Furniture styles development timeline

FURNITURE STYLE

development

By: JAVEED IQBAL KHAWAJA

•2550-2650's BC Gilded Egyptian Style•2000-2500's BC Ancient Greek Style•700- 800's BC Phrygian Tumulus Style•800- 900's BC Assyrian Nimrud Style•500-1000's BC Chu/Ancient Chinese Style•1400-1500's Middle Age (Baroque) Style•1600-1700's Jacobean Style•1640-1700's Early American Style•1690-1725's William & Mary Style•1700-1760's Queen Anne Style•1700-1780's Colonial Style •1714-1770's Georgian Style•1720-1830's Pennsylvania Dutch Style•1750-1800's Chippendale Style•1780-1820's Federal Style•1770-1800's Sheraton Style•1800-1840's American Empire Style•1820-1860's Shaker Style•1840-1920's Victorian Style•1880-1910’s Art Nouveau•1930-1970's Scandinavian Contemporary Style•1945-1965's Mid-Century Modernism Style•1960-1970's Postmodern Style•1970-Today Modern Style

Furniture Timeline

In next slides we will discuss some common furniture styles.

Baroque (early baroquec.1590-c.1690) (high baroquec.1625-c.1660) (late baroquec.1660-c.1725 )

This style is characterized by the

higher volumes, exaggerated

decorations, colossal sculptures, and huge

furniture

Baroque (early baroquec.1590-c.1690) (high baroquec.1625-c.1660) (late baroquec.1660-c.1725 )

During the 17th century, the Baroque style had a marked effect upon furniture design throughout western Europe. Large wardrobes, cupboards, and cabinets had twisted columns, broken pediments, and heavy moldings. In Baroque furniture the details are related to the whole; instead of a framework of unrelated surfaces, each detail contributes to the harmonious movement of the overall design. The Baroque style was adopted in the Low Countries in the 1620s and extended late into the 17th century, when Germany and England began to develop it. It owed much to the Asian influence that swept over Europe in the 17th century, when several maritime countries, particularly Portugal, the Netherlands, and England, established regular trading relations with India and East Asia. Lacquered furniture and domestic goods were imported from the East, where Asian craftsmen also worked in a pseudo-European style from designs supplied by the traders. Before the end of the 17th century, Asian decorative techniques were being widely imitated in Europe, and the roots of the “Chinese taste” were firmly entrenched. Heavy tropical woods were also brought to Europe, and from these, furniture was made that borrowed much from the prevailing taste for “Oriental” elaboration.

Baroque (early baroquec.1590-c.1690) (high baroquec.1625-c.1660) (late baroquec.1660-c.1725

Jacobean (1600-1690)

Jacobean (1600-1690)The early Jacobean period inspired much early American furniture. The period is named after James I, and covers the right of both James I and Charles I (1603-1649). The middle of the Jacobean period is known as the Commonwealth Style (1649-1660). The late Jacobean (1660-1688) is called the Carloean , after Charles II. Characteristics of these styles are as follows:

Almost all Jacobean furniture is made of oak, a wood well-suited to the massive, sturdy style. Almost all flat surfaces on chairs, chests, etc. are carved in low relief.

The method of construction was very simple; almost all mortise and tennon joints, held together with pegs. The lines are square and rectangular. Some veneering and inlay were used, and many pieces were painted. Upholstering materials were leather, tapestries, crewelwork, wool, linen, silk, and velvet. The most outstanding characteristics were heavy turning knobbed bun feet on chests and tables. Spiral turning was also very popular. Tables were rectangular in shape, with small melon ball turning on the legs. Gate-leg circular tables were introduced at this time as well. Almost all American furniture made in the colonies copied English furniture styles. Most of the American primitive furniture was produced during this period by colonists to made do, because there were few skilled cabinetmakers in the colonies.

Jacobean (1600-1690)

Early American (1640-1700)


Early American furniture, furniture made in the last half of the 17th century by American colonists. The earliest known American-made furniture dates from the mid-17th century, when life in the colonies was becoming increasingly settled. Many of these early pieces were massive in size and were based on styles recalled from earlier days in England. In general, furniture styles followed those of England, with adaptations, after an interval of about 15 years. Instead of shaped legs or feet, American case furniture had legs and feet that were simply downward extensions of the rectangular styles. Decoration consisted of carved flower motifs or lunettes (crescent shapes) and chip carved (executed with mallet and chisel) scrolls and leaves, occasionally highlighted by painting, mainly in black, red, and yellow; but the carving was flatter, less finished, and more primitive than its English predecessors. Turned (shaped on a lathe) split balusters stained to look like ebony were also applied. Joinery was confined to simple rectangular panelling with mortise and tenon joints. Oak and pine were the commonest woods.


