434  THE RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT
Long chests served many purposes, even to hold food. The
common chests were placed together and covered with pads to
form beds. The marriage chests containing the bride's posses-*
sions were greatly prized as they were beautifully decorated, often
covered with tooled leather showing the coats-of-arms of both
families.
The refectory tables were plain, with planklike tops resting
upon plain or carved end pieces. Folding-top tables supported
the extra leaf with two pegs that were pulled out. Two small
tables were typical—the Moorish taboret, and a metal table with
a rile top that was used either outdoors or in.
Benches, stools, ottomans, and chairs of different types were
common. A typical Spanish armchair resembled the best Italian
chair. It had a rectangular form, with a high back arched at the
top and bottom, a high, elaborate front stretcher, and turned posts
and side stretchers; it was covered with tooled leather or brocade
held in place with large-headed nails. Some chairs had arcaded
backs. The Catalonian chair was a simple rush-seated chair, with
framework composed entirely of turned spindles; it was painted
in bright colors, often vermilion. The scissors chair was the seat
of dignity of the Moors.
Beds at first were only mattresses placed on raised platforms;
later some heavily draped four-posters were produced.
A peculiarly Moorish development was the use of stamped,
painted, gilded leather for upholstery, screens, chests, floor cover-
ings, curtains, cushions, and table covers in the homes, and for
wall hangings < in palaces and cathedrals. The city of Cordova
became famous for its tooled leather, which other communities
imitated but could not equal. The Moors had a secret way of
treating leather which they had learned from the Egyptians.
Fabrics. The early fabrics of the Spanish Renaissance were
Moorish in design, but later the large, florid Italian designs appeared
in upholstery and drapery* A certain quilted effect is typically
Spanish. Tapestry, brocade, velvet, silk, and cloth of gold were
used in various ways.
Ceramics. Tiles were used for floors, dadoes, door and win-
dow facings, stairs, niches, and fountains. Heavy earthenware
dishes of Spanish majolica combined utility with decorative merit