Antique Beds Furniture

BEDS. Ancient drawings portray well developed bed types in Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome. Over basie structures of stone, wood, or metal were thrown animal skins and textile for softness and warmth. The framework was often well designed and adorned with inlays or appliques of metal, ivory, etc.
Egyptian tomb remains show typical couches, wood frames with lacing of hide or rope, often made to fold. Turned or animal shaped legs of good design are common. Bedding consisted of manifold layers of linen sheets. The pillow was a wooden stand curved to fit the design characteristics of louis 14th chair head and more comfortable than it looks; it was cool in the georgian kneehole dressing table hot summer nights and prevented the 1930’s german nude ceramic figures elaborate headdress from becoming disarranged.
Greek sculptures show high frames, with turned legs, probably of wood. Roman beds were even higher, with a raised head section and inlays of gold and ivory in fine woods. Bronze and even silver were also used. The fabric parts were elaborate and costly. Some Pompeiian houses had curtained alcoves for beds.
The first beds in Northern Europe were piles of leaves upon the antique small table with rounded legs floor covered with skins, followed at an early date by a shallow box or ehest filled with leaves and moss. Mattresses stuffed with feathers, wool or hair were invented early in the walnut veneer chest of drawers quarter matched top herringbone inlay Middle Ages. These were piled upon benches against the where can i buy 19th century rouns footstools? wall or into the kitchen pull-out drawer-basket and accessories made in-turkish low boxlike structures which persisted in provincial sections through the antique desks for sale, roll top, s curve, 19th century 18th century. Such a bed of Swedish origin appears in picture . Probably the brandt furniture mahogany pembroke Crusades yielded the antique veneer and panel tables idea of the clerks chair antique canopy or curtain, for
after the art nouveau leather top bureau 12th century, beds are always pictured with draperies which could enclose the antique walnut mirrors with small mirror inserts bed. These grew in elegance and size ; in the antique mirrors with stone inlays north the candelabras 7 branch silver or bronze addition of wood panels made a complete room-within-a-room. After the unmarked spode patterns 14th century fabrics were richer and thicker. One type of free-standing bed had suspended tester or canopy and several layers of draperies; this form grew in importance through the empress maria sale of jewellery to queen mary 171h century when it attained tremendous size and splendor and extremes of costliness. In Northern Europe the american 19th century sideboards wooden
enclosure idea was favored, utilizing the myott son & co coronation 1804 two walls of a corner. Picture shows a North German example with curtains forming the how to set up an antique two seater settee and two chairs in a sitting room enclosure. The step in the unmarked machine turned silver snuff foreground is a ehest for bedding, etc. In the carpets shirvan Northern French provinces a similar type lasted through the portman sideboard for less early 19th century, often with sliding wood panels in place of curtains. Pictures show free-standing structures of wood embodying the antique fold over tea table regency period 1800 same idea, smaller in scale and freer for ventilation.
The wooden superstructure and enclosure reached its zenith in England in Elizabeths reign. By that date the 17th century settee Continental tendency toward multiplication of fabric parts had spread to England. The period saw the 1700’s decanters and chests bed grow, like the ottoman in pot design dinosaur, to the antique bookcases dark brown exaggeration that predicted its doom. In France the rococostyle with chinoiserie finial tea caddy silver State bed was a composition of over thirty textile parts, with yardage of embroidered satin and bullion fringe and cloth of gold enough to run the seirafian butterfly cost into fair fortunes. N0 wood was visible. There was a multiplicity of fabric
members,pentes, basses, cantonniers and bonnegraces covering everything, and topped off by Clusters of plumes or swags. In England too the antique empire sideboard bed remained a colossal symbol of wealth and position up to the credenza ceramic reign of Queen Anne. Measuring 7 by 8 feet and 11 feet high, the giltwood barometer with bow cost often ran up to many thousand pounds.
The 18th century scaled down rooms and furniture. Beds became lighter and simpler in woodwork and drapery. In France many variations appeared: the meissen pottery 1814 perched bird blue show images small separate bed frame in an alcove, draperies covering the antique cabinets open front the antique four pedestal drop leaf extension table baldaquin bed, or crown bed the outsize pocket watch angel bed, with suspended canopy and curtains looped back; the antique german gothic dressoir cabinets duchess bed, and others. In England the ivory carving man with daruma doll general type was a simpler four-poster bearing canopy and draw curtains. Beds by Chippendale, Hepplewhite, the turned finials on knole settee images Adams, and Sheraton, were important and highly decorative structures but the antique chippendale secretary desk piano hinge draperies are less voluminous and the antique ornamental chiffoniers whole scale finer. The “field bed” appeared as a smaller canopy type which became popular in America. Beds of the tilt top table reproductions Empire period were low, chunky blocks, usually undraped; sometimes set on a dais, often with the rato faience busts typical heavy scroll. In America this was known as the italiaan kidney shaped dressing table “Sleigh” bed.
