Wilkinson, John Gardner; Birch, Samuel [Mitarb.]: The Egyptians in the time of the pharaohs: being a companion to the Crystal Palace Egyptian collections (London, 1857)

110

DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE EGYPTIANS.

to caprice, or the purpose for which they were intended; some
being square, with or without fancy feet; and others flat,
circular, or pointed at the top, with folding or sliding lids.
They were either of ebony, inlaid with ivory, of hard or of
ordinary soft wood, or painted to imitate some rare quality;
and many were of common sycamore, deal, or cedar, covered
with a coating of stucco, on which various subjects were painted
in rich colours.

Some were intended for ornamental, others for sacred and
funereal, purposes; and the most remarkable were the rich
canopies placed over the throne of a king, and the statues of
the gods. These ranked among the most important works of
the cabinetmaker; and they were not only richly decorated
with carving, but were inlaid with coloured porcelain and gold,
like the sacred shrines, or arks, standards, and other wooden
ornaments used in the temple. Numerous fancy boxes and

fW. 81.) 1

trinkets were also made for domestic use. Those intended for
the toilette were frequently in the form of animals, geese, fish,