Furniture Periods Part 3

THE ROCOCO STYLE
The intriguing term Rococo comes from the French rocaille, meaning rockwork, and the era is marked by an endless multiplication of ornamental details on what was then. novelty furniture. When Louis XIV died in 1715. succession was left to his great-grandson then aged five. The boy-King's uncle, Phillipe, the Duke of Orleans, became the Regent of France. Under Phlllipe there began a period of great gaiety in court circles. During the Regency, furniture designs became light, graceful and even more elaborate than before. As the boy-King came of age in 1723, the exquisite lines of the Regency style gradually evolved into the voluptuous Rococo style of the grand Louis XV era.

The passion for curves and ornamentation was carried out in almost delirious abandon. Straight, structural lines were rare; cabinets. tables, chairs were in variably curved in outline. In the attempt. to avoid straight lines, an original note was the bombe - an outward swelling curved surface used in the fronts and ends of commodes, cabinets, bureaux and so on. The cabrlole was almost the only type of leg used and although ornate in detail, was delicately shaped. It usually terminated in a scroll or dolphin 'head. Chair feet were either flush with the floor. or on short raised cylindrical bases. Stretcher rails disappeared and seat rails were shaped and waved in many curves.

Bedsteads became less ponderous and massive than those of the Louis XIV era. Posts and testers were largely abandoned for impressively draped and towering coronas over the bed head. Tops of tables were fancifully shaped in circular, oval and serpentine curves and constructed in marble of beautiful mottled colorings. Walnut (introduced from America) along with mahogany and oak, was the principal timber used with inlays of marquetry of rare colored woods. and metals. In the later Louis XV period, many pieces of furniture were completely gilded. painted or lacquered all over. It was only towards the close of the reign of Louis XV that the decorating style reverted to classic and simpler tastes.

QUEEN ANNE PERIOD
1702-1714

The Baroque and Rococo furniture of France influenced this period of decorative development in England although English furniture was sturdier and simpler. The grain of the wood became more important than carving or gilding. Many variations of Chinese motifs were used on both furniture and wallpaper. Even today, the comfortable, upholstered wing chair of the period is still a favorite. Queen Anne furniture was often lacquered a brilliant color such as rich red, green or black. Collecting porcelain ornaments became fashionable and comer cabinets were designed to house them. In style, too. were small mirrors with drawers below which stood on dressing tables - reproductions of this useful piece are still much in demand now.

CHIPPENDALE FURNITURE

18th CENTURY

Between the years of 1705 and 1779. Thomas Chippendale was instrumental in helping to develop an era of superb furniture-making. Chippendale was the first of a unique group of English cabinet-makers who made the 18th century the golden age of furniture. Although he followed the Baroque and Rococo styles, he also drew from Chinese and Gothic designs. Chippendale used the cabriole leg in his earlier work with the knee of the leg often beautifully carved with acanthus leaves ending in a claw and ball foot. The Chippendale chair shows a complete mastery of design it was never inlaid. a point- for collectors to watch as many other fine cabinetmakers of this period copied his work

Two other cabinet-makers made their name later in the 18th century, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Shelaton. Hepplewhlte chairs were characterised by straight lines gently blended with curves; the legs were tapered, usually ending with spade feet; the backs oval, wheel. heart or shield-shaped, and the seat occasionally dipped.

Hepplewhite used mahogany or satinwood, inlay work and decorative painting. The shield- backed chairs with finely pierced splat (central part of the chair-back), with the three-feathered crest of the Prince of Wales, is one of his most famous designs. In the Hepplewhite chair. the splat does not join the consequently the chair is rather weak in construction.

Thomas Sheraton (1750-1806), is considered by many to have been the finest of the English cabinet-makers of the period. His furniture was slender and delicate in scale with decorative motifs of urns, lyres and shells. Sheraton is particularly noted for his perfect secretary-bookcases which had glass doors above

and panels below. Chests, wardrobes and highboys made by him in mahogany and satinwood.

19th CENTURY

THE VICTORIAN PERIOD

The 9th century - the beginning of the machine age furnishing -, is often called the period of .bad taste, sentimentality and confusion. The furniture and decorating of the era was a hotchpotch of Gothic, Chinese, Baroque, Rococo, and Chippendale influences. Not until after World War I was there an appreciable move away from Victorian period decorating. The fact that the first world war was followed by a depession and then by another great war. are major reasons why machine-made contemporary furniture of both taste and functionalism, took so long to develop