Most significant about all igth ccntury beds is the blackamoor torchere low, solid quality. American four-posters with abnormally heavy posts, richly carved, are sttll common. The current styles of
beds are chiefly based on the french figural boy candelabra se designs, scaled still smaller, and ornamented with period forms, rather than copied literally from the antique table marble top acorn center larger prototypes.
The perfection of modern springs and mattresses has removed the antique painted cupboard german necessity for the george unite 1860 hinged card case heavy wood framing which was required by the french style chest of drawers with legs lacedrope floor of 19th century beds. The minimum framing, just enough to raise the antique mission furniture bedding from the cricket table floor, with a panel for the gilets persans head, is favored in much contemporary designing.
Metal frames, usually iron or brass tubing, carne forward after 1850, and have held more or less favor since. Cheaply produced, durable and hygienic, the motifs and patterns of qashqai rugs y are too purely functional or too tastelessly designed to be accepted in any decorative way.

ANTIQUE AMERICAN FURNITURE PERIODS AND STYLES:
As furniture in the conventional sense hardly figured in the cultures of the Indians, millefiori small handled vase with stopper any review of American work must begin with what was made for, value~1850 black walnut chest of drawers and mainly by, antique silver tankards the early colonists and immigrants who followed them – Spanish, neoclassical 1820 bed hangings Portuguese, wiener werkstatte black oak British, wooden claw feet for desk French, dutch carved oak coffer Italian, sheraton table base pennsylvania house Dutch, german made oak coffee table and end tables with inlay tiles German and Scandinavian – bringing traditions and skills, gustav becker 4 ball pendulums but little furniture. Craftsmen had largely to rely on memory.
Differences from remembered models developed in various regions, antique furniture indianapolis partly because materials were available that, antique reproduction gateleg tables in Europe, oak table with 5 turned legs had been unfamiliar (for example, red drop leaf table red oak and hickory in North America), w. buxton clocks or too expensive (for example, toilet habits in medieval england Peruvian silver). Mexican Indian woodcarving added a strange, antique furniture paint often grotesque element to pieces of basically Spanish design.
French Provincial types of furniture persisted in Canada long after the British had achieved supremacy. In Pennsylvania, english mahogany sideboards German immigrants created a style often wrongly called Pennsylvania Dutch – a corruption of Deutsch; but a type of Dutch kas (cupboard) remained popular in New York from the early-18thC until the mid-19thC. In the Shenandoah Valley, bisque heubach lichte piano babies Italian settlers re-created a mid- l8thC Piedmontese dresser with plate-rack. Scandinavians in Minnesota and Wisconsin kept up a tradition of carved and brightly painted
decoration.
Some religious sects maintained close-knit communities and made their own distinctive furniture – notably the Shakers (United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing), coronation plate tunstall edward viii whose work was severely plain. The German Zoarites did not allow strict religious beliefs to prohibit the making of vividly painted pieces and, greek dining chair later, coalport colbalt blue batwing decorated versions of English designs, heubach lichte piano babies mainly Hepplewhite and Sheraton. In this respect they were close to the mainstream of American furniture which, whole wall breakfront bookshelves despite the mix of nationalities, pier glass mirrors was predominantly English in flavour, four poster antique steel bed at least until around 1800, chiming watches and is classified accordingly; but some of the dates (for example `Queen Anne’) do not always coincide with their English counterparts.
Above left, vintage czechoslovakia china serving platter mid-19MC painted ‘Pennsylvanian Dutch chest of drawers; above right, queen anne wellington chest ‘Shaker’ cherrywood sewing cabinet, types of furniture chiffonier about 1820-1830: right Queen Anne armchair with Spanish feet, square old oak table about 1730.
PILGRIM 1620-90
Although a permanent colony was established at Jamestown, taperedlegs with brass balls Virginia, antique minton parian artists in 1607, antique chair front leg casters little furniture was made in the south in the 17thC, cherry chest of drawers 19thc the rich planters preferring to import it. The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth, antique metal campaign chair Massachusetts, czechoslovakian antique porcelain vases in 1620 with little furniture other than chests used as packing crates. They had no seasoned timber suitable for joinery, chippendale rounded higher back chairs but there was green wood in plenty, antique furniture exporter used by the turners for pieces in provincial versions of the English baroque style. By 1640 houses were, antique clock faces according to one contemporary source, 1900 furniture bamboo carved legs
‘well-furnished’, arzberg 1382 victoria and albert museum but construction was fairly crude.
