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Furniture Making History

Submitted: 09/05/2012 10:53:00

The different periods of furniture making from 1500 onwards was firstly conducted by carpenters, cabinet makers and the furniture designers. During the early carpenter period furniture was crude as the pieces were made wholly for a particular purpose, more than an object of desire. After the period 1660, these woodworkers started to specialise in furniture, therefore came the age of the 'Cabinet Maker'. During the middle of the 18th century furniture was starting to be associated with the names of individual designers and craftsmen whose names are relevant today, such names as Hepplewhite, Chippendale and others created the 'Designer Age'.

The Tudor period began with King Henry VII in 1485 ending with the coming to the throne of Elizabeth I therefore the end of the middle ages and the beginning of the English Renaissance period. The early Tudor furniture was typical of the Medieval furniture and Gothic period. The ordinary people of that age possessed very little in the way of furniture. The wealthier of that period would have not much more and perhapps only possessed such things as beds, tables, coffers, stools and benches. Chairs were for the owners of homes whilst their guests were resigned to stools. Elizabeth Tudor was crowned in 1558, reigning until 1603. Even Elizabeth I was part of the Tudor time and her importance was such that her time on the throne was signified by her name much more than that of King Henry VIII, her father. The Elizabethan era incorporated the Gothic period.

The jacobean era was inspired by King James I who reigned from 1603 until 1625. James I was part of the Stuart family, as to his sun and successor King Charles I who reigned from 1625 until 1649. The early Jacobean furniture inspired a lot of the early American furniture of the pilgrims. Even today a lot of the jacobean style furniture is often referred to as 'Pilgrims furniture', being of sturdy construction usually in oak and often similar to Elizabethan furniture.

Charles II came to the throne in 1660, bringing the Restoration/Coralean period. Charles II and his court had spent many years in exile in fashionable centres of Holland and France, during that time becoming admirers of their furniture styles. \on returning to England they brought Baroque and French tastes to \london and indeed English furniture. The elaborate European influence, particularly that of Louis XIV Baroque style spread into the wealthy homes in London.

William and Queen Mary ruled in England from 1688 to 1702, William of Orange being Dutch brought a large amount of Dutch influence in English furniture. This furniture was very decorative, and large numbers of Dutch craftsmen and cabinet makers were found in England, being regarded as extremely skilfull in furniture decoration and design in turn bringing England much closer to the major movements of furniture in Europe. Walnut was now the preference of the cabinet makers.

Queen Anne of England reigned from 1702 until 1714 bringing English Baroque furniture to the forefront and the commencement of self-styled furniture which competed alongside French and Dutch. English furniture at this time rapidly became very elegant, decorated and well proportioned - Walnut still being the main timber. The claw and ball feet made its entrance in English furniture design.

The Kings George I, II, III span from 1714 to 1811, these bringing the Georgian period. The early Georgian period kept the styles from the Queen Anne period and remained popular. Mahogany took over from walnut. Mahogany first became popular after a carpenter on a voyage onboard Sir Walter Raleigh's ship in 1595 observed and admired its beauty. In the early to mid part of the 18th century mahogany soon became favourite with cabinet makers due to its strength, long lasting, close grain and rich dark red colours. The Prime Minister of that time Sir Robert Walpole lifted taxes on mahogany imports therefore starting the mahogany revolution. The commencement of the highest quality carving was used, such as eagle's heads or scroll. Furniture was now available with lavish carving and golden ornamentation. Britain now had a wealthier and more knowledgeable lower and upper class who wanted the trimmings that came with wealth. now comes the boom for the English cabinetmaker. This was now the age of the great designers such as Sheraton, Chippendale, Hepplewhite.

To be continued.

Michael Davies