An eclectic mix of antiques and traditional contemporary pieces always reflects timeless style.
Furniture has long defined wealth and luxury. From the Jacobean style of the 1600s through the contemporary simplicity of the Scandinavian designs of the mid-1900s, furniture has been used as a personal statement of style and is a tangible display of personal taste for your home. Knowing what you like can be simple because we tend to choose what is pleasing to our own eye, but defining the look that you prefer can make it easier to find pieces that will work with the collection that you currently have. Here is an overview of some popular styles that have stood the test of time and remain popular today.
One of the earliest styles of furniture that is still popular today is Jacobean. It is a style born in England and describes much of the furniture from the reign of King James to King James II, but was highly influenced by Elizabethan style in its early stages. Jacobean furniture is characteristically very sturdy, massive in size, notoriously uncomfortable and made to stand the test of time. The popular pieces were mainly chests, cupboards, wainscot chairs, gate legged round tables, and trestle tables. Pieces were made to be wonderfully decorative and were made with lavish carvings while maintaining straight lines. Often larger pieces of furniture were made with an internal framework covered with panels that completed the piece. The feet are usually straight and square, but later in the period the ball foot was introduced.
William and Mary style antique furniture was better known as Early Baroque in museum circles until the 1720s. It originally comes from Holland and is named for the king and queen who reigned together over England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689-1694. The William and Mary style was the first to move away from the heavy Jacobean style and into a much lighter design that allowed for more flexibility in room design. This style ushered in the technique of dovetailing to join pieces together, making construction lighter and much more innovative.
The legs on William and Mary pieces were fashioned with chisels or other tools while being spun on a lathe. This made the Flemish scroll leg and the longer, more column design style of the trumpet leg very popular with this type of furniture. Artisans of the day would fashion the William and Mary style with scroll and Spanish feet to reflect the elegance of the style. Chair designs were made to be thinner and have high backs with lavish embellishments. Chairs were made with cane or rush, and some were made with cushioned upholstered leather. Wing chairs and daybeds were introduced during this period.
Updated Victorian pairs with Queen Anne and Chippendale elements in this living room/dining room combination.
Queen Anne style furniture dates from the 1720s to approximately 1750 in England, but production in the United States ran up to about 1800, falling within the Colonial period. Because it blends well with the William and Mary style, Queen Anne can be difficult to date. However, the Queen Anne style shifted furniture style towards simple elegance and refinement in American furniture. This style was the first to incorporate the curving cabriole leg that has defined Queen Anne style. The light look of the pad foot is the most common, but spade and trifid feet were used as well, replacing the heavy ball foot of the William and Mary style. Later pieces may have the ball and claw feet, but this look is more indicative of the later Chippendale style.
The Colonial-period style of Queen Anne furniture included broad but overall delicate features with curved elements. The artisans would frequently use simple fan and shell carvings to embellish cabinet fronts or on the knees of chair legs. Chairs would often have yoke-shaped top rails and back splats with a solid vase shape, as with the introduction of the Hogarth chair. Seats are often not upholstered and have a horseshoe or compass shape to them. Space saving became important during this period so the drop leaf and tilt top table features were incorporated into the styles.
Chippendale style furniture was named after Thomas Chippendale, a London cabinetmaker who published The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, a publication he put out several times between 1754 and 1762 as a guide for constructing various pieces of furniture. However, the Chippendale style is American crafted furniture that falls within the Colonial period, 1750-1780, and is conservative in style compared to English designs from the same time period. Closely related to the Queen Anne style, Chippendale style is characteristically made from mahogany, cherry, walnut and maple wood.
The legs on Chippendale styles were inspired by Chinese de
William & Mary chairs, crafted of carved walnut with cane backs and tapestry upholstery, late seventeenth century. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com.
sign elements like the straight Marlborough leg. Many pieces still use the cabriole legs but cabinetmakers from Newport, Rhode Island often used reeded or fluted legs while furniture makers from Philadelphia were influenced by Rococo legs which used elaborately carved legs. The Pembroke style of Chippendale has straight legs but incorporates other ornate characteristics that are common with this style. The ball-and-claw foot was embraced by the American Chippendale craftsmen and made popular during this time. Settees, stools and chairs were upholstered with the finest of fabrics, and arms on chairs were often intricately pierced and carved with ribbon motifs.
Federal style furniture gets its name from the time period following the Revolutionary War. When America was still forming as a country, furniture took on the simplicity of décor that defined the simplicity of the era. The decorative arts of the time moved away from the ornate pieces of the past. Large, heavily carved furniture became less popular as early Americans embraced Neoclassicism that came about during this time, combining the characteristics of Hepplewhite and Sheraton furniture.
