curve and its combinations appear. For many courtesies and not a little assistance they record their sincere thanks to Messrs. Richard W. Lehne, Hale and Kilburn Co., E. J. Holmes and Co., the Chapman Decorative Co., James Curran and A. F. C. Bateman, all of Philadelphia; Cooper and Griffith, Arthur S. Vernay, H. Burlingham and C. J. Dearden, of New York; C. J. Charles, Gill and Reigate and Maple and Co., of London and New York; Robson and Sons of London; the officials of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Arts, Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the authorities of Girard College, the staff of the Library Company of Philadelphia, the publishers of American Homes and Gardens, House and Garden, House Beautiful and Suburban Life, and to a great number of private individuals, especially Richard A. Canfield, Esq., of New York, to whom specific acknowledgment is made in the course of the work.

In certain places slight repetitions purposely occur, as it was deemed advisable to iterate some points for the sake of the emphasis due them. The illustrations have been made from authentic examples of the periods to which the several pieces belong and acknowledgment to the possessors duly noted. In conclusion the authors hope that the carefully digested and systematic arrangement of facts which they have endeavoured to set forth in logical array may prove helpful to all furniture lovers and stimulate a study that must inevitably work for a general betterment in the adorning of our homes.

Harold Donaldson Ebeblein Abbot McClure.

Philadelphia, September, 1914