Traditional Style
If you like to surround yourself with formality, beauty borne of intricacy, and regal elegance, then traditional furniture might be right up your alley. Traditional furniture takes its cue from furniture produced for European monarchs and the wealthy by master craftsmen and designers from the 17th to the 19th century. Generally, traditional furniture uses dark woods, elaborate carvings and florid ornamentation for a look of unparalleled magnificence. Because of the abundance of detail in traditional furniture pieces, the overall look is busier and heavier in appearance than other styles, but has remained a favorite throughout the years.
English Traditional
Jacobean (1600-1690) An era marked by the reign of James I through the Restoration and the monarchies of Charles II and James II, Jacobean furniture is predominantly composed of oak with straight lines and squared or rectangular profiles. Considered medieval in appearance, its features include detailed, low relief carvings, spiral turned legs and dark finishes.
William and Mary (1689-1702) Under the rule of Queen Mary and Dutch born William of Orange, English furniture takes on Dutch, Flemish and Chinese characteristics. Distinctive pieces include the highboy, a tall chest containing four to five drawers, and the lowboy, a short chest used for serving. Bun feet, trumpet turned legs, shaped stretchers and Chinese lacquer techniques define the period, with furniture crafted mainly from walnut. Of considerable import is the fact that upholstery is introduced during this era in furniture-making.
Queen Anne (1700-1714) A world of discovery awaits those that deconstruct the underpinnings of Queen Anne style furniture. Ball-and-claw feet, curvy cabriole legs, elaborate carvings, fiddle-back chairs and broken pediments make this era one of the most graceful in traditional furnishings. Craftsmen during this time also used popular closed bonnet, S-shaped scroll and shell carving motifs to add stylistic flair. Upholstering techniques introduced during the William and Mary era are taken to exciting new heights with the advent of overstuffed furniture. Proportions are smaller than previous periods and walnut continues to reign supreme as the wood of choice, though mahogany is also employed.
Georgian (1714-1795) Aptly named, this furniture was produced during the reigns of George I and George II. Heavier in proportion than Queen Anne style furniture, Georgian furniture is highlighted by gilding, cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, casters, pierced back slats and carved ornamentation like scallop shells. Mahogany was frequently used.
Chippendale (1740-1790) Named after designer and cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, this style manifested itself in three distinct ways: French influenced, Gothic influenced and Chinese influenced. Characteristics include Chinese bamboo, cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, broken pediments, open or pierced splat chair backs and heavy use of mahogany.
Hepplewhite (1765-1800) More delicate than the Chippendale style, Hepplewhite style furniture is awash in Neo-Classic grandeur. Fluted legs, veneers, shield chair backs, inlays, and mahogany abound. Particularly noteworthy is the introduction of the sideboard during this time, resplendent with serpentine fronts that add seductive charm.
Adam Brothers (1760-1795) A daintier, traditional style named after architect brothers who were influenced by the ancient structures of Italy. Look for slender, fluted legs, narrow tables with ornamental side rails, upholstered settees and daybeds, a strong sideboard presence and designs that range from floral to animal figures. There is a wide use of mahogany, gilding, painting and satinwood veneers.
Sheraton (1780-1820) Neoclassical in design, the Sheraton style, named after English designer Thomas Sheraton, possesses a refined delicacy derived from straight lines, tables with pedestal bases and drop leaves, convex corners and painstakingly carved designs featuring shields, urns and lyres. The Sheraton style was mainly constructed from mahogany, satinwood and rosewood with inlay and painted finishes. During this period, marquetry, an elaborate veneer technique that creates a detailed picture or design on furniture surfaces, rivaled inlay as a main method of decoration.
Regency (1793-1830) Furniture of this mode was fashioned from a mix of Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Gothic and Chinese design. Surfaces typically lacked the dramatic curve of earlier styles, and upholstered chairs were not overstuffed as they were in the Queen Anne period. A chair's profile from this style typically includes curved or straight legs, with a concave or straight back. While mahogany continued to be the wood of choice, rosewood, satinwood and zebrawood were also included, along with an increase in brass work.
Victorian (1840-1910) Named after England's Queen Victoria who ruled from 1837-1901, Victorian furniture revisited a heavier look with dark finishes and upholstery. Gothic influence can be seen in the intricate floral carvings and motifs. Inlays of brass, wood and mother of pearl keep the look formal.
Campaign (19th C.) Related to Colonialism, Campaign style furniture evolved from English wartime and colonial endeavors. This unique branch of furniture is "knock-down" or collapsible, so that it can be moved from one location to another with minimal exertion. Legs can usually be folded or removed entirely, and the pieces often have hidden compartments. Style was not forsaken for portability, however, as colonial officers saw the furniture and accompanying wares as an opportunity to impress people with the magnificence of the empire as cavalcades of elephants and porters carried the items across Africa.
