WILLIAM & MARY

WILLIAM & MARYWhen the Dutch stadholder William III of Orange and his wife,

Mary II, became joint monarchs of England in 1689, that country became linked directly to the Continent and ceased to be a provincial island. William reigned until his death in 1702 (Mary died in 1694). His rule was marked not only by the adoption of many Dutch traditions, but by the importations of Dutch craftsmen to England. This Anglo-Dutch taste had its roots in the French court style of Louis XIV, which in turn had been influenced by Italian Baroque design. Elaborate turnings, carvings in high relief, severe curves, large unified shapes, and contrasts of colour were typical elements of this style. Also, trade with China prompted the vogue for Oriental objects at this time, and furniture incorporated japanning (a simulation of Oriental lacquer) and woven cane panels. An original English contribution was a form of case furniture with simple, flat surfaces and architectural trim that would be the chief influence on American furniture for more than a century

WILLIAM AND MARY 1689-1702This period was named after the marriage of the English Mary Stuart, the daughter of James II to the Dutch

William of Orange. 1680The Dutch prince brought with him new ideas of comfort for the ordinary person. The furniture in his reign saw the first beginnings of real comfort. Upholstery became common. The chair backs were shaped slightly to fit the shape of your back and the back legs were splayed out at the bottom to prevent the chair from tipping backward. Bureaux were made strong enough to allow for a bookcase to be added on top for convenience. The Cabriole leg, which is identified with the Queen Anne Period, was borrowed from Holland, which meant the stretcher was gradually phased out. William & Mary Side Table c. 1680The King not only imported ideas from Holland, but the craftsmen who left their mark on English Furniture history. Walnut timber was used for furniture. Oriental lacquer finishes over cheaper timbers became more common. Front fall writing cabinets were developed. Simpler lines with more delicate proportions than before were seen. Elaborate veneering and marquetry replaced carving – using holly, ebony, satinwood and ivory. William & Mary Stool c. 1690

FEATURES OF WILLIAM AND MARY FURNITURE

– Upholstery became popular with the stuff over technique.– The china cabinet was developed to hold the Queens’ hobby, collecting delft and oriental porcelain.– The bureau with a bookcase was set on stands.– Back legs matched front legs.– Feet were simple bun or pear shaped or goat’s hoof.– First cabriole leg was often left square.– Legs often connected with x shaped stretchers with a finial at the junction. Stretchers were left flat with a veneered

surface.– Smaller dining rooms changed the emphasis on dining furniture.– Gate leg tables.– Flemish Scroll.– Apart from the bed, bedroom furniture had not yet taken.– Cabinets, bureaux, day beds, tables and easy chairs were used.– There was no dressing table: usually a gilded framed mirror hung over the toilet table.– Tallboys began to develop raised off the unusual stand.– Inverted cup turning and tapered trumpet.

QUEEN ANNE

A QUEEN ANNE STYLE FURNITURE is a style of furniture design that developed during and around the reign of Anne, Queen of Great Britain (1702-1714). Queen Anne furniture is "somewhat smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than its predecessors," and examples in common use include "curving shapes, the cabriole leg, cushioned seats, wing-back chairs, and practical secretary desk-bookcase pieces.”Other elements characterizing the style include pad feet and "an emphasis on line and form rather than ornament." 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 André-Charles Boulle  and the Rococo style from the French court of Louis XV . But the intricate ornamentation of post-Restoration furniture was abandoned in favour more conservative designs, possibly under the influence of the simple and elegant lines of imported Chinese furniture.

In addition to simple curvilinear lines and cabriole leg, Queen Anne chairs are characterized by vasiform splats and frequently featured a horseshoe shape.[7] Other important decorative elements included carved shell and scroll motifs, often found on the crest and knees. Wingback chairs, variations on other Queen Anne-style chairs, are fully upholstered with the exception of the exposed wood legs and jave sides folded inward to keep heat contained within the chair. All four of the cabriole legs sit on padded feet. The shoulders of the back droop slightly to give a more feminine look to the style, in contrast to the squared shoulders of the masculine King George wingback chair.

The Queen Anne style was a continuation of the William and Mary style of furniture design.

• QUEEN ANNE style is quite classical; the style is an admixture of few genuine Queen Anne principles, with some Dutch, a hue of Old European styles.

