Georgian Style Furniture Characteristics

Similar lines to queen anne chairs.

Georgian style furniture characteristics.

Georgian style the various styles in the architecture interior design and decorative arts of britain during the reigns of the first four members of the house of hanover between the accession of george i in 1714 and the death of george iv in 1830. It is named after the first four british monarchs of the house of hanover george i george ii george iii and george iv who reigned in continuous succession from august 1714 to june 1830. George iii chippendale style. Beside these two characteristics their style is defined by delicacy elegance and fine proportions.

In some ways it was a british interpretation of the french empire style featuring ornate gold ormolu mounts and classical and military motifs. The style was revived in the late 19th century in the united. British furniture is widely collected today for its elegant appearance and important ties to british history culture and taste. Georgian furniture replaced walnut with mahogany as its wood of choice.

Mahogany characteristically is a hardwood dark reddish brown in. It was the designers that followed this period that developed the style now considered typically georgian. It is especially light in comparison to earlier queen anne and chippendale styles. Styles from civilizations like ancient greece and contemporary japan contributed to the evolution of british furniture during the 18 th 19 th and 20 th centuries especially resulting in a wide array of designs and techniques.

Pieces are embellished with small carvings or painted designs along with intricate inlaid patterns and veneers often in woods of contrasting colors known as marquetry. George ii chair splats carved in honeysuckle motif. Corner chairs for reading and writing some had candlesticks. Early georgian furniture characteristics.

Georgian architecture is the name given in most english speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. The first thing to understand is that there are subtle differences between the style of georgian and regency furniture. Generally speaking there were 3 categories of designs by chippendale. Roughly referring to the period of the 1750 s and 1760 s the chippendale style emerged as the dominant force in georgian furniture design following the publishing of the first edition of thomas chippendale s the gentleman and cabinet maker s directory in 1754.

As a characteristic of the adam contribution to georgian style furniture the straight leg replaced the cabriole as part of a generally lighter construction and carving was in low relief with classic details. There was such diversification and oscillation. The gothic the rococo. The first thing to look for is what wood has been used.

Georgian style lasted nearly 100 years 1714 to 1801 and is named for king george i george ii and george iii of britain. The furniture developed neoclassical georgian furniture with themes drawn from ancient greek and roman and egyptian architecture and design.