Furniture

It being rather well known that on the Fourth of July, 1776, the American Colonies declared themselves free and independent of mother England, and that at Paris in 1782 England agreed to that separation, it seems rather strange that intelligent people should persist in naming as "Colonial" a furniture that did not