Flemish
The early Flemish style in Belgium closely followed the Italian and French work hut their later designs were made much plainer and they developed a type that had strong characteristics of its own. It was a style very suitable for oak, the principal wood used. The Flemish sty le, which gets its name from that part of Belgium called Flanders, was very similar to the Elizabethan and Jacobean in England, and no doubt the latter named styles were considerably influenced by it.
Spain
The furniture and ornament of Spain and Portugal was strongly influenced by the Moorish style owing to their close proximity to Morocco. They were never great furniture builders, and old Spanish furrituie is very scarce. During ttieir conquest of Belgium and the Netherlands, some of the'r characteristics found their way into those countries and what is known as the Spanish foot, is often seen on Flemish and Dutch furniture. Spanish Renaissance Chair, showing Spanish Font
Louis Quinze Xv
Louis XV. was distinctly a rococo style straight lines were avoided whenever possible. The barocco type of ornament of the Louis XIV. style was a heavier and well-lalanced type, while the rococo ran in all directions, regardless of structural features. It was a succession of broken curves, shell ornament, wreaths, flowers, etc., etc., designed for an age of frivolousness, licentiousness and excessive luxury. Ornamentation was carried to the extreme in fantast-c combinations a style principally...
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Kensington Muse un C rred r'adetf w'as' Queen Anne Cphol-tered Settee, with Plain Cabriole Lee and Koo Foot. Queen Anne Cphol-tered Settee, with Plain Cabriole Lee and Koo Foot. Queen nn Carved CI air, with Turned Vnderfi mir . Queen Ann Upholstered Chair, about 1710. Queen nn Carved CI air, with Turned Vnderfi mir . Queen Ann Upholstered Chair, about 1710. Qu lt .cn Anne Upholstered Chair, vith Loose Cushion, 1705. Qu lt .cn Anne Upholstered Chair, vith Loose Cushion, 1705. Uueen Anne Toilet...
Louis Seize Xvi
The Louis XVI. style was a return to classical principles. While Louis XV. was all curves, Louis XVI. was characterized by straight lines and simplicity n construction and is easily distinguished from the former for that reason. To the refined taste of Queen Marie Antoinette is given a great deal of credit for the existence of this style. It was also greatly influenced by the discoveries of antique classic ornament at Herculaneum and Pompeii. The straight leg was nearly always used turned,...
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French Renaissance Chair, late loth Ce'i,tur gt . F'rem.h Renaissance Bed, If-th Cectiry. CHny Muse'im, Pa-is. French ReTjfissanee Hern ill Cabinet, .in South Kensmgtcr Muset-T
Chippendale
Thomas Chippendale was the first designer to so impress his personality on his work that the particular style that he helped develop has borne his name ever since. He was a carver by trade, but. later started in business in St. Martins Line, London. His book, the Gentlemen's and Cabinetmakers' Directory, was published in 1754 and a later edition in 1762. Chippendale chairs are probably better known than any of his other work. They are noted for their beautiful proportions and delicate carvings....
Grecian
Grecian arr reached the height, of its glory from three to four centuries B. C. Their work constitutes what is known today as Classic Art. The characteristics of thei' art were very different from those of Egypt and other oriental countries. They established the three orders of columns, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, and showed great taste and refinement in ornwment and proportion. Their most famous work was or. their temples and buildings, but they designed a great variety of furniture which...
Gothic
Gothic first put in an appearance alwut the year 1200, and quickly spread all over Europe. It was chiefly an architectural style, but its influence is clearly seen in the furniture, which at this period was closely allied to architecture The high pointed arch and geometrical forms were characteristic of the style. The trefoil and quatrefoi were the chief motifs used in carving. Cupboards, chests, tables, beds, and cabinets were the principal pieces of furniture made during this period. The...
Victorian Era
During the early years of the 19th century, an unsuccessful attempt was made to copy the Empire style, but after the brilliant work of the 18th century, English furniture design ing sank to a low ebb. All sorts of cheap, llimsy ornaments were used and it. was not until the middle of thej ury that styles began to improve. In 1868, Mr. Charles Eastlake, an architect, published Hints on Household Taste, which was responsible for what is known as the Eastlake style William Morris was a designer and...
