Introduction: Rooms may be decorated in two ways: by a superficial
application of ornament totally independent of structure, or by means of
those architectural features which are part of the organism of every
house, inside as well as out. In the middle ages, when warfare and
brigandage shaped the conditions of life, and men camped in their
castles much as they did in their tents, it was natural that decorations
should be portable, and that the naked walls of the mediaeval chamber
should be hung with arras, while a ceil, or ceiling, of cloth stretched
across the open timbers of its roof....... This early works is a
fascinating and comprehensive look at the subject and will appeal
greatly to any one interested in Early House decor. Many of the earliest
books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now
extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these
classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the
original text and artwork.