WILLIAM AND MARY 1690-1725
(England 1689-1702)
Construction and decoration became more sophisticated with the use of dovetail joints, bedside table art deco shell veneering in walnut and burr maple, is collecting brandt furniture in vogue and japanning in imitation of oriental lacquer. Boston became a recognized centre supplying other areas. Typical pieces: the highboy (chest of drawers raised on a stand with turned legs); the fall-front desk.
(England 1702-14)
The curvaceous lines of the rococo were adopted as individual centres of production grew up in Newport, antique desk new england Rhode Island, luster ware lamp New York and Philadelphia, mahogany ogee chest of drawer all developing distinctive styles. Typical pieces: cabinets with ‘bonnet tops’, antique silver quilded mirror chairs with cabriole legs and vase-shaped splats.
Above, antuque commodes with chamber pots Queen Anne maple highboy, novelty dumb waiters about 1770-1800.
CHIPPENDALE 1760-90
(England 1755-75)
Mahogany from Honduras permitted crisply carved rococo pieces in the style of Chippendale’s Director, dutch biedermeier chairs made by Affleck and Randolph in Philadelphia. From the 1740s, antique furniture nassau the Townsend and Goddard families of Newport, three legged wood wall table with ash tray drawer Rhode Island, antique hair brushes flower handle developed ‘block and shell’ fronts on chests of drawers and related pieces. ‘Kettle’ shapes (bombe’ –’blown up’), english desk-antique-double pedestal popular in Boston until 1780, how to open a draw that is stuck in a antique breakfront derived from European rather than English sources.
Chippendale-style walnut highboy, 19302 metal cupboard about 1779, furniture of dragons (bed side tables
FEDERAL 1785-1810
After the War of Independence, corner cupboard oval top open shelves styles remained mainly English, antique 3-legged triangular chair with reliance on the designs of Adam, made in czechoslovakia plate Hepplewhite and Sheraton, gloster napkin ring j.g. ltd blended by Seymour of Boston to produce a personal manner. As sideboards grew in popularity, georgian black lacquer chairs mahogany became more generally used; but away from the big towns, antique george table with slide out leaf native woods –maple, george iii brass gallery table walnut, good quality wood wardrobes cherry, ruskin porcelain birch –continued to be used.
Federal mahogany rolling chair, powered by wordpress cabinet makers about 1795-1810.
CLASSICAL 1800-40
The ‘Grecian’ style, vincenti cie 1855 marble slate as practised by Phyfe of New York, renaissance furniture characteristics owed something to English Regency but more to French Empire. Immigrant French cabinet-makers settled in Boston, antique reproduction maple gate-leg dinning table New Orleans, louis xviii buffet style Philadelphia, tudric pewter with hardstone mounts Charleston and New York, 1900 edwardian mahogany slant top secretary desk where Lannuier used Louis XVI designs until 1810.
Laminated rosewood Better settee, korean porcelain figures about 1870.
REVIVAL & INNOVATIONS 1840.1890
Revivals of old styles – Gothic, nineteenth century sideboard rococo, secretaire riesener Renaissance, english side tables of 18th century baroque and neo-classical – in that non-historic order – ran parallel to the many mid-19thC innovations. Belter of New York combined rococo extravagance with new techniques in his laminated, drop leaf dining sofa table rectangular steam-bent, jape french clock carved and pierced confections, antique dolphin foot drop leaf side table while Pabst specialized in carved pieces in the Gothic style.
During the Civil War, tekke carpets deep-buttoned, vintage kidney shaped desk heavily-fringed upholstery in the French Second Empire manner was fashionable. Cast-iron furniture was made by Barnum of Michigan. (Grand Rapids, chairs rococo Michigan, clock faces how they are made had now become the centre of the furniture manufacturing industry.) ‘Patent’ pieces included the Wootton desk and improved types of rocking Late-19thC Wootton desk. 1840-1890
This period is the most likely to provide the modest collector with opportunities for buying affordable, antique baroque rocking chairs w/griffins on back authentically American antiques. Examples from the earlier periods are rare and usually expensive. Pieces of British origin, glazed leaf pottery dish majolica genuine in themselves, antique regency sabre leg dining chairs are often described as ‘Early American’, round gateleg drop leaf table but unless there is a sound provenance, antique looking pottery anything not peculiar to America in design, rococo chair xviii material or construction should be regarded as a doubtful candidate for American citizenship.
chair. In the West, linenpress with symbolic pearl inlay chairs and hallstands were made of antlers and buffalo horns, pie crust shaped brass and glass coffee table or carved in mahogany to simulate them. Even the Shakers commercialized their output.
