Italy
Whereas, throughout Europe generally, the Gothic character in furniture and woodwork developed on similar lines, in Italy alone its appeal to the national sympathies was not strong enough for it to become thoroughly assimilated, and there the Byzantine style persisted.
The woods most in use were oak and chestnut. In Italy walnut and cypress were used—the latter being considered especially valuable for chests.
Early examples of Italian chests are decorated with closely spaced incised ornament, filled in with colour.
The Venetians derived from Persia and India a form of marquetry or inlay of ivory, metal and various woods, generally geometric in design. The wood used was stained in order to vary the colour.