The Appeal of English Antique Furniture
Are you someone who would love to add a touch of elegance to your home, or do you adore the idea of taking a step back in time and capturing a feel of history in your living room? If either of these things sound good to you, make sure that you take a look and see what English antique furniture has to offer you. Check out a few of the different eras that you might be interested in and find the one that matches your design sensibilities.
Though we usually think of English antique furniture as being delicate, it was not always the case. For instance, during the medieval era, the furniture that was used was largely very close to Roman in nature. The construction was very heavy and rather angular, although there were certainly some arches used in both furniture and architecture. The Gothic styles of this time were later revived during the Victorian era.
Another era of English antique furniture that you might be interested in is that of the Restoration, which places it to the late seventeenth century. The styles that you will see here are fairly elaborate, and many of the chairs and desks of the era had legs carved with twists or spirals and carved scrolling that adorned the corners. The seats could be made of woven cane and there was a decided French influence during this time period, thanks to the French workers who immigrated to England during this time.
During the reign of William and Mary, styles seemed to be a little plainer, though the construction was very fine. Cabinetmaking became an art all its own and luxurious woods like ebony and walnut were used. There was an increased use of veneers and the legs developed a decided trumpet shaped sensibility, with an increased predisposition towards elaborate scrolling. By the beginning of the eighteenth century, you will begin to see a continuation of the fine work, though it is rendered in a much more heavy hand. The early Georgian period saw the quintessential claw and ball feet design and there was a decided touch of the Italian in the work that we see.
Moving much further on, we see that by the early part of the twentieth century, there was a taste for the historic styles again, though influences from France, Italy, and Germany still had a hold. Contrary to the myth of the Victorians covering up chair legs out of modesty, the chair legs in question were often elegantly arched, though less elaborate and fanciful than they were in years past. Take a moment to look at these styles and then to compare them to the modernist period that took place during the time between the World Wars. This period was stark, angular and in many ways very striking.
If you are interested in English antique furniture, there are many different options open to you. Find the style that best suits your home and make sure that you take a moment to think about the eras that they came from.
Learn more about antique dining tables and other antique furniture tables.
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