MACHINEWORK & ART MODERNS 1890-1940
In the 1890s, british fulham mugs Lloyd Wright, antique folding mahogany chair trained in Chicago, 19th century gilt metal mantel clock two women reacted against the weird confusion of historic revivals and began to design furniture that owed much to the British Arts and Crafts Movement, dwarf mahogany bookcase yet succeeds as an original statement. The principle was to design good, wootton patent office desks clean pieces that could be made by machine.
`Mission’ furniture, gateleg with chain lifted leafs inspired by chairs in a Spanish mission house in California, victorian wellington chest of drawers was first produced in the 1890s by McHugh and shortly after by the Roycroft Community, carved oak antique gate leg table Stickley’s Craftsmen Workshops and others, what are reeded canted corners remaining popular until the outbreak of World War 1.
In the 1920s, scottish snuff mull for sale head table the Art Moderne style (Art Deco) inspired designers such as Deskey, mother of pearl inlayed bureau who made imaginative use of Bakelite and aluminium. In the 1930s vast quantities of kitsch were produced, how to antique glaze white dresser and good, french style regency furniture simple pieces are quite rare.
Craftsman oak desk with open-end shelves, carving kneehole about 1900.

GUIDE TO ENGLISH ANTIQUE FURNITURE PERIODS AND STYLES
English furniture styles developed in ways broadly in line with those of mainland Europe, art deco figurine but were interpreted in a distinctive fashion. There were also many regional variations within the British Isles — a term that once encompassed England, 1930’s folding wood card table Wales, edwardian inlaid chair styles Scotland and Ireland.
In England itself, antique walnut cabinet, union furniture co regional accents are marked by the differences between, antique bed end table attached englis say, antique buffet furniture North Country chairs and those of the West Country; Salisbury and Norwich were noted centres of production at an early date.
Wales retained the dresser and the press cupboard as status symbols long after they had ceased to be fashionable in England, antique bed foot stools and further distinctions are to be drawn between those of North and South Wales.
In late-18thC Scotland, regency columns Edinburgh was producing sophisticated furniture, used art deco dresser some of it with distinctive differences from that of London.
In the mid-18thC, johann hoffmann sitzmaschine Irish furniture was so extravagant in its use of richly carved mahogany — especially for side tables on cabriole legs — that a whole class is described as ‘Irish Chippendale’.
The following summary concentrates, antique empire style coffee table in common with the rest of the book, wooden chair frames for upholstry trade on the mainstream.
If you are a ‘mainland’ European (or an American) you will find it useful to understand the broad relationships between British and mainland European styles; and of course vice-versa.
MEDIEVAL
Romanesque Imported to Britain by the Normans following the conquest in 1066. Rounded arches — a typical Romanesque feature — occur on chests as late as the 17thC, antique crocodile silver flask james but the few examples still in existence which date from earlier than 1300 are simply constructed and mostly carved with roundels bearing little relation to Romanesque architecture.
Gothic About 1300 to 1550. The change from Romanesque was gradual. Panelled construction from about 1480, louis xiv bombe ormulu lions paw feet boulle the panels often carved with linenfold. The coronation chair at Westminster Abbey has a back with a pointed arch; made in 1296 by Master Walter of Durham, a. j. beatty & sons antique glassware it was the first English piece firmly attributable to a named maker. The Gothic style was revived in the mid-18thC and again in Regency and Victorian times.
ELIZABETHAN
Renaissance When Elizabeth I came to the
throne in 1558, english gothic tudor most furniture was functional and plain. After 1570, meissen victorian chamber pot a version of Renaissance style owing more to France and the Netherlands than to Italy found expression in fat turnings surmounted by Ionic capitals, antique 18th and 19th century german blue white cups and saucers cornflower solid inlay, antique german india table lamps brass with velvet lining carved caryatids, old chest of drawers with large top drawer strapwork, paterns and three leg tables split baluster turnings.
JACOBEAN
Strictly speaking, define edwardian style furniture the reign of James I, antique british cupboards 1603-25 but also used to cover that of Charles I (162549). Geometric mouldings, longines antique 1898 watch silver case split balusters, zen trestle table bobbin-turnings; popular until about 1720.
CROMWELLIAN OR COMMONWEALTH
Plain mid-17thC furniture said to be made for Puritans. Square-backed chairs on turned legs, cattaneo of london barometer
with leather upholstery fixed with large-headed nails; so-called ‘refectory’ tables on turned legs. Wood is generally oak, antique acorn leaves porcelain vase but solid walnut occurs.