William and Mary (1690-1725)

William and Mary (1690-1725)William III and Mary II reigned over England, Ireland and Scotland from 1689. Mary died in 1694, William in 1702.William and Mary style has Flemish, Dutch, French and Chinese influences.It is characterized by trumpet turned legs, terminating in a hoof, claw, or ball feet, padded or caned chair seats, and Oriental lacquer-work.The chair backs were high, and rounded at the top with carving, shaped slightly to fit the shape of your body. The banister back chair, with and without arms, replaced the cane back chair. The back legs of the chairs were splayed out at the bottom. Settees, upholstered or with loose cushions came in the main room.Highboys and lowboys, with six high elaborated trumpet-shaped legs or spiral-turned legs, appeared and rapidly became a favorite of the Colonial craftsmen.Some of the furniture was made of OAK , but the Colonial workmen were finding WALNUT,MAPLE,PINE and other native woods much easier to use.Marquetry became an important feature of decoration often the form of elaborate floral patterns, cockle shell and acanthus leaf, or seaweed.Some of the furniture was painted and gilded.Hardware, made of cast brass, became decorative as well as functional.

QUEEN ANNE(1700-1755)

QUEEN ANNE(1700-1755)

QUEEN ANNE (1700-1755)

“Queen Anne style furniture is a style of furniture design that developed during and around the reign of Anne , Queen of Great Britain . The Queen Anne style is a refinement of the William and Mary style with lighter, graceful, more comfortable furniture. In Britain, the style of Queen Anne's reign is frequently described as “late Baroque” rather than "Queen Anne," while in the United States the term "Queen Anne" describes decorative styles from the mid-1720s to around 1760, although Queen Anne reigned earlier. The cabriole leg has been described as "the most recognizable element" of Queen Anne furniture. Cabriole legs were influenced by the designs of the French cabinetmaker Andre-Charles Boulle and the Rococo style from the French court of Louis XV . But the intricate ornamentation of post-Restoration furniture was abandoned in favor more conservative designs, possibly under the influence of the simple and elegant lines of imported Chinese Furniture. Cabinetmakers replaced the straight, turned furniture legs with more graceful cabriole furniture legs. The furniture leg had an out-curved knee and an in curved ankle. Walnut became the preferred wood along with Cherry and Maple. Imported Mahogany began to be favored. Regardless of the wood, a small amount of Queen Anne furniture was painted white.

QUEEN ANNE (1700-1755)

Queen Anne hall table Hall Table Chinese Tea Cabinet

Chair Queen Anne style Queen Anne ChairQueen Anne coffee table

Chair in Queen Anne style

http://www.museumfurniture.com/queenanne/





COLONIAL STYLE (1700-1780)


American Colonial furniture styles were influenced by some of the style characteristics of the William and Mary and Queen Anne periods. During the mid to latter part of the Colonial era, designs were also influenced by the strength and simplicity of country made furniture designs by Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) of England. In the United States, the Chippendale style was a more elaborate version of Queen Anne style with cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, and broken pediment scroll tops on taller pieces.

The Colonial style combines characteristics of William and Mary, Queen Anne, and Chippendale. Colonial furniture tended to be more conservative and less ornate than English and European furniture of the same style period.


Georgian (1714-1760)

Georgian (1714-1760)

The Georgian style is a more ornate version of Queen Anne with heavier proportions, elaborately carved cabriole legs terminating in a pad or ball-and-claw foot, ornate carvings, pierced back splats and the use of gilding. It is named after George I and George II who reigned England from 1714-1760.

Georgian (1714-1760) – Coinciding with the reign of Kings George I and George II of England from 1714-1760. in terms of furniture, works from this period can be described as more ornate version of Queen Anne with heavier proportions, elaborately carved cabriole legs terminating in a pad or ball-and-claw foot, ornate carvings, pierced back splats and the use of gilding. Early Georgian furniture saw the cabriole leg remaining popular and later these gradually ended in ball and claw feet. During the reign of George I (1714-27) the British Baroque continued to evolve and the Queen Anne Style persisted.The architectural forms of furniture - Palladian style - became popular during the reign of George II (1727-60), influenced by designers such as William Kent who were in turn inspired by 17th century Italian architecture

Chippendale Furniture (1750-1790)

This style is known for the claws at the bottom of chairs, sofas,

dressers and also they are knows doe the detailed

natural design like leaves, fruits,

flowers, and birds.


Chippendale Furniture (1750-1790) The “Chippendale furniture style” was best known between 1749 and 1779. This was the creation of Thomas Chippendale, who published his furniture designs in “The gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director” in 1754. In fact, Thomas Chippendale was the first creator to have a style of furniture named after him. He is known as a great designer but in fact he was a great adapter. Chippendale combined the most important elements of previous styles and the styles of his contemporaries. He adapted from the Queen Anne style and the Louis XV primarily yet took a few ideas from the Gothic and embraced Chinese styling. In fact, he developed a style known as Chinese Chippendale, although it has never been as popular as some of his other designs.Thomas Chippendale had his own originality that added to his furniture designs. Chippendale was a versatile designer, a master wood carver, a skilled cabinet maker, and an excellent business man.