Federal is defined by graceful, straight lines, light construction, and refined elegance. Pieces in the Federal style are characterized by sharp geometric forms and simple, straight legs. Although simple in style, craftsmanship varied from town to town, and studying pieces closely can help a potential buyer to narrow down the origin of the piece. The similarities stem from common influences of those who were renowned in their field. For instance, Englishman George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton both impacted the Federal style with their own interpretations of Neoclassical style. Hepplewhite is characterized as crafted of mahogany or having mahogany veneers over cherry wood and is sometimes called “poor man’s mahogany,” while Sheraton’s work made a name by designing square-shaped seating while keeping traditional round legs for the table.
Empire style furniture is French inspired Neoclassical and the name comes from the First French Empire under Napoleon’s rule. The style gained popularity in the United States after 1820 and is considered a more robust phase of the Neoclassical style. In America, the style gained popularity in New York while interpretations of the style were made popular in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.
An Empire-style gilt and mahogany cabinet, late nineteenth century. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com.
The most elaborate forms of Empire style furniture often incorporated columns with rope-twist carvings, paw feet, stars, and acanthus-leaf details. Furniture artisans would often incorporate gold gilding and antique green to simulate aged bronze. Simplified versions of American Empire furniture are frequently referred to as the Grecian style and generally displayed plain surfaces in carved forms. They also incorporated highly figured mahogany veneers or gilt stenciling. Popular pieces of the day are usually massive chests of drawers with scroll pillars and glass pulls or work tables with scroll feet and fiddle back chairs.
Victorian style furniture was made popular in the early 1800s during a time of industrial revolution. This time period ushered in mass production and changed furniture manufacturing forever. Machines had taken over and pieces were made to satisfy a growing demand by a growing middle class. It became fashionable to have a home overflowing with furniture to show status to peers, and Queen Victoria encouraged the production as she identified herself with the middle class. Because of this, there are many pieces of antique Victorian furniture that still survive today. Unfortunately, craftsmanship fell to the wayside and designers no longer had direct contact with customers, and the fast pace of manufacturing also led to poor quality production for many pieces.
The well-known characteristics of Victorian style furniture are detailed carvings on cumbersome pieces. Buttoned upholstery became popular on armchairs that displayed low arms that were scrolled on the front. Balloon back chairs and spoon backs were introduced. Thonet’s steam bent chair was also introduced. Ladies’ easy chairs without arms were created during this time period to accommodate vast, luxurious skirts. When chair arms were added, designers removed the upholstery to help lighten the appearance.
Arts and Crafts style furniture was created to return style back to simplicity, beauty, quality and functionality. This style was made popular in the mid-1900s and was a complete turn from the previously popular Victorian style that was popular during the earlier half of the century. At that time, furniture had become industrialized and Victorian furniture was being made quickly and cheaply. Arts and Crafts furniture was being produced simply, by hand, and embodied solid craftsmanship. The pieces are usually simple with square, straight lines. Curves and arches are simple with eased edges.
A Victorian bedroom suite is reminiscent of a bed and breakfast getaway.
As the nineteenth century came to a close, Arts and Crafts style became popular in homebuilding as well as furniture. The movement used simple designs and durable raw materials. The philosophy was to have little decorative flair so that the furniture would allow for flexibility in surrounding décor. Pieces were designed to impress with functionality as well as comfort. Pieces were made from solid oak and other natural woods so that they would survive over decades of use. Over time, craftsmen added their own personal style to pieces, thereby adding well-known characteristics to the style. Gustav Stickley and Harvey Ellis created Stickley furniture that incorporated lighter pieces into the Arts and Crafts style.
Art Deco style furniture is undoubtedly one of the most popular and long-lasting movements in the history of design. It extends beyond home furnishings and into architecture, interior design and more. It has become the popular style of today even though it began in the early twentieth century, and it combines aspects of Neoclassicism and Art Nouveau. The furniture style reflects the positive attitudes of the post-war society of World War I by incorporating vivid colors and playful motifs.
Art Deco combines metal, wood, glass, stainless steel, and more to create the desired look. Furniture artisans have even used marble and plastics such as Bakelite and lucite in creating simple pieces that could be produced cheaply and easily. Lacquer was used to bypass using exotic woods such as ebony. The lacquer also allowed for deep color and shine that gives a rich look to less expensive materials.
A Chippendale-style carved mahogany cabinet, early twentieth century. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com.
Chair styles in Art Deco often feature curved lines and organic forms that are paired with angular lines that create an attractive contrast. The use of chrome is often paired with leather and create highly collectible pieces. Beds designed in this style are generally characterized by oversized headboards and footboards that are constructed from wood or metal. Cocktail tables became wildly popular during the introduction of this style and are often constructed of chrome legs and glass table tops.
While some styles closely resemble styles that preceded the introduction or creation of each furniture style, each is a unique expression that often defined that era. Craftsman were able to have their names live on in styles that defined their artistry. Knowing the style you prefer can help you to better find pieces to add to your collection, add to your home or complement your current décor.