1.ENGLISH PERIOD FURNITURE
History of
English period furniture can be described in the following order____
16 th century or Early English Period
17 th Century or Jacobean Period (William & Marry style)
18 th century or Charles II Period (Queen Anne style)
Late Georgian period in 18 th Century (Adam Brothers style, Happlewhite
style, Sheraton style & Duncan style)
16 th century or Early English Period
In this period, furniture was very
simple type. It was built only to serve the purpose. Maximum furniture was
solid in nature. There was not much decoration or fineness in it. The
noteworthy furniture of this period were___ Chest of dravers, Chest on frame, Court cupboard, Refectory Table,
Settee, Cromwellian Chair, Stool etc.
17 th Century or Jacobean Period (William & Mary style)
The design of furniture improved in
this period regarding the detailing. The solid nature of furniture was broken.
The solid back of early 16 th centuries chair was replaced by designed vertical
rails. Curved lines in furniture were introduced. Jacobean side chair, Banister back chair, Welsh Dresser, Mirror frame,
Charle’s II settee were the important furniture of this period.
During 17 th century, in the ruling
period of king William and his queen Mary furniture design got more attention.
The designs had an effort to achieve perfection in sense of proportions of
forms. Proportion was carefully dealt on both decoration and structure. High bay, Low bay tables and straight top
secretary table were the most important and beautiful furniture of this
period. The legs of furniture were given a shape of turned trumpet. – which was
a new addition in feature of furniture design.
18 th Century or Charles II Period
In this period structure of furniture
was mostly curved. Lags of furniture were changed into a new style- known as
Cabriole legs, High boy and Low boy were modified into more detailed and finer
forms. Sofa, Small tea table, Gate leg
boy, Arm Chair, Side chair, Light drop leaf table were mostly used
furniture of this style.
Early Georgian in 18 th Century (Chippendale style)
Chippendale was a famous furniture
designer of this age. His work was first documented in furniture history
published in 1754. He was inspired by French Rocco and China style. He also
took inspiration from Gothic Masters. He tried to break 0the monotonous solid
form of English style. So he even broke down the straight lined form of
furniture sides and introduced Serpentine fronts to the furniture. Main feature
of his furniture design was use of cabriole legs, Claw and Ball foot and
typical Acanthus leaf ornamentation. Chippendale added grace and charm to
furniture design.
Late Georgian Period in 18 th Century (Adam Brothers style, Hepplewhite style and Sheraton Style)
After Chippendale Lowboys were
supplanted by dressing Tables, Highboys by Wardrobes. Colour and inlay work
became more popular than curving with Sheraton. He was the champion of inlay
work instead of painting, guilding and carving. Sheraton designed ingenious
folding and multipurpose furniture. These were folding beds, combined bookcases with washstand, combined couches cum
table. Sheraton’s work was also characterise by straight lines. His other
important furniture were chest of
drawers with mirror, elegant secretary and china cabinet etc.
Heplewhite’s work was characterised
by curves. Adam brothers mainly built furniture for the houses they designed.
So, the furniture made by them were very long and formal to suit the Interior.
They did not make any small details in furniture. They used square and oval
fronts. They gave more stress on straight line. Adam brothers were known to be the
pathfinder of classical Era of 18 th century’s furniture design.
Inspite of all these aspects, solid
traditions of English craftsmanship remained intact beneath all these changing
fashions.
2.FRENCH PERIOD FURNITURE
More than any other country, France’s
complex political history is reflected in the fine and decorative arts of era.
From the absolute monarchs that emerged in the 16 th century to the French
Revolution and beyond, the socio political zeitgeist of the country has long
influenced the types of furniture.
Materials: Oak, walnut, pear wood, pine, marble, metal
This style began during the reign of
“ Good King Henry”, Henry IV of France, and continued under his son Louis XIII.
Austere and architectural, the furniture possessed a distinctly geometric
appearance with thick, heavy decoration. “Turning”, a technique in which wooden
spindles are shaped with chisels through a lathe, was often used for
ornamentation.
Louis XIV (1660-1750)
Materials: Chesnut, walnut, oak, ebony, brass, pewter, silver,
tortoise-shell, mother-of-pearl.
The 72 year regin of Louis the Sun king is the longest recorded of any European monarch, marked by military triumph and overwhelming opulence. During this era, the commode, console tables, and desks became popular, as did mirrors, chandeliers, and candelabras. Decoration in the form of marquetry, carving, and painting was inspired by mythology, nature, and war.
Louis XV (1730-1770)
Materials: walnut, oak, marble, porcelain
Louis XV reigned without his regent for 50 years, during which time French culture and influence were at their height in furniture making and beyond, even as the political influence of the monarchy waned. Curved lines and Asymmetry overtook geometry as the style of choice, and while furniture became more practical and easily transported, it was nonetheless elegant.
Louis XVI (1770-1789)
Materials: walnut, oak, ash, mahogany, bony, porcelain, copper, steel,
bronze, marble
Furniture created during the reign of
king Louis XVI favoured a more rustic feeling than previous eras. Increasingly,
dining room tables came into use. Mahogany was popularized, and turning came
back into fashion as a means for decoration. Straighter lines and right angles
returned, and classical motifs became typical once more while human faces,
flora and fauna remained popular decorative motifs.
Directoire (1789-1805)
Materials: elm, walnut, beech, ebony, copper, brass
After the collapse of the monarchy,
France entered a tumultuous period of revolution marked by Neoclassical forms,
which reflected the importance of Roman Republic principles to France’s new
leaders. The demand for decorative arts was high but clients did not possess
the same exacting eye as before, so furniture was mainly economical with some
design flourishes.