RESTORATION
Sometimes known as Carolean, arabesque ivory design for frames in reference to Charles 11, antique metal branch lamp with vase restored to the throne in 1660. Also covers the reign of James II, whiting 1910 lady baltimore sterling silver gravy ladle 1685-9. Dominant style is baroque but more Franco-Dutch than Italian. Twist legs, 1930s queen anne bow cabinets carved scrolls, antique desk types caned seats, console vitrines top veneering, tall antique desk with front latch floral marquetry, 19 century french furniture sale japanning. Skilled French workers sought refuge in Britain when Louis XIV of France ceased to protect Protestants, antique round cherry dining table 1685.
Japanned oriental cabinet oil gilded stand, george walton arts and crafts chair about 1670- 1680.
WILLIAM AND MARY
More foreign craftsmen (Dutch and French) arrived in Britain following the accession of William of Orange and his wife Mary, neeldework workbag the daughter of James II, symbols, blue stripe over black field in 1689. Fine cabinet-William & Mary walnut bureau on stand, writing tables western about 1690.
Carted and panelled oak coffer, bosio seal stamp about 1650, antique french clock face making, 1940’s era draw leaf table reference walnut and ebony veneers, mahogany floral foliage antique bureau floral and `seaweed’ marquetry. Legs are turned to trumpet shapes or scrolled; scroll develops into cabriole leg by end of William’s reign in 1702.
QUEEN ANNE
During her reign, lionhead carving rocking chairs 1702-14, antique 18th century german furniture the cabriole leg dominated; surfaces were veneered with walnut, thomas sheraton chest but marquetry became less evident. English craftsmen, antique claw foot dresser having acquired foreign skills, wooden hasps adapted these to their own style.
Queen Anne walnut ta Ilboy, 1770 antique blanket chest lock 1710-1720.
EARLY GEROGIAN
George I and early years of George II until about 1730; mainly a continuation of the Queen Anne style, concealment marble in europe but rather heavier. Clawand-ball feet became the fashionable termination of the cabriole leg. Architect William Kent designed Italianate baroque furniture as a dramatic contrast to cool Palladian interiors.
MID-GEORGIAN

George 11, serpentine antique white sideboard 1730-60 and the first years of George 111. Mahogany replaced walnut as the fashionable wood. In 1754, chamberlain and co porcelain marks Chippendale’s designs appear; Ince and Mayhew’s, french rococo round end table 1759-62. Ribbon-back chairs, anglo indian furniture ornate gilt mirrors and console tables expressed the English interpretation of rococo. Some designs closely followed French (Louis XV) fashions. Chinoiseries popular. Gothic style revived.

LATE GEORGIAN
The George III period lasted from 1765 to 1800, porcelain neoclassical french vases but the term is sometimes extended back to 1730. First came the neo-classical style led by Adam – vertical lines, antique cachepot chinoiserie ovals, british united clock co wooden mantle circles, lichte-wallendorf white vase columns, small crown gold brooch with ruby and emerald urns, history of hardware english antique cabinet door hinges dating age disciplined carving, louis majorelle chair gilding and painting related to the Louis XVI style. Designs by Hepplewhite appear 1788, rockingham rhinoceros finials those of Sheraton 1791-4, art deco tambour front cupboard london providing a domestic, small george 111 dining table middle-class version of neo-classicism.
Gilded side-table in the style of William Kent, russian imperial malaquite furniture about 1750.
Mid-Georgian Chippendale-style mahogany chair, 80 year old round oak claw table antique about 1750.
Sotheby , antique card table with cabriole legs carved knees Late-Georgian Hepplewhite-style mahogany chair, jacobean antigue furniture about 1780.
REGENCY AND GEORGE IV
About 1800-30. Sometimes included with Late Georgian. Furniture has much in common with French Empire style. Greek, trestle table pullout Roman and Egyptian models used — sabre legs on chairs, advantage and disadvantage of tudor ( arches) lion monopodia, early sevres pottery sphinx mounts. Thomas Hope and George Smith head the list of designers, how to clean inlaid brass antique some featuring a second Gothic revival; also Chinese and Indian styles.
Regency rosewood secretaire, czecho slovakia identification marks in French Empire style, glass mould design about 1820.
WILLIAM IV AND EARLY VICTORIAN
Much furniture made 1830-50 was still neoclassical, period for bentwood chair? but heavier than Regency; some affinity with Charles X (French Restauration), billiet and roblin paris Biedermeier in Austria and Germany. Parallel with this are the Gothic revival led by Pugin and the rococo revival by commercial manufacturers making balloon-back chairs, english r. w. winfield brass bed asymmetrical chaises longues on cabriole legs. Increasing use of machines.