FEDERAL STYLE

FEDERAL STYLE (1780-1820)Federal furniture was at its peak between 1780-1820 in American society, and it derived its main inspiration from the neoclassical style that was simultaneously, the trend in Europe. The distinct characteristics of Federal furniture make it a firm favorite even today.Federal style furniture, also known as neoclassical furniture or American neoclassical furniture outside the United States, is thestyle of furniture that gained prominence and became synonymous with the Federal period in American history. This period converged with the period right after the Revolutionary War around 1789, when the Federalists and anti-Federalists were at loggerheads over the new proposed direction of the United States Government. The peak period for Federal furniture was said to be between the 1780's and the 1820's. The areas that were most captivated by this style were mostly the large port cities on the Eastern coastline like New York, Boston, Philadelphia , Charleston and Baltimore. The reason for this was primarily the collection of affluent wealthy families in these cities that had close ties to European culture. And after all, it was the European culture and the English furniture designs in particular of Sheraton and Hepplewhite that influenced the American Federal furniture. Sheraton and Hepplewhite also

FEDERAL STYLE

emerged as influential furniture styles around the same time period. Inadvertently, these cities also became the production and manufacturing centers of this furniture. Federal furniture is more than just a style or a trend, as it became synonymous with the times. History cannot be complete until all facets of civil life adopts the prevalent trends and cultures, and studying the rise and prominence of this furniture style simply highlights this fact.

Shaker (1820-1860)

This style is based on pure

simplicity. It was created to be simple but useful.

Shaker (1820-1860) – Shaker furniture represents a substantial contribution of the utilitarian lifestyle of the religious group, the United Society of Believers. Living in self-contained communities, Shaker craftsmen were responsible for creating “beauty through utility”. Shaker furniture was often constructed from maple, and sometimes cherry, birch, and walnut: furniture woods that were readily available within their communities. Shaker chairs, including side chairs used at meetings, and rocking chairs for the elderly, sewing rockers for Shaker women, made without arms to allow access to the sewing basket, are all important contributions to American furniture design. Shaker communities continue to exist today, where furniture craftsmen continue to construct beautifully practical, handmade furniture pieces in small numbers, with careful attention to detail. Shaker style is characterized by straight tapered legs (tilted legs on chairs, with ball and socket construction) and mushroom shaped wooden knobs.

Shaker (1820-1860)

Victorian (1840-1910)

There was not one dominant style of furniture in the

Victorian period. Designers rather used

and modified many styles taken from

various time periods in history like Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan,

English Rococo, Neoclassical and

others. The Gothic and Rococo revival style were the most common styles to be

seen in furniture during this time in

history.

Extending for a period of 70 years during the reign of Queen Victoria, the Victorian era in England saw noted changes from its early days to late Victorian style. During its early years, no single style emerged as dominant. Instead, furniture was styled around influences from earlier periods, including Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, Renaissance, English Rococo, and Neo Classical. Ornamentation was extensive, and, in the opinion of some, a bit overdone. Mahogany and rosewood were often used, and, to a lesser extent, oak in furniture designed for the masses. Iron and paper maiches were also used in some pieces. During the latter part of the Victorian era, the Arts and Crafts and the Aesthetic or Art Furniture movement were born. A number of antique styles were also revived. Late Victorian furniture was known for its straight lines and solid woods with dark stains and less upholstery than earlier Victorian pieces. Painted decorations replaced carvings. The Victorian period was the first furniture style to be mass produced.

Victorian (1840-1910)

ART NOUVEAU(1880-1910)

This style is characterized

by sudden curves

and dynamic flowing

lines

Art Nouveau (French for New Art) was an international movement and style of fine art, architecture and decorative art that peaked in popularity at the turn of the twentieth century (1890–1905). Art Nouveau was in part influenced by the naturalistic details of the Rococo style and took from the Art and Crafts movement its reverence of good craftsmanship. Art Nouveau had two strands, the European style which flourished in France, Belgium and Czechoslovakia and was characterized by sinuous, elegant lines inspired by nature and the female form; and the more austere and geometric approach of the Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.(http://www.slideshare.net/jik_1959/furniture-by-charles-rennie-mackintosh-2012#)Art Nouveau was developed by a brilliant and energetic generation of artists and designers, who wanted to create an art form appropriate to the modern age but inspired by nature and beauty. Society was changing tremendously at this time, the Industrial Revolution brought many more people into the burgeoning cities, creating urban life as we now know it. Technological advances and new materials such as cast iron allowed artists to create previously impossible shapes and structures. While many artists, designers and architects were excited by these new technologies and lifestyles, others retreated into the past, embracing the world of fantasy and myth in their designs.

