French And English Furniture | by Esther Singleton
Distinctive styles and periods described and illustrated
| Title | French And English Furniture |
| Author | Esther Singleton |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
| Year | 1903 |
| Copyright | 1903, Hodder & Stoughton |
| Amazon | French And English Furniture |
By Esther Singleton, Author Of "The Furniture Of Our Forefathers"
Illustrated From Original Sources By H. D. Nichols
Preface- THE purpose of this work is to provide all who are interested in French and English furniture since the Renaissance period with a comprehensive and detailed view of the various periods or styles...
- Louis XIII. Period
- IN decorative art, the form of Renaissance known as Henri II., which owed so much to the taste and influence of Diana of Poitiers, lasted for three quarters of a century. There was practically n...
- Louis XIII. Period. Part 2
- However barbarous an interior of the Louis XIII. period might have been in comparison with one of the age of Charles VII., it certainly was changing for the better. Convenience was being sacrificed le...
- Louis XIII. Period. Part 3
- The woods of which these massive cabinets, chests-of-drawers, etc., were made were oak, walnut, chestnut and sometimes ebony. The Dutch were bringing great quantities of new exotic woods from the Far ...
- Louis XIII. Period. Part 4
- Another of Mazarin's cabinets that had formerly belonged to his great predecessor, Richelieu, is described as being decorated with wavy mouldings (guilloches) and compartments ornamented with various ...
- Louis XIII. Period. Part 5
- The window curtains and portieres were also trimmed with braid and fringe. They hung from cornices of oak or walnut, carved to accord with the rest of the furniture. The centre of the cornice was deco...
- Louis XIII. Period. Part 6
- The Chateau de Chenonceau contained a number of beds of this kind. One was a bed of green damask, en housse, the bottom and the headboard trimmed with a narrow fringe of green silk, while a deep fring...
- Louis XIII. Period. Part 7
- Another bed was of flesh-coloured satin with squares of cloth-of-gold-and-silver. The ornamental fringe was red. Another, was of green satin embroidered in gold and silver. The fringes were of gree...
- Louis XIII. Period. Part 8
- The frames were of pear-wood stained black, and they were decorated with twisted columns. The twisted column shown in the side-supports and straining-rails of the chair in the lower right-hand corn...
- The Jacobean Period
- THE Jacobean Period covers almost a century (1603 - 1690). In its earlier stages, therefore, it is still Elizabethan in spirit, and in its old age it is largely influenced by the taste of the do...
- The Jacobean Period. Part 2
- The general impression of a Jacobean hall is elegance, - an elegance not merely derived from the dignified styles of the furniture contained in it; but from the rich tapestries and hangings, the...
- The Jacobean Period. Part 3
- The illumination is obtained by means of lamps, lanterns and candlesticks. The latter are very ornate. Some of them are branched and hang from the ceiling. Others have sconce-arms and are placed...
- The Jacobean Period. Part 4
- This stands on a ball foot, of an older form than the foot of No. 1 or No. 3. This example, moreover, has its lower portion enclosed with panelled doors. The earlier specimens of the court cupboard ...
- The Jacobean Period. Part 5
- This piece of furniture dates from 1660. We have noted that the bea was generally met with in every room in the house. There were, however, separate bedrooms even in the Tudor age. Shakespeare's de...
- The Jacobean Period. Part 6
- The rich materials mentioned above were often embroidered in gold or silver as is the case in bed shown on Plate IX. Striped silk was another favourite for the hangings of the bedroom. As a rule, w...
- Louis XIV. Period
- THE culminating period of the long reign of Louis XIV. (1643 - 1715) was reached at the Treaty of Nimeguenin 1678. From this time forward, France not only dominated Europe by force of arms, but ...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 2
- The influence of Le Brun cannot be over-estimated. All the industries of the day that had any connection with art passed into his control. For at least twenty-five years, he regulated all the ty...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 3
- The masca-ron, typical examples of which are seen on Plate XIV., Nos. 1, 2, and 3, the fleur-de-lis, the double L (the King's cypher) represented on Plate XVI., Nos. 2 and 4, complete, with the cartou...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 4
- Even as late as 1708, M. de Leger's chamber contains a. lit en housse (3 1/2 feet wide and 6 feet long) of violet and white damask trimmed with a mixed silk fringe. The four folding-stools in this roo...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 5
- In addition to the beds already mentioned the banc a lit sometimes appears. There were two in Madame de Maintenon's apartments: one was 5 feet, 10 inches long, and 2 feet, 2 inches wide. This was c...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 6
- This was bombe in front and contained three drawers, the locks, handles and other ornaments of gilt bronze. Its dimensions were 31 inches high; 3 feet, 8 inches long; and 24 inches wide. Berain and...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 7
- On Plate XVI., No. 3, is shown a portion of a console d'applique of carved wood painted in gray celadon, dating from the end of the Louis XIV. period, the two scroll feet joined by a stretcher, the si...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 8
- The second antechamber was hung with crimson damask, ornamented with gold braid and gold fringe. The portieres of the same, and lined with red taffeta, were 2 1/2 ells long, and comprised four lengths...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 9
- The top of the armoire and the spaces over the doors were also covered with crimson taffeta. The two mirrors and the chandelier were supplied with cords and tassels of gold. In this sumptuous room wer...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 10
- The cabinet contained a lit de repos, four fauteuils and four folding-stools, all upholstered in red velvet ornamented with gold braid and gold fringe. The window curtains were of white damask, trimme...
