Seventeenth Century (Dutch)
In order to gain an idea of a lady's bedroom of the
period, let us visit that of the wealthy Mrs. Lidia van der
Dussen, the daughter of Jacob van Beveren, alderman
of Dordrecht and bailiff and dike-count of the Country
of Strijen. The house is one of those with a high
peaked gable; it has oblong round-headed windows
with small panes set in lead, and a facade decorated
with carvings and arms, while the name of the house is
inscribed in marble at the top. Green and red damask
curtains at the windows give the exterior an air of cheer-
fulness and comfort. We enter. To the right of the
large vestibule, the floor of which is laid in marble tiles
of blue and white, a wide marble staircase leads to a
wide marble hallway. The floor of this is covered with
the finest Spanish matting, and on each side of the hall
are doors opening into various rooms. These heavy
doors are of oak, and are elaborately carved or painted
with cherubs, shepherds and shepherdesses, etc. Opening
one of these doors at the rear—the quietest part of the
house—we find ourselves in a large room, the stone
floor of which is covered with rich rugs, while tiles
ornamented with bright pictorial designs, or mottoes,
cover the walls. The dark and heavy serge curtains
that hang at the windows prevent us from distinguishing
the furniture of the room very clearly ; but we gradually
make out the articles one by one. We note the splendid
array of vases and beakers that adorn the wide mantel-
piece, and also the top of the china cabinet of sacredaan
wood, and the massive and richly carved, or deeply
panelled, linen wardrobe, or kas. A handsome walnut
bedstead stands in one corner of the room. The four

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