MID-VICTORIAN
The Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace, 1935 bing dining tables 1851, english style mirrors brought Continental exhibitors to London, triple stand for small decoration stimulating an eclectic taste for revivals of almost all historic styles, cupboard arches and imitated in poorer quality, painted display cabinet mass-produced furniture. Massive dining and bedroom suites; but parlour pieces more elegant, mahogany chest screw press with some sofas and chairs fringed and deep-buttoned in Napoleon III style. There were serious attempts at reviving medieval craftsmanship by reformers, small pices of glass for decoration such as Morris, carolean chair leg Burgess, antique ormolu candlesticks Talbert.
Godwin experimented with Japanese concepts.
Mid-Victorian rococo-style mahogany extending table, fretwork style bookcases about 1860.
LATE VICTORIAN, burled mahonogy veneer ART NOUVEAU AND EDWARDIAN
Heavy Victorian styles persisted until about 1910, desk with brass handles from the 30s along with reproductions of English, antique buffet chippendale French and Italian historic types, 1920’s queen anne revival dining chairs but the Arts and Crafts Movement, art deco secretary led by Mackintosh, voigt brothers figurines Ashbee, oak refectory tables carpenter Baillie Scott and Voysey introduced new ideas in sympathy with some aspects of European art nouveau, table-dining; victorian, oak, circular, 5 leaves, columnar standard, splayed legs, paw feet to which are often married commercial products that are partly an offshoot of the Edwardian revival of Sheraton styles in mahogany with inlaid decoration.
Oak buffet by M.N. Baillie :Scott, antique chair types barley sugar eclesiastic about 1897.
MODERNIST AND ART DECO
The period between the two world wars, swan neck cornice secretary marked by genuine desire for greater simplicity and honest, antique louis xv candelabra 1750 economically made furniture of the type produced by Heal and Russell, antique porcelain drop leaf table but in competition with mass-produced junk on the one hand and finely made but expensive products on the other. The term Art Deco — like most stylistic labels — was unknown at the time the furniture was being made. It derives from the 1925 Arts Decoratifs exhibition in Paris, antique metal tripod tray table and only came to be applied to the style in the 1960s.

Four English designers - Chippendale, rococo over the mantel mirror Adam, insect butterfly cabinet paris museum style Hepplewhite and Sheraton
English furniture of the second half of the eighteenth century was dominated by four ‘giants’ Chippendale, antique chippendale sideboard Adam, distressed round wooden tables, england Hepplewhite and Sheraton. In a resume of this size a brief look at the work of these men should be enough to show the very great heights to which English furniture rose in the period. But any further study must include examination and appreciation of the work of other extremely fine designers and craftsmen of the time, rectangular drop leaf dining table such as Kent, antique 3 drawer commode Vile, steinzeug pottery Cobb, cupboard neoclassical Ince, round mahogany antique dining table los angeles Mayhew and Linnell, antique drum table restoring leather inlay not to mention the creative work of a number of gifted and imaginative architects.
Thomas Chippendale was born in Yorkshire in 1718. By 1748 he was in London in business as a cabinet-maker, 20th century hepplewhite style sideboard and five years later he moved to a house in St Martin’s Lane, seventeenth century english wood carving which he occupied until his death in 1779. St Martin’s Lane was an astute choice, kakiemon tripod candlestick for two of the country’s top painters lived there, antique sideboard uses Sir Joshua Reynolds and Sir James Thornhill, antique dresser/cabinet made by los angeles furniture co. the patron of Hogarth. In 1754 Chippendale produced a book of furniture
designs called The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director.
It was not the first work to contain designs for furniture, j.w.benson carrage clocks as de Vries and Ducerceau (see pages 27 and 30) among others had produced design books, antique military chest of drawers but it was the first to consist entirely of drawings of furniture by a furniture-maker, antique buffets identifying and it was an instant success. It was reprinted the next year and again in a larger edition from 1759 to 1762, frederick james halnon and it had a decisive effect on English styles for at least a decade.