Empire (1805-1815)
Materials: mahogany, walnut, burled elm, bronze, marble
The Empire style was popularized during
the reign of Napoleon and is marked by a continuation of Neoclassical motifs
from the era preceding it, albeit in a more elegant and opulent way. Napoleon centralized
artistic production so that furniture design was consistent, its grandeur
marked by symmetrical ornamentation and large, solid forms. While other styles
developed after Napoleon lost power, the Empire style was in favour for many
decades.
3.AMERICAN PERIOD FURNITURE
History of American period furniture
can be described in following orders___
Colonial Style
Federal Style
Victorian Style
With simplicity, flexibility and
movement, Colonial furniture gained within American colonies. Colonial
furniture was the sought after design style built by American colonists from
the mid 1600’s to the mid 1700’s. The design was influenced by styles used in
England. Different from English design, Colonial design fulfilled a need for
basic, light and multifunctional furniture.
With the idea for simple, moveable
and functional design, Colonial furniture developed specific identifying
characteristics. Numerous woods were
used, however oak and pine were most
common.
Straight lines and occasionally s-curves were used to add interest to the design. Arms were designed with a slight outward curve. Legs displayed more detail with turned, round or cabriole designs.
Federal style
The Federal furniture is known as
such only in America. Outside of its borders, it is known as neoclassical,
since it shares very similar characteristics with European neoclassical
furniture. The name “Federal”
remained to the period in which it was popular, but the furniture has British
origin.
Neoclassicism arrived in the new
country with the English immigrants, and with the expansion of the famous
books. Soon after the Americans started showing interest in the new style and
Neoclassicism became popular.
One of the most famous American
designers of Federal furniture was Duncan
Phyfe, whose work was based on the Sheraton style. His furniture was made
from mahogany, and among his notable works are game tables with flip tops and
chairs featuring concave backs and legs, decorated with classical designs.
Victorian Style (1830-1900)
The furniture design in America in
this period was influenced by the trends in Europe. The keynote of Victorian
design was revival of traditional classical design of Rococo, classical and
tidor style and interpret it into mass production. America was advanced in mass
production techniques than Europe. Furniture was then affordable to the
middleclass. Besides this revivalism, new styles also emerged. This style was
influenced by the Art & Crafts movement and the Art-Nouveau movement. Two
separate styles from Art Nouveau group was prominent- one was by Louis Sullivan
in Chicago and another was by Van-de-valde in Belgium. Simple, light weight yet
graceful designs were evolved. The willingness of designers to experiment with
new materials and techniques was prominently followed by Marcel Breoror,
Mies-Van-der-Rohe and many others. Sammel Spratt’s invention of wire springs in
1828 led to the production of the first fully upholstered fully spring
naturalistic seating.
4.CONTEMPORY PERIOD FURNITURE
Modern methods of furniture
construction are largely based on the availability of man made materials such
as reliable plywood, laminated board, chipboard, and hardboard as distinct from
natural solid wood. It is not merely that manufactures prefer the one to
another but rather that these substances are free from great draw back
fundamental to wood movement. Over the years cabinetmakers have work out
ingenious systems to avoid these troubles in the use of solid wood, but today
made-up materials may be regarded as inert if of good quality.
Plywood
In making plywood, the veneers are
peeled rotary fashion from the log by a long knife fitted to a lathelike
machine. The resulting veneer can be of unlimited width to be cut up as
required. There is no loss in sawdust, and the peeling is continued until only
a polelike centre is left. Much the same applies to laminated board in which
both the core material and the outer plies are peeled. In the case of
chipboard, the timber is merely regarded as raw material to be reduced to fine
chips that are dried, compressed, and assembled into boards, with glue as an
adhesive.
Consequently, when a panel of a
certain size is required, it needs to be machine sawed to size, no further
trimming being needed. This is only practicable with a precision saw capable of
fine adjustment.
Another influence on the construction of furniture is the introduction of new types of adhesives in place of the traditional animal glue. Many are highly water resistant, some water proof. Some can be applied cold, avoiding the complication of heating joints before assembly. They can be cured by heat in a matter of minutes, leaving presses and other apparatus free for other work.
In 1946 plastic chair designed by
James Donahue and Douglas Simpson, produced by NRC from glass-fibre-reinforced
cotton and Synthetic resin adhesives.
All plastics are polymers; poly from
Greek polus means many, and mer from Greek meros means parts, therefore
polymers mean many parts.
The demand of plastic furniture in
the market has never dwindled. Needless to say, in the present time plastic
furniture are most commonly used in household and office space. The important
of plastic fur furniture and its high demand in the market is highlighted
below:-
· They are very cheaper than made other
materials like wood or metal.
· Comfortable and very stylish
furniture can be made by moulded plastic.
· It does not break when it is dropped
or handled roughly.
· Plastic furniture have very low
maintenance cost as compared to metal or wood made furniture.
· Whereas in the development of wooden
furniture trees are cut down, by using plastic we can encourage.
· They are water proof and d not rust crack when left in the rain.
Steel has
many advantages as a furniture material. Steel furniture is attractive, safe,
environmentally friendly. Steel is one of the least reactive metals used in
furniture application.
Benefits of uses steel furniture
· Steel can be fully recycled replacing
the use of unrecyclable laminate and MDF used in joinery fit outs and lockers.
Steel is one of the most recycled materials worldwide.
· Powder coating is an environmentally
friendly coating material, which provides a uniform, durable, high quality
environmentally safe and attractive finish.
· Steel storage is fabricated with spot
welding. All parts are tightly connected with each other and become an
inseparable whole part. This makes the furniture more stable and durable than
joinery.
· Steel furniture has a strong bearing
capacity. Steel drawers and lockers are all made with optimized construction,
and strengthening components integrated into the design.
· Steel furniture can be customized to offer multifunctionally to suit different use.
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