- Louis XIV. Period. Part 11
- In 1675, a little cabinet at Val was furnished with a lit de repos with one back, two chairs, two fauteuils and two tabourets. These were all covered to match the hangings with a brocade of gold and s...
- Queen Anne Period
- THE Queen Anne period is interesting on account of the favour in which it has been held of late years, particularly by a class that knows nothing at all about it. Queen Anne furniture, Queen Ann...
- Queen Anne Period. Part 2
- In England, porcelain had been a comparatively rare luxury confined to the tables and closets of rich collectors until about 1630. Cromwell laid a heavy duty on it. China-shops under the Restora...
- Queen Anne Period. Part 3
- The very sound of a Lady's Library gave me a great Curiosity to see it; and as it was some time before the Lady came to me, I had an opportunity of turning over a great many of her Books, which were ...
- Queen Anne Period. Part 4
- The mascaron appears as the chief ornament in No. 3, Plate XX. Strange to say, this is not a chair, as might be imagined, but a fire-back, as is also No. 4. The shape of this fire-back, however, is go...
- Queen Anne Period. Part 5
- One brown damask bed with gold coloured flowers, ten armed chairs, one couch, one door curtain, eight chair bottoms and four pieces of hangings of the same. Two carpets of India velvet, the ground wit...
- Queen Anne Period. Part 6
- Another chest-of-drawers contains five drawers, with handles and key-plates of or moulu, the whole of walnut decorated with inlaid arabesque ornaments in oval medallions. A combination dressing-table ...
- The Early Georgian Period
- THE Early Georgian Period covers an interval of about forty years, - from the accession of the House of Hanover in 1714 to the appearance of Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Direc...
- The Early Georgian Period. Part 2
- It is our misfortune to see at this time (1756) an unmeaning scrawl of (C s) inverted, turned and hooked together take place of Greek and Roman elegance, even in our most expensive decorations. This ...
- The Early Georgian Period. Part 3
- Langley thus catered to some extent to the tastes of those who admired the French styles, but he did not approve of them himself. He says: The great pleasure that builders and workmen of all kinds...
- The Early Georgian Period. Part 4
- It is the first object that strikes the eye, on entrance and the most conspicuous part of the room, and for that reason, while he gives it the same air as the rest, let him make it somewhat richer. W...
- The Early Georgian Period. Part 5
- Langley was far more responsible for the Gothic craze than Walpole was. Besides writing books on the subject, his services were engaged by the latter, doubtless on account of his being the authority...
