CANISTER--The ancient canister was a pannier or basket, the name being appropriated to its modern use when tea came into the market.

CHAFING-DISH--The name appropriated to modern cooking vessels was originally applied to a dish upon which perfumes were burnt, and in Roman times was an ensign of honour.

COMFIT BOXES--Boxes divided into compartments in which were rare spices, handed round with dessert.

FINGER-GUARD--Horn finger-guards were formerly used by writing masters to protect their nails when nibbing pens.

FIRE-SCREEN--Fire-screens are noted as early as the fourteenth century, long before they were filled with needlework; they were made of wicker, described by a sixteenth-century writer as "a little wicker skrene sett in a frame of walnut tree."

SCRIP--Scrips were hung from girdles, and differed, among the chief varieties being the shepherd's scrip, the pilgrim's scrip, and the traveller's scrip, a kind of purse or wallet.

STANDISH--The old name for an ink horn or vessel, afterwards applied to the stand or dish, or, as we call it now, inkstand, which contained the box or vessel for ink, and another for blotting powder.

TRENCHER--A wooden platter, a term more particularly applied to the beautiful hand-painted circular boards for sweetmeats or cakes.

In conclusion, in the foregoing pages most of the best-known household curios--regarded as such by the collector--have been pa.s.sed in review.

The list is, however, by no means exhausted, for as search is made among the relics of former days many little-known objects come to light, and as isolated examples find their way into public and private collections.

CHATS ON HOUSEHOLD CURIOS

BOOKS FOR COLLECTORS

CHATS ON ENGLISH CHINA.

By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON OLD FURNITURE By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON OLD PRINTS.

By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON COSTUME.

By G. Woolliscroft Rhead.

CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK.

By E. L. Lowes.

CHATS ON ORIENTAL CHINA.

By J. F. Blacker.

CHATS ON OLD MINIATURES.

By J. J. Foster, F.S.A.

CHATS ON ENGLISH EARTHENWARE.

By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON AUTOGRAPHS.

By A. M. Broadley.

CHATS ON PEWTER.

By H. J. L. J. Ma.s.se, M.A.

CHATS ON POSTAGE STAMPS.

By Fred. J. Melville.

CHATS ON OLD JEWELLERY AND TRINKETS.

By MacIver Percival.

CHATS ON COTTAGE AND FARMHOUSE FURNITURE.

By Arthur Hayden.

CHATS ON OLD COINS.

By Fred. W. Burgess.

CHATS ON OLD COPPER AND BRa.s.s.

By Fred. W. Burgess.

CHATS ON HOUSEHOLD CURIOS.

By Fred. W. Burgess.