Overview - Medieval Renaissance and Restoration
500 AD – 1700 AD

Medieval…

In 476 AD the last Roman emperor fell. Western Europe lost the order the Roman structures had brought and was plunged into almost a thousand years of stagnation. Society degenerated into mainly small kingdoms and lordships that were often at each other's throats and life was brutal and short with the average human living only into their thirties.

The limited furniture that people owned had to be functional and portable as they were frequently on the move, fleeing from danger, starvation and disease. Most furniture had several functions and was related to eating and sleeping (or both) because that was what was necessary for life.

There was little in the way of luxury and most people owned nothing, including furniture, that was not directly related to their survival.

Renaissance…

A growth in trade during the early 1300s brought new products and ideas to Italy and rekindled an interest in art, philosophy, politics and economics… marking the transition from the darkness of the Middle Ages to relative modernity.

Furniture became more freely available to all people but its quality varied widely among the social classes. Only the wealthiest could afford the more elaborate pieces which were characterized by opulent, often gilded designs that frequently included floral, vegetal and scrolling ornamentation… but nevertheless this marked the beginning of what would, during the next few centuries, provide an unprecedented array of furniture ideas and styles.

Restoration…

The Jacobean furniture of the early 1600s was stern, square and frugal, a suitable style for a time of relative poverty… and this continued after King Charles was overthrown by Oliver Cromwell who introduced Puritan values and austerity into England.

When Cromwell died in 1659 King Charles II, who had been in exile in Europe, was restored to the throne (an event creating that came to be known as the Restoration Era) and he brought with him the more progressive ideas and trends prevalent in Europe. This brought English furniture back into line with European design movements, in particular with the opulence of baroque furniture.

Medieval Period (also known as the dark ages)
500 – 1450 AD

• Furniture was generally dark and drab, embellished with metal and some carving.
• Forms were mainly straight lines with very little in the way of circular shapes or curved lines.

The Renaissance 1350 - 1550

• Still very influenced by the earlier classics, especially the Greek and Roman Eras.
• Designs continued to be heavy but were simpler with more moderate carvings.

A growth in trade brought new products and ideas to Italy and rekindled an interest in art, philosophy, politics, economics and the home… marking the transition from the darkness of the Middle Ages to relative modernity.

Renaissance furniture, although still heavy, had simpler designs with moderate carvings. It also became more freely available to all people but its quality varied among the social classes… and only the wealthiest could afford the more elaborate pieces which were characterized by opulent, often gilded designs that frequently included floral, vegetal and scrolling ornamentation.

Typical pieces included the marriage chest which was a wooden box decorated on the top and sides, and used both to store items and as room decoration… whilst in poorer classes they were also used as a table and to sleep on.

Beds, especially canopy beds with four pillars, were popular amongst the wealthy and nobility because only they could afford them and the same happened with chairs… while the wealthy had large, comfortable and elaborate chairs, the lower classes had simpler chairs with the scissor or x-shaped chair being a common item, especially in smaller rooms where they could be folded out of the way.

Styles were heavily influenced by the earlier classics, especially the Greek and Roman eras, and these new designs soon spread to Europe where furniture makers there began to embellish them with their own ideas… and this marked the beginning of what would, during the next few centuries, provide an unprecedented array of furniture ideas and styles.

Jacobean 1603 - 1660

• Styles were stern, square and frugal.
• Decorated with carvings and motifs that were more three-dimensional than previously.
• The first era where upholstery really appeared.

"Jacobean" is derived from the Latin name of James I who reigned as King of England from 1603 and the furniture of the era was stern, square and frugal, a suitable style for a time of relative poverty.

Whilst still linear and bulky, it was lighter and decorated with carvings and motifs that were more three-dimensional than its predecessors. It also introduced for the first time in England the concept of comfort in chairs and was the first era where upholstery really appeared.

Restoration 1660 - 1700

• A plethora of new, ornate designs.
• Intricate carvings, colorful upholstery with tasseled trim.
• Techniques of veneering, gilding, marquetry and lacquering.

The period from 1660 to 1700 is known as the Restoration Period because Charles II returned from exile in Europe and was restored as King of England after the death in 1659 of Oliver Cromwell... thereby ending decades of Puritan austerity.

It brought with it an atmosphere of gaiety and cheerfulness and restored pre-Puritan values and morals… and also brought English furniture back into line with European design movements, in particular with the opulence of baroque furniture.

During this period a great number of new, ornate models were developed, characterized by intricate carvings, colorful upholstery with tasseled trim and the techniques of veneering, gilding, marquetry and lacquering.

These styles spread rapidly into the homes of wealthy Londoners but in many provincial areas of England craftsmen continued with the semi-Gothic and Jacobean designs as well as the plain and simple Cromwellian styles.

Baroque 1600s - 1720s

• Oversized furniture with details symmetrically replicated on both sides.
• Heavy moldings, plenty of curves and exaggerated decorations, often with marble tops.
• Pedestal feet on the cabinets, chests and beds with only the four legs touching the floor.
• Elaborate compositions with inlays of stylized foliage and geometrics with spirals and curves.
• Figurative details like cherubs and animals adorned the corners and the top of the legs.
• Gilded finishes became popular by the end of the 1600s

Baroque furniture got its start in France where designers began to produce elaborate pieces for the monarchy.

This style is characterized by oversized furniture where details were symmetrically replicated on both sides and featured heavy moldings, plenty of curves and exaggerated decorations, often with marble tops.

Cabinets, chests and beds usually had pedestal feet where only the four legs touched the floor.

Elaborate compositions made with inlays became characteristic and by the end of the 1600s gilded finishes were the trend.… gold being associated with wealth, and having golden furniture was the ultimate luxury. Golden chandeliers, frames for mirrors or paintings and even doorknobs with golden decorations became popular.

Decorative motifs usually incorporated stylized foliage and geometric's with spirals and curves while figurative details like cherubs and animals adorned the corners and the top of the legs.