British Colonial Style (19th C.) Inevitably, as the British empire extended control into the West Indies, India and Africa, traditional English styles melded with the materials and design aspects of the countries the English colonized. This mixture of influences is called British Colonial, and is known for its use of animal prints, rattan, leather, teak, mahogany and the artistic touches applied by indigenous craftsmen. There are two popular variations of this style, Plantation and Colonial India.
- Plantation style furniture has its roots in the West Indies, with decorative touches inspired by architectural designs meant beat the heat, including shutter detail on armoires and cabinets, wide-bladed ceiling fans and plantation chairs.
- Colonial India style is distinguished by ornately scrolled legs complemented by Persian and Turkish rugs, and flowing accents like printed drapes and throws.
French Court
Louis XIV (1643-1715) A period of luxurious splendor, the furniture from this Baroque period was meant to impress. Furniture was of a large scale, meant for salons (social gathering rooms) and decorated with veneers of exquisite materials such as brass, ebony and tortoiseshell. Tables were topped with granite or marble, and pieces gleamed with gilding and varnish. Everything in this era was designed for show, with serpentine fronts, scrolls, carvings and an abundant use of chests and cabinets.
Regence (1715-1723) During this transitional phase of the monarchy, when Phillipe D'Orleans governed as Louis XV came of age, furniture moved away from the "Sun King" style and grandeur that marked Louis XIV's reign. Floral designs, Oriental influences and smaller proportions replaced the massive structures.
Louis XV (1715-1774) Rococo. The name even sounds like its presentation, which is light, frothy, romantic. This ever-popular Louis XV style is an offshoot of Baroque, scaled down with a flowing, feminine look. Furniture became dainty and light, eliminating the need for stretchers to support weight between legs. Straight lines fell to the wayside in this era, replaced by curves seen in chair backs and cabriole legs. Comfort took center stage with chairs that were designed for the first time for optimal comfort. It's no accident Rococo derives its name from the French words "rock" and "shell," which were two predominant motifs featured in the detailed, asymmetrical carvings of the period. In addition, scenes of love, merriment, pastoral beauty and mythological allusions flourished upon mahogany, walnut, oak, ebony and chestnut woods.
Louis XVI (1774-1792) After a period of reveling in the sensual curves of Rococo, the Louis XVI style brought straight lines back into vogue. Emphasis was placed on Greek and Roman styles constructed with superior excellence, culminating in sophisticated elegance befitting formal rooms. Heavily used woods included mahogany, fruitwood, rosewood and ebony, which were usually adorned with black and gold lacquer.
Empire (1804-1815) The Empire style was predominately influenced by Greek and Roman design combined with tributes to Napoleon's empire. Furniture moved toward immense proportions and symmetrical, rectilinear silhouettes. Once again, mahogany took center stage and was ornamented with marble, columns, bronze figures and decoration of sphinxes, swans, Greco-Roman designs and emblems of Napoleon, including the letter N, eagles and bees.
Louis Philippe (1830-1848) This popular style is enjoying a revival in today's market. Louis Phillippe furniture is relatively simple by traditional standards, without ostentation and defined by rounded lines of effortless grace that fit well in many contemporary homes. Walnut, palisander or mahogany frames are often accented with marble tops or sculpted borders.
American Traditional
18th Century American A formal style that developed mainly in New England and Philadelphia. Styles in 18th Century America were largely patterned after traditional European styles, including Queen Anne, William and Mary, Chippendale and French Empire, then modified to the simpler, practical tastes of the Americans.
Federal (1780-1830) During the incipient stages of the U.S. federal government, the Federal style emerged as a relatively formal option that used a lot of brass and emblems of national pride, especially the eagle. Lines were graceful, with tapered legs, veneers and inlay adding visual weight.
Duncan Phyfe (1790-1848) Named after America's first renowned furniture designer, the Duncan Phyfe style is identified by ornamental reeding, fluting, glass knobs and curvilinear design crafted in mahogany. Other common design elements include column pedestal tables, neoclassical motifs and the lyre sofa and lyre-back chair.
German Traditional
Biedermeier (1800-1850) In the years following Napoleon's defeat in 1815, a new tide of design inspiration swept over furniture, washing away the pageantry and ornate detail that embodied the Empire style. In its stead was a simpler, functional style known as Biedermeier. The thrust of the Biedermeier movement was steeped in the notion elegance need not be overdone, but materialize as the result of fine craftsmanship and practicality. The lack of ornate carvings let veneers shine through, and the mark of a quality Biedermeier piece is exceptional form married with the finest veneers. Because the style traveled from Germany across Europe to the United States and was adapted to various classes along the way, each region put their influential markers on the Biedermeier aesthetic, culminating in a wide range of designs.
Early Biedermeier is crafted from mahogany, and in later years, from birch, grained ash, fruit woods, walnut, and maple, although the wood was used was usually determined by regional preferences. Austrians used indigenous walnut and cherry, Hungary favored ash, Germans used mahogany, birch, walnut and elm, while Russians used blonder woods like Karelian birch and poplar.
Today, Biedermeier is popular for its smaller scale that meshes well with apartments and homes with tighter spaces.