At this time English furniture-makers were dabbling with Rococo designs and also with Chinese and Gothic styles. Chippendale adopted all three and modelled them in a sharply individual manner. He adorned his
furniture with exquisite fretwork in the Chinese taste, steel cabinet cabriole legs employing it for the edges of tables, mahogany desks edwardian doors of cabinets, louis 14 ceramic inlaid boudoir tables canopies of beds. He also designed Chippendale four-poster bed in the Chinese style, verlys with pagoda top, italian cupboards now at Badminton House, lamp manufacturers, f in hexigon, deco era Gloucestershire. This style of furniture was popular in the mid 18th century and sometimes executed chairs in the Gothic taste, kidney-shaped over the chair tray tables with ecclesiastical-type splat-backs and top rails. He decorated some pieces after the French manner with Rococo motifs, rouenpottery combining shell ornaments with his own ideas. Principal pieces in his Rococo style were chests of drawers, calamander brass inlay sofas, plinth bronze bust china
cabinets, carved medieval lion mask writing tables, friezes cupboard dressing tables and bureau-bookcases. They were made chiefly of mahogany of the best grain and figure, georgian pie crust pedestal end tables which looked marvellous after waxing and polishing. The styles he devised were often
such that the ordinary country carpenter could emulate with little difficulty, 1920s reproduction settee set even if without the exquisite refinement of the master craftsman. This is why there is so much furniture today which is described in sales and shops alike as Country Chippendale. It was copied in his time and it has also been ever since.
Chippendale himself appears to have made very little furniture, barley twist antique chairs 1700’s and only a few pieces can safely be ascribed to his hand, 5 legged gateleg table through bills made out by him to purchasers. The Chippendale armchair in the Gothic taste
owner of Nostell Priory was billed by Chippendale for a table for 72 10s. Chippendale ceased to hold the centre of the stage after the advent of Adam in the decade 1760 to 1770, origins of the chicken coop chair but, antique oak and bamboo settee quick to see which way the wind was blowing, antique chaise lounge styles scrolling head and foot rest he accepted commissions from Adam to make furniture in the Neoclassical style, directoire breakfront which Adam was pioneering in architecture and furniture.
Robert Adam was born in Scotland in 1728, dressing table chairs old brass the son of an architect. He and his three brothers studied under their father at Edinburgh. Then in 1753 Robert went to Italy to continue his training, cama de bilros and he fell under the
spell of the new Italian ideas which derived directly from the recent discoveries at the excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum. He got to know Piranesi who by his etchings had done so much to popularize the Classical Revival. Adam grasped the importance of relating interiors to exteriors of buildings, rene lalique porcelain lamps with nude women and when he returned to Britain in 1758 he had already formulated a whole series of new ideas of architecture and schemes of interior decoration. We are not concerned here with his architectural ideas (see Architecture in the all-colour paperbacks series), dining chair with wide center splat but in decoration he based his modes on ancient Roman motifs, antique campaign box such as strings of flowers, antique round split pedestal dining table formal shell ornaments, empire sideboards palm leaves and disciplined scrolls of foliage. He produced a vast number of drawings, victoria s roll desk many of which are now in the Sir John Soane’s Museum, beau mercier watch lady’s baumatic London. They included a whole range of items of furniture, antique corner hutch pine which were only part of the whole interior of a house.
Adam was commissioned both to design and build new houses and decorate them, antique claw foot double pedestal table and to redecorate existing ones. Among his important works were remodelling Harewood House and Nostell Priory in Yorkshire and Syon House and Osterley Park in Middlesex. At Osterley he commissioned Linnell to make furniture, baloon back chairs round cane seat including a pair of bow-front commodes in the Neo-classical style. Occasionally, 1630 english gothic hall chairs Adam furniture was painted to fit into the general colour schemes of his rooms, identifying 19th century cane chair types some of which were executed by such distinguished artists as Angelica Kauffmann and Cipriani.
Adam chairs had new forms, robert rutland spoons straight tapered turned legs, claw leg cherrywood dressers fluted, antique english windsor chairs reeded or plain. Backs were often oval within a plain wood frame, french stile chair legs the wood being mahogany or beechwood. The
influence of French ideas was here and there evident, antique drop leaf oak table with trestle footed although nothing displaced the predominance of Adam’s own individuality. One of the finest emulators of his ideas was George Hepplewhite.
Hepplewhite is something of a mystery. His beginnings are unknown and his date of birth unrecorded. He learned the trade of cabinet-making in Lancashire and set up in business in London. He was active from about 1775 to his death in 1786. Two years after his death his widow published a book of his drawings of furniture styles called The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, ballon back chairs and it was this which made him famous. It was the first book of its kind since Chippendale’s Director. It had nearly 300 illustrations, antique german cupboards a great many of which reveal the influence of Adam. Much of the furniture is designed to be made of mahogany, 1920 dining sets with satinwood inlay, antique oak tallboy dresser or marquetry in the French manner.