- The Louis XV. Period
- THE gloom and solemnity of the last years of Louis XIV., ruled by a morose monarch and his bigoted, unacknowledged wife, gave place to the license of the Regency, and the exuberant vitality of a...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 2
- Meissonier began by destroying all the straight lines that were used of old; he curved the cornices and made them bulge in every way; he curved them above and below, before and behind, gave curves to ...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 3
- In addition to the above-mentioned, we must not forget the brothers Julien and Robert. The number of panels, carriages, sedan-chairs, boxes and ceilings and walls that they varnished is innumerable. T...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 4
- As a rule, the salon is rectangular. Its proportions are 4 to 3 or 2 to 1. There are square, round, oval and octagonal salons. Sometimes Corinthian columns are used for decoration and to frame the mir...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 5
- This play-room leads into another one where coffee is served. Here Indian and Chinese plants and figures have full licence to take part in the decoration: here they are naturally befitting; and, in m...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 6
- All the frames, so graceful in sweeping curves, were in delightful harmony with this subject, adding as Jules GuirFrey says, a fantastic piquancy to these mythological gallantries. The Oval room...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 7
- In the bath-room, marbles, porcelains and muslin were not stinted. The panels were covered with arabesques executed by Perot after designs of Gillot, and distributed in compartments with much taste. M...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 8
- The window curtains were in two parts, each part containing two lengths of white silk (gros de Tours), 2 1/2 ells long, trimmed with a braid of green and white silk. The bed was completely draped i...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 9
- In 1730, a furnishing for a cabinet described as mi-party of brocade of silver background on which are gold branches outlined in musk-colour, and crimson damask trimmed with gold, consisted of wall-...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 10
- This motive, borrowed from passementerie, harmonizes excellently with the surfaces covered by the woven stuff. No. 5 shows the sections, curves and deep grooves of the mouldings of the arms. Towar...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 11
- An extreme example of the rococo decoration of a bed is shown on Plate XXXIV. This is by J. J. Schii-bler, who died in Nuremberg in 1741. Schubler, an architect, painter, sculptor and mathematician, w...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 12
- The armoire is still in use. In 1760, we hear of the lower part of a large armoire in the form of a bookcase, of violet-wood veneered in mosaics. It was 7 1/2 feet long, 4 feet high, and 26 inches dee...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 13
- In the same year, there are two fauteuils, Chinese style, painted at the Gobelins, with cartouches, representing figures, birds, Chinese houses, etc. The border was of carved and gilt wood, the feet h...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 14
- Another finely carved and gilded frame is that of the screen on Plate XXX., which dates from the Regency. It is composed of shells and scrolls, and a monkey sits on the top of each upright. Unfortunat...
- The Louis XV. Period. Part 15
- Two other clocks appear on Plate XXX. The full drawing is a pendule d'applique, the frame of which is most ornate. It stands on a console of carved and gilded copper. The detail No. 1 on the same plat...
- The Chippendale Period
- ALL lovers of antique furniture are sufficiently familiar with the name of Thomas Chippendale, but this name has been of late years used so carelessly that it has become a generic term for all t...
- The Chippendale Period. Part 2
- Ornate as his designs are, it will be noticed in the above Preface that Chippendale thinks further enrichment will add to the beauty of every design. It will also be noticed that the descr...
- The Chippendale Period. Part 3
- Another bed has pillars composed of reeds with a palm branch twisting round, the pillars being 8 feet, 6 inches high; and the bedstead 6 feet, 7 inches long and 6 feet wide. The Field or ...
- The Chippendale Period. Part 4
- The length of the front leg is 19 inches; the rail of the seat (upholstered with small nails touching one another) is 22 3/4 inches; the seat is 18 inches square; and the back from seat to top rail 22...
- The Chippendale Period. Part 5
- The full drawing to the reader's right on Plate XXXVIII. shows a Gothic chair. Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are typical chair backs, No. 5 being Chinese, as is plainly shown by its fret-work and mandari...
- The Chippendale Period. Part 6
- Another toilet for a lady's dressing-room is thus described: The glass, made to come forward with folding Hinges, is in a carved frame, and stands in a compartment that rests upon a plinth, between w...
- The Chippendale Period. Part 7
- The mirror is in three panels: a large central one with a smaller one on each side. The girandole was also subject to the most fantastic kind of carving, out of which the sconce arms emerged in gra...
- Louis XVI. Period
- THE Louis XVI. style is easily recognizable. In every kind of furniture whether viewed from the full face or profile, the straight line strikes the eye. It is everywhere, in all the uprights, in...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 2
- Pollen describes the interior decoration of the rooms of this period as follows: The panelling of rooms, usually in oak and painted white, was designed in severe lines with straight moulding and p...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 3
- De Lalonde's first publications, in the Louis XVI. style, are addressed to artists and persons who wish to decorate with taste; and he assures them that everything is in the newest style. They inclu...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 4
- A number of Beneman's signed works exist, and are of massive and severe form. His heavy commodes of rigid lines are ornamented with handsome metal mounts; and many of his pieces announce the coming Em...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 5
- David Roentgen is often known as David. He was born near Coblentz, and seems to have kept his shop there, visiting Paris to dispose of his wares; and, obtaining the interest of Marie Antoinette, he ...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 6
- In addition to these, we may call attention to the following folding-beds: a lit d' ante-chambre in the form of a secretary was offered at the sale of the Marquise de Vigean's effects in 1783; and a...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 7
- Writing-tables with desks that lift up and down at pleasure to any height required, by means of mechanical devices, were also placed in the boudoir. Work-tables were sometimes combined with the writin...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 8
- Another typical chair was the voyeuse, the back of which was shaped like a lyre, and reached from the seat to the top rail. The latter was stuffed. Men sat astride the seat, and rested their arms up...
