1. Ch. 20 Recognizing Furniture Styles
Identify factors that influence changes in furniture design
Describe general points that can be helpful in understanding furniture style periods
Compare formal and informal furniture styles
Identify and describe major styles of American furniture from 1600 to present
Describe the types of furniture choices available to today’s buyer

2. Changing Styles Some defined by era first made in
Often named for the queen or king in power at time
Others named for person who originated the design
This chapter = recognize major furniture styles
Some will appeal to you more than others
Keep in mind function and quality

3. Why Designs Change Changing expectations Available materials
Traditional wood, modern synthetic, plastic
Methods of manufacturing
Experiments done with different materials
Changes in lifestyles and tastes
Reflect people who will use furniture
Ex: 18th century – formal and elegant due to the lifestyle of the royal court
Tastes are influenced by lifestyle, fashion, and needs

4. Understanding Furniture Styles
No definate beginning or end to any period
Furniture that incorporates designs from two periods is referred to as transitional
Dates given in this text refer to the period when the styles were most popular in America
Think of furniture in terms of the people who used it and the homes it occupied (not just the dates associated with it)
Most periods begin with simple, basic, designs with decorative features added along the way

5. Understanding Furniture Styles
Formal furniture styles originated in Europe in the 18th century
Some ornate others classical lines
All formal styles were elegant (created for the wealthy)
Furniture for common people made with simple hand tools
Often plainer, smaller versions of formal styles

6. Designs that Last
Small percentage of all furniture sold today is truly new, experimental, or contemporary in design
Many people prefer a contemporary look
Some contemporary styles will be successful and eventually become “traditional”
Well designed furniture lasts over the years
There is a large demand for reproductions (accurate copies of originals)
Many people buy antiques = 100+ years old
Term often used informally to mean “old”

7. Designs from the Beginning
Furniture that was practical for everyday use
Tools and materials were limited resulting in very simple styles
First two successful English colonies were Jamestown and Plymouth
Furniture of this time referred to as Jacobean = dominant style during the time of the pilgrims
Heavy and rectangular, geometrical or floral carvings

8. Ch. 20 Continued
Furniture Styles….

9. Jacobean Furniture style of the 17th century
Named after James I, England’s reigning king
Heavy, rectangular
Geometrical, floral carvings
Rounded legs, spindles made by turning
Stools benches more common than chairs
Homes sparsely furnished – little storage room
Chests used often for storage
Chair tables = popular (had large back for protection from drafts, could be tilted forward to form table)

10. William and Mary
Named for the royal couple who ruled England
Delicate furniture style
Influenced by the court of Louis XIV
Chairs reflected Asian influence
Curved backs replaced straight backs of Jacobean chairs
Seats often woven from rushes (stems from marsh plants)
Marked by a lightness
Fine carvings and trims
Fine veneer used – thin layer of more expensive wood glued to top of less expensive wood
Velvets/silks used for upholstery
Gate leg table became popular – table with legs on each side that swing out to support drop leaves pulled up from the sides

11. William and Mary cont.’
Wardrobes grew = more space needed = chest of drawers became important
Highboy – mounted on legs – developed
Often had brass handles instead of wooden knobs
Became the fanciest piece of furniture in the home

12. Queen Anne Style
Graceful, curved lines, became popular with the middle class during the reign of Queen Anne
Influenced by furniture of the Netherlands and Asia
Slender and flowing
Curved rather than straight lines
Cabriole leg – curves out at the middle and tapers in near the bottom with an ornamental foot
Upholstered furniture became widely available
Fully upholstered wing chair became popular and is still popular today
Windsor chair also became popular – stick legs, spindle back, saddle shaped seat

13. Chippendale
Named from Thomas Chippendale’s book of furniture designs
He was a popular cabinet maker and furniture designer in England
Produced furniture in variety of designs
Wealthy Americans wanted his designs
Distinctive details: s-shaped chair, table legs ending in claw and ball
Furniture was heavier and more solid than other designs

14. Post Colonial Period
Designs influenced by delicate, balanced lines of classical styles
Two basic styles of this period: Federal And Empire
Federal Style
Most popular in NY, straight lined and uncluttered, small and rectangular, light, delicate, symmetrical
Hepplewhite and Sherton = rival English designers, displayed similarities and differences in their designs
Reduced manufacturing costs, made furniture more accessible to middle class
Hepplewhite = tapered legs, decorative backs in the shape of shields, ovals or hearts
Sheraton = rectangular/sqaure backs, slender legs, sometimes decorated with reeding (decorative carving resembling stems of tall grass)

15. Empire Style
Takes its name from the French emperor, Napoleon I
Style spread rapidly through Europe
Style is a continuation of the Neoclassical style
Mostly uncluttered and symmetrical
Duncan Phyfe = famous Empire designer, was a Scotsman
Used classical designs such as leaves, swans, eagles, and dolphins
His shop was known for pedestal tables with brass feet
Also known for his chairs with a back shaped like a small harp

16. Shaker Furniture Plain and simple
Existed along with federal and empire
Shakers – religious group that settled in England
Emphasized utility, not ornamentation
Very plain yet graceful lines and proportions
Didn’t achieve much popularity until the 1800’s but is popular today

17. Victorian Period
Style developed during the reign of England’s queen Victoria from
Very elaborate and fancy designs
Most were simply fads
Fancy upholstery fabrics used
Curving lines, inlaid floral patterns
Ornate and heavy looking
Rosewood, a tropical wood used because of its high luster
Marble, iron, and brass were also used in Victorian furniture

18. Design Reform
Toward the end of the Victorian period designers and furniture makers reacted AGAINST the use of ornamentation
Designers started using materials in a more natural way and made hand crafted furniture
Most famous reformer – William Morris, English artist and designer
Morris paid close attention to basic line, structure, and proportion of furniture
Because the furniture was hand crafted – very expensive

19. Modern Period 1901- Present
Stresses the importance of function
Simpler forms that are abstract
Don’t resemble recognizable forms
Very little decoration
Contained fewer parts
Built out of newly invented materials

20. International Style
Plain, functional style developed by Architect Walter Gropius
Gropius founded the Bauhaus school of design in Germany in 1919
Wanted to unify architecture, interior design, and furniture design
Abandoned the use of wood and other natural materials
Used chrome-plated steel tubing and manufactured materials
Molded plastic and glass often used

21. Contemporary Designs Period we are living in now
General trend toward softening the harshness of modern designs
Difficult to identify contemporary style
They are not confined to one region, nation, or continent
Embodies traditional or national characteristics
Use all kinds of materials (marble, glass, stone, and plastics)
Furniture arranged so that shape stands out against a simple background
Furniture designed for the human form
Modular furniture becoming popular because of it’s convenience and optional value

22. Knowing Furniture Styles
More today than ever
You can analyze your personal tastes by having a knowledge of all main styles
You can create a more pleasing room by having an awareness of various styles
You can better judge new styles as they become available

23. Furniture Style Expert
Make a poster highlighting important facts about the style of furniture you choose
Historic origin/Time Period
Economic/Social Highlights of the time period
5 illustrations of the furniture style with descriptions for each