Descriptionary

art deco a style prominent in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by glass and chrome elements and the use of decorative arcs, zigzags, lozenges, and other geometric patterns. Known during the period as Jazz Moderne or Art Moderne.

art nouveau "New Art." An ornate French style arising from about 1890 through 1910, characterized by frequent use of the "whiplash curve," an S-shaped line ending in one or more reverse curves. Tiffany lamps fall into the art nouveau category.

arts and crafts a style popular from 1890 to 1914, characterized by an emphasis on craftsmanship and simple forms and ornamentation. Exposed joinery is a characteristic of the style.

baroque a rich, dramatic style of furniture from the 17th to early 18 th centuries, characterized by exten­sive ornamentation in the form of carvings, inlays, gilding, and chinoiserie.

Bauhaus a minimalist style so named after the form of German architecture inspired by Walter Gropius.

Biedermeyer a German style arising in the 1800s, and borrowing from Empire styles, noted for its plain, square, but strong forms and light woods accented with black enamel.

campaign furniture a type of furniture that can be folded or broken down for easy transport, used mainly by the military in British India from the late 18th through the 19th centuries.

Chippendale rococo style of the 18th century, most noted for its graceful lines, ball and claw feet, and cabriole legs, named after the English cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale.

classical any style of furniture based on ancient Greek and Roman designs.

colonial any American style originating during the original settlements, from approximately 1700 to 1776. It borrowed from many previous styles, such as Jacobean and Puritan, and could be simple or ornate but was most commonly utilitarian.

colonial revival a style inspired by the original colo­nial styles, prominent from the 1870s through World War I and after.

contemporary any modern style.

cottage a style of inexpensive furniture of the late 19th century, characterized by decorative paintings of fruits and flowers.

Directoire a French style of furniture, popular from 1805 to 1815, noted for its simple, utilitarian design and details borrowed from ancient Greece and Rome. Mahogany was frequently used in construction, and typical ornaments included diamonds, stars, wreaths, lyres, and laurel branches. Saber-legged sofas, Gre­cian couches, and lyre-back chairs were characteris­tic pieces. The style enjoyed a renaissance in 1950s America.

early American style of the late 1600s through early 1700s, characterized by trestle tables and slat- back chairs, and simple or no ornamentation.

Elizabethan a heavily carved, massive style origi­nating in the second half of the 1500s in England.

Empire a massive style of the early 1800s, char­acterized by bronze ornamentation, and decorative carvings of bees, crowns, laurel leaves, and mytho­logical figures. The most popular drawer pull of the period was a lion head with a ring in its nose. Popular woods used in construction included mahogany and rosewood.

Federal an American style following the American Revolution, characterized by the use of veneer, inlay, and brass feet. Brass drawer pulls with bald eagle or dove designs were common as was the use of mahog­any in construction. Duncan Phyfe was among the most famous Federal-style designers.

French Empire early 1800s style characterized by the heavy use of ebony, rosewood, and mahogany, with tops often made of marble and ornamentation that ranged from lions and sphinxes to torches and Roman eagles.

Georgian a style originating in the 1700s, charac­terized by such decorative elements as eagle heads and talons, lion heads and claws, and satyrs' masks.

Gothic a heavy medieval style known for its large trestle tables and chests banded with wrought iron.

Gothic revival a style derived from medieval times, popular in England and America in the 1800s.

Hepplewhite a late 1700s and early 1800s style named after the cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite, largely based on Adam and neoclassical styles. It is characterized by the use of serpentine and bow fronts on chests of drawers and Prince of Wales feather motifs or shield configurations on chair backs. Other orna­mentation included carved eagles and stars and urns.

horn furniture chairs or settees partially or wholly made from the horns or antlers of deer, elk, buffalo, or cattle, originating in the Middle Ages, and made later in the 19th century as novelty pieces.

Jacobean English style of the early 17th century, often with dark finishes and sometimes ornamented by heavily turned legs, arabesques, and Italianate carvings. Also known as Pilgrim furniture.