– Also known as “shingle style”, this style is marked by its picturesque details, very intricate gables, multi-paned windows and some Japanese elements.

–   It is very informal, irregular and asymmetric. Though popular in Americas during early 1880’s, the real response among the designers was inconsistent, some hated it for its artificiality while other loved for its exuberance. How ever, it was more popular among increasing middle classes who just wanted to show their success. In reality, they wanted a new look for their houses, both in architecture and interior decoration. Very muted colours were preferred while vibrant colours were out. Fine, delicate furniture was chosen and the style guide was mixed and matched with other styles.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES and interior décor was very distinctive in nature and showed off:

– Trends of being classical but with out any proportions– Highly hipped roofs– Metal painted cupolas over turrets– Gables which were straight– Hung walls with profusion of tiles– Red brick adornment– Tri-sided bays– White woodwork– Sash windows with minor panes in the upper half– Fan lights– Wrought iron works– Decorative terracotta embellishments with designs such as sunflowers

CHIPPENDALE

Thomas Chippendale• He was born in Otley, Yorkshire, in 1718, the only child of John, a

joiner and Mary, the daughter of a stonemason.• Little is known about his early life, but it is believed he served a

family apprenticeship and he was almost certainly employed by Richard Wood, a leading York cabinetmaker.

• By 1748 he was established in London and in 1754 he produced the world’s most famous book on furniture: The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director.

• There were over 3000 cabinetmakers in London and they couldn’t understand why Chippendale had given away all his trade secrets, but it was this book that turned him into a household name. While lots more people could now afford his designs, he continued to work for some of the UK’s richest people.

• One of his most famous commissions was Dumfries House, the home of the Fifth Earl of Dumfries. It was designed by the Adam Brothers and Chippendale was the interior designer, filling it full of his famous rococo designs, said to be worth £18 million today.

• After his death in 1779 his son Thomas carried on the family business until his bankruptcy in 1804. But his father’s work continues to inspire century furniture makers today.

• Background on Chippendale Style:– American furniture crafted in the Chippendale style from about

1750-1780 was named after London cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale's work. This style falls within the Colonial period. American furniture made in the Chippendale style was conservative in comparison to English designs from the same timeframe, according to American Furniture: Tables, Chairs, Sofas and Beds by Marvin D. Schwartz. Chippendale style is closely related to the earlier Queen Anne style, but it is important to remember that furniture designs sometimes overlapped as tastes changed.

• Chippendale Style Legs:– Many Chippendale pieces have cabriole legs (the curving design

illustrated in the photo shown here). American cabinetmakers from Newport, Rhode Island often used classically styled reeded or fluted legs as well. Furniture makers in Philadelphia slanted toward Rococo influence resulting in more elaborately carved legs. Some pieces, such as side chairs and small tables, have straight legs but other elements of Chippendale style are still present.

• Chippendale Style Feet:– American cabinetmakers often incorporated the claw-and-ball

foot (as illustrated in the photo shown here) into their Chippendale style designs. The claw-and-ball foot was already passé with English furniture craftsmen at this time, according to Schwartz.

• Woods Used in Chippendale Style Pieces:– The finest Chippendale style pieces were usually crafted from

mahogany. Walnut, cherry and maple were used for less expensive furniture made in this style.

• Other Chippendale Style Features:– Chippendale style settees, stools and chairs were often

upholstered with the finest of fabrics.– Top railings on chairs frequently have a yoked shape.

Back splats on arm and side chairs can be intricately pierced, although some chairs have less ornate splats.

– Shell motifs carrying over from the Queen Anne period may be present (like the one illustrated in the photo shown above), but are not prevalent.

• Later Chippendale Styles:– Many reproductions of the Chippendale style were produced

around 1900 during the late-Victorian period. While these are antiques in their own right, in comparison they do not have the finely crafted details found in early Chippendale style pieces. Even today Chippendale influence is found in formal furniture design and manufacturing including the use of cabriole legs and claw-and-ball feet.

 Difference Between The Chippendale And Queen Anne

Styles?• Elemental and textbook differences can be found in the

type of woods used- walnut and oak are usually seen in Queen Anne era pieces. Those styles drew from Dutch architecture since the royal families came from Holland. Chippendale liked mahogany and the spice route navigators of that day found Cuban wood to be the best. He took from many sources and incorporated French, Chinese and other elements into a completely different view of furniture during his life.