- Louis XVI. Period. Part 9
- The apartments of Mile. Guimard, the actress, in 1786, give excellent hints for furnishings of this period. In the ante-chamber, on the ground floor, were twelve chairs covered with green moquette, tw...
- The Adam Period
- REACTION from the rococo style doubtless marched with the same gradual and certain steps in England as in France. The Louis XVI. style crossed the channel and brought with it all its bitter cont...
- The Adam Period. Part 2
- Like Chippendale, they claimed more originality than they were entitled to when they wrote in their preface: We have not trod in the path of others, nor derived aid from their labours. In the book...
- The Adam Period. Part 3
- The table on the same plate is inlaid and has a border of inlaid brass and wood around the top. The two drawers under the top have borders of brass and are decorated with brass lions. In the centre of...
- The Adam Period. Part 4
- This renders it desirable to have them fitted up with elegance and splendour, but in a style different from that of other apartments. Instead of being hung with damask, tapestry, etc., they are always...
- The Heppelwhite Period
- QUITE different from the sumptuous book by Robert and James Adam is the one that was published in 1788 by the firm of A. Heppelwhite & Co., Cabinet-Makers. This is a collection of three hundre...
- The Heppelwhite Period. Part 2
- No. 7 on.Plate LVI., which may be of mahogany, or japanned, has a cane bottom in the original design, and should have a cushion of linen, leather, etc. Some of Heppelwhite's carved chair-backs ar...
- The Heppelwhite Period. Part 3
- Another variety is the bar back, which appears as if four open-back chairs (similar to No. 7, Plate LVI.) are placed side by side, the two end ones being supplied with an elbow, the general outline ...
- The Heppelwhite Period. Part 4
- They are often made to fit into a recess, but the general custom is to make them from 5 1/2 to 7 feet long, 3 feet high, and 28 to 32 inches wide. He also gives designs for sideboards with...
- The Heppelwhite Period. Part 5
- Another ladies' dressing-table is a simple table, the slab of which lifts up or can be opened out. In the centre of it is the dressing-glass which can be made to rise and stand. Around it are little c...
- The Sheraton Period
- THOMAS SHERATON, an English journeyman cabinet-maker, settled in London about 1790. From that date until his death in 1806, he seems to have stopped working at his trade and to have spent his ti...
- The Sheraton Period. Part 2
- He gives many directions, however, regarding the arrangement of rooms. As the entrance, or hall, of any well built house ought always to be expressive of the dignity of its possessor, so the furni...
- The Sheraton Period. Part 3
- The lodging-room admits of furniture simply necessary, but light in appearance, and should include such pieces as are necessary for the accidental occasions of the night. Here should be a small book-...
- The Sheraton Period. Part 4
- The curtains are of the French kind. Many dining-rooms of the first nobility have, however, only two columns and one sideboard, and those of less note have no columns. Correct drawing-...
- The Sheraton Period. Part 5
- The cellaret sideboard and sideboard with drawers which became fashionable under Heppelwhite are still more developed in Sheraton's early period; but in his last period there seems to be a retur...
- The Sheraton Period. Part 6
- As these buffets would suit well to be placed one on each side of the fireplace of a breakfast room, they might very conveniently hold such branches with the addition of one on the top, which may be s...
- The Sheraton Period. Part 7
- When they are fitted up for beds, it will add to the effect if the bed be placed on a double plinth, in the form of two steps, laid with a carpet to suit the rest, and the effect will still be heighte...
- The Sheraton Period. Part 8
- Sheraton devotes many plates to articles that appeal to gentlemen. His shaving-stands and dressing-glasses are marvels of convenience. The tambour shutter appears in many of the night-tables, bason-st...
- The Empire Period
- WE have already seen in the Louis XVI. period indications of the approaching Empire style; and noted that La-londe leads directly into the models of Percier and Fontaine. There was, however, a s...
- The Empire Period. Part 2
- The industrial arts, which concur with architecture in the embellishment of buildings, receive the same impulse from the spirit of fashion, and no kind of beauty or worth possessed by these articles o...
- The Empire Period. Part 3
- There was a tendency for patterns to become smaller; damask was ornamented with little figures, or stripes; Gobelin tapestries were supplanted by designs in grisaille on a red, blue, or green ba...
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