Ƅƅ COUNTRYLIVING.COM / NOVEMBER 2019
- KNOW YOUR STYLES.
The golden era of furniture-making (the 17 th through the early 20th centuries) yielded
distinct and varied designs. Here’s a little primer* on a few of the most beloved forms.CHIPPENDALE
Named after London
cabinetmaker Thomas
Chippendale, whose book
The Gentleman and Cabinet-
Maker’s Director proved
influential to furniture-
makers of the era. This is
one of the “big three” (along
with Hepplewhite and
Sheraton) in British furniture.Chairs of this richly decorated
style tended to have carved
back splats (the thin piece of
wood in the center of the
back; above), while case goods
boasted cabriole (double-
curved) legs. Known for
well-proportioned bookcases
and other large case goods
embellished with intricate
piercings and carvings.The pierced designs of chair
backs are carried through to
bail pull hardware (above).
Ornate ball-and-claw footings
were especially prominent in
the U.S. as they were thought
to be an eagle’s claw.Located mere miles from
Chippendale’s birthplace,
Yorkshire, England’s grand
Harewood House estate
showcases many specimens,
including mirrors, sofas,
commodes, and more.EASTLAKE
In the late 1800 s,
British architect Charles Lock
Eastlake created a then-
novel style that mixed
medieval outlines with the
ornamentation of Japanese
furnishings. His style was a
predecessor to the American
Arts & Crafts movement.In an effort to counter heavy
Victorian pieces, Eastlake
encouraged open forms with
spindle elements in items like
tables and headboards,
while straight-backed chairs
(above) and sofas shirked
curves. Wood grains were
showcased, sometimes so
darkly stained it was difficult
to discern the wood type.One of the first mass-produced
furniture styles, it was
popular in the U.S. due to its
decorative flourishes—incised
lines, chipped carvings, elabo-
rate metal work (above)—
that machines made possible.The billiard room at Newport,
RI’s Chateau-sur-Mer
mansion features original
Eastlake furniture
and architectural elements.FEDERAL
The first distinctly
American furniture style,
it spanned from the late
1700 s to the early 1800 s,
coinciding with the
start of the newly founded
Federal government.Known for its sharply
geometric forms, this
period placed an emphasis
on symmetry and balance,
especially in chair backs
(above). There was also a
strong connection between
structural design and
ornamentation—for example,
inlays tended to follow the
shape of the piece.While there was considerable
variation depending on
the city an item was crafted
in, common motifs were
contrasting veneers and
pictorial designs of symbols
such as eagles and stars.The Oval Office’s
grandfather clock, made
in Boston in the early 1800 s,
is an acclaimed example
of Federal-style furniture.HEPPLEWHITE
Though no furniture made by
George Hepplewhite
survives, the British craftsman
is the namesake for the late-
1700 s design movement that
embraced the slim, elegant
designs featured in his tome,
The Cabinet-Maker
and Upholsterer’s Guide.Hepplewhite is known for
light—both visually and
physically—furnishings.
Subtly curved chests and
sideboards are recognized
by their serpentine—or
bow—fronts and tapered
or, when square, spade
footing. Another hallmark:
the then-novel shield-back
chair (above).The delicate aesthetic was
reinforced with frequent
marquetry—inlaid pictorial
scenes created from wood
veneers—while small, graceful
carvings were carried over
to brass hardware (above).Schuyler Mansion in Albany,
NY, boasts Hepplewhite shield-
back chairs. (Psst: These
perches may have once been
graced by the posterior of
Alexander Hamilton, who
married Elizabeth Schuyler.)O
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