Many of Hepplewhite’s designs were not unlike those of Chippendale’s later years. These were less classical than Adam styles, pull sides antique expanding table and curves abounded, half moon pedestal desk-biedermeier especially in chests of drawers’ fronts and feet, what are a set of six silver apostle spoon worth cabinets, antique royal worcester potpourri jar h and chair
backs. It is for chair backs in fact that Hepplewhite is best known, bronzes de m.bouval although
Tnis bow-fronted satinwood commode, antique qashqai rug one of a pair made in the Adam manner by Linnell in about 1770, antique french art deco club chair is at Osterley Park, biedermeier sofa Middlesex
Two designs for chairs with shield-backs, antique table with roman engraving on wood below glass top from The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, china cabinet, 1930s, danish, blonde wood, weight published by Hepplewhite’s widow in 1788
Armchair designed in the Adam style for the drawing room at Saltram House, antique bail oval handle Devonshire, style buffet fluted legs in about 1770. The ornament beneath the front seat rail is an unusual form of English decoration
he might well have wished otherwise, antique, buffet, doors for his solid piece are very beautiful indeed. Many different chair backs figure in the book, breakfront bookcase and bar the most popular being the shield-back with < variety of splats inside. One favourite
inside pattern rang( incorporated Prince of Wales ostrich feathers. The chair: have square or turned legs, escritoire antique oak the former sometimes with spade feet.
The variety of Hepplewhite pieces was extensive: ward. robes, antique bottles with gold leaf decoration with or without oval door panels of satinwood, georgian mahogony sloped front bureau bookcase with or without three or four drawers underneath; chests of drawers sideboards in many shapes and sizes, antique red dutch table
bow-fronted, victorian washstand straight or serpentine; sofas with upholstered backs and sides, south carolina stoneware jug decorated of with backs formed by three or four splat-backs joined in a row; card tables with fine inlay or marquetry; Pembroke tables, rococo england chippendale s-curve with rectilinear flaps with rounded ends or serpentine edged flaps, george 11 carved mahogany side table inlaid or banded in satinwood. Not one piece of furniture, 2 pedestal antique 1800 century however, antique furniture book exists that can be ascribed definitely tc Hepplewhite as the maker, mahogeny wood drop leaf dining room table and in his own time he enjoyed no fame. And yet, myott son & co shakespeare if comparisons are permissible, antique dresser / carved leaf handles Hepplewhite furniture is finer and more graceful than Chippendale.
The last of the giants was Thomas Sheraton, bronze archer figure a man of violent opinions and with little tolerance of other mortals, small box hasps who lost his reason in the last years of his life. He was born at Stockton-on-Tees in 1751. He studied as a draughtsman-designer and journeyman cabinet-maker. For a while he made a precarious living, maghogany pie crust shelf two-tier claw supplying designs to other cabinet-makers. He does not appear to have had either shop or workshop in London, curly maple antique chest of drawers nor is there any furniture that can be attributed to him.
Between 1791 and 1794 Sheraton published a book of furniture designs, period furniture company italian chest in sections. It was full of advice and also of criticism. He considered that Chippendale styles were antiquated and that Hepplewhite styles had
‘caught the decline.’ There is no doubt, early oak coffer 1725 however, antique game tables from 1930s about the very high quality of his own designs, english walnut stool which were in many respects more original. This is abundantly evident from the many pieces of furniture that were made
according to his designs in his time and afterwards. Sheraton preferred delicate furniture, tambour desk for sale which was light in colour, old victorian 8 drawer mahogany dresser including painted pieces, antique french renaissance style trunk for linens and valuables-oak late 1700 and he specified that many items were best made in satinwood or other light tropical woods. His designs are straighter than Hepplewhite’s
and so closer to Adam. They had a strong influence on furniture at the end of the century, silver toilet set not only in England but also abroad.
Sheraton designed a number of intricate pieces, antique german blue white pitcher 1700’s some of them for women, small antique half table such as small graceful cylinder-top desks, louis xiv style dining room 1880 oak dressing tables, south carolina stoneware jug decorated work tables and games tables. The mahogany used was often brought into relief by light inlay or banding in satinwood. In particular, antique cedar chest value july 25th 1929 his chairs were favoured in most large houses. The backs were straight rather than curved, antique curule chair square rather than oval, large modern dining tables from france and often in-filled with classical motifs. A series of six designs illustrates this theme.
One piece of furniture with which Sheraton is associated, kashan trefoil but which he did not invent, splayed reeded leg was the Carlton House table. It is an unusual and very fine article, blue cut glass pair lustres especially if made in satinwood.
Sheraton spent the last years of his life writing about furniture, oak dining room chairs 1800 not overlooking opportunities of criticizing both predecessors and contemporaries alike, small chest made from ivory with sustained impatience. The increasing instability of mind which in the end rendered him insane is reflected in his last works. Despite his very great skill and originality and his high reputation he died impoverished in 1806. And with him died the last major individual influence in English furniture history.
Serpentine-fronted Hepplewhite style sideboard of the late 18th century