Lart Nouveau
This style was brought prominently before the public at the Paris Exposition m 1900. The style is based on naturalistic principles. Motifs are the root of the tree, trunk, branches, leaves and vines twisted into all manner of s'nai gt es. It had its greatest run m Austria and France, but has not proved very satisfactory for furniture and is probably better adapted to metal work or wall and cloth designs. Cabinet Shown at Paris Exposition, 19U0. Cabinet Shown at Paris Exposition, 19U0. Univ...
Heppelwhite
Heppelwhite was the style to follow Chippendale. George Heppelwhite died in 178G and the furniture business he had established was carried on by his widow, Alice, under the name of A. Heppelwhite amp Co. The first edition of his l ook, 'The Cabinet-maker and Upholsterer's Guide, did not appear until two years after his death. Heppelwhitc's designs were of a severe straight line style l gt ased on classic principles. His shield-backed chairs are his best known type. The square, tapering leg with...
Renaissance In France
The French Renaissance period began during the reign of Frances I. and ran about one hundred years, ending with the formal work of Louis XIV. It followed along lines of the Italian Renaissance but was coarser and heavier in ornamental detail. Much of the work was done by Italian designers, but still it became imbued with the French Spirit and developed strong characteristics of its own. By this time the Renaissance movement had developed furi.iture to where special study was given this branch...
Colonial Furniture
The name of this style is derived from the Colonial days of the United States and was the outgrowth of the furniture brought over from the mother country of the various colonies. The New England and Virginia settlements were made by the English, and the - furniture was mostly of the Georgian period, Chippendale, Sheraton, Adam, etc. New Orleans was settled by the French and here we find furniture of the Louis and Empire periods. To New York came the Dutch with their Dutch and Flemish furniture,...
Renaissance In Italy
The Renaissance st gt le originated in Italy about 1143 to 1564 and reached a degree of excellence that has never been equalled elsewhere. It was a revolt from the stiff, formal arrangement of the Gothic and the return of classic principles. Great artists worked during the Renaissance period in Italy such men as Titan, Raphael, Palladio and Michael Angelo being identified with the movement. Workman from Italy went to France, England and other countries, and the style spread all over Ebrope with...
Elizabethan
Queen Elizabeth was the last sovereign of the House of Tudor and the architecture and furniture made during her reign is known as Elizabethan. The Renaissance movement was gradually making a change in the furniture of England. The workmen brought over from Italy, where the new style had made its greatest progress, were imitated by the native artisans, but not with the skill and delicacy' of ornament tnat characterized the Italian work. However, they developed a sturdy, substantial style that...
Ancient Roman Furniture
The Roman National Art was developed largely under the guidance of Greek teachers and, consequently, has many similar features, but their work in the Classic Art was much more highly ornamented than the Greek style. They established the round arch and brought architecture to a high state of development. They adopted the Greek orders, Doric, Ionic, and Cor'-ithian, and added one of their own, cal ed Composite. Many specimens of Roman Classic Art were found when the buried cities of Pompeii and...
Islam Or Moorish
When the Moslem power spread abroad, a new style followed, known as Islam or Moorish. The Moslem religior prohibited the use of human or animal forms in paintings or decorations, so their art was confined to geometric and vegetable ornament. They were very skillful in artistic interlacing and interweaving of araliesque and geometrical ornament and the use of rich and vivid coloring. Their use of the horseshoe and ogee arch was another characteristic feature of the period. Their work was...
Byzantine
During most of the earty periods, religion was one of the chief motives for a change in style, and when Christianity became predominant during the Byzantine Empire, ancient classic art was put aside. The old heathen temple and its decorations did not satisfy these early Christians, so they developed a style which is known as Byzantine. One of its chief characteristics was the ornamentation. The peculiar sharp poi-itert acanthus leaf being used extensively, mosiacs and ch decorative effects were...
EARLY ENGLISH RENAISSANCE Tudor
The early Renaissance in England was a mixture of classic and Gothic detail crudely drawn and developed into what is known as the Tudor style under the first four Sovereigns of the House of Tudor, but. more especially Henry VIII. He gave encouragement to the revival and brought Italian artists and artisans to England, who left work that had its influence on the English designer. As in the Gothic days, furniture still closely followed architecture and was st'll hea y, cumbersome and...