In Part One of this series of articles on the history of antique furniture, we look at the different styles that emerged during the Renaissance period to the Baroque Period.
This journey took us through the Tudor style which was strongly influenced by Europeans, the Elizabethan style that was modeled on the work done by our Italian colleagues, to the Jacobean style that featured many oak and walnut furniture, and then up to the Baroque period.
The next note style is the Rococo style, and this is where the parts move away from the simpler design of its predecessor, and more into the decoration, detail, and reddish design.
Rococo style
The Gregorian style of antique furniture design was developed during the Rococo period, and early Gregorian pieces were also influenced by Queen Anne's design. The venetian vanity mirror whole ideology of furniture is almost a status symbol and this means furniture takes a role in comfort and flexibility.
It was clearly proven that during the middle of the Gregorian era, mahogany was an extraordinary choice of wood, beating the previously popular walnuts. Although the French and Gothic styles were clearly visible during the Rococo period, British furniture makers began to become more experimental as they leaned towards designing pieces such as mirrors and chairs that were designed with decorations with ribbon backs.
The famous British antique furniture maker Thomas Chippendale was influenced by the Rococo style, and while his design kept several features, he stopped from the full blown French influence. Perhaps even the most successful British exponent Rococo was a carver and furniture designer who worked in London in the mid-1700s, a man named Thomas Johnson.
Over time, so does style. The final Gregorian design can almost be characterized as leaning towards a more classic style of antique furniture. In fact, you will hear this period referred to as the neo-classical period. During this time, slim shapes such as columns, ovals and circles are used.
The Eclectic Or Victorian Period
The Victorian period witnessed a revival of previous styles combined with modern and new styles, and as a result you can often find a combination of classic and contemporary styles in one piece of furniture.
As the subtitles in this section show, the Victorian period is also known as the eclectic period, partly because of its eclectic revival of many historic styles. It is also responsible for introducing many cross-cultural influences, with styles and designs from Asia and the Middle East that are clearly seen both in furniture and accessories.
During the Victorian period there was really no one dominant style of furniture, with designers preferring to use a combination of styles related to various time periods such as Tudor, Elizabethan and Neoclassical to name a few. In fact, the most popular style during this period was the Gothic and Rococo revival style.
There is no doubt that the Victorian period marked a significant change in furniture design, perception and function. In general, one's home will be divided into separate rooms, with very clear differences between public and private spaces.
The sitting room is considered the most important and is often used to show off furniture. This means that the room is used a lot and therefore in many cases reflects the style and status of the homeowner, so importance is placed on it.
As well as sitting important, the dining room will be the second most important room in the house. This means that the sideboard is often the focal point, such as the style of venetian wall mirror your dining table and chairs that surround the table.
And this concludes Part Two of the article which discusses the short history of antique furniture, and the many influences along the way that give us diversity in style and design that are still popular in many homes today.
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