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Decorations: Crusades

The Crusades had a great influence on art and luxury by the introduction from the East of many precious objects. The Roman style of ornamenting jewellery gave way to the Gothic, showing all the richness borrowed from Saracenic art. The amount of precious stones, spoils of the Crusades, was enormous. The immense wealth amassed by King Tancred is stated by an old German historian, quoted by Scheidius, to have been almost fabulous. When after his death, the Emperor Henry entered the palace, he found the chairs and tables made of purest gold, besides one hundred and fifty mules' loads of gold, silver, and precious stones.

When Richard I. took Cyprus, among the treasures were large quantities of precious stones and golden cups, together with "sellis aureis frenis et calcaribus," showing the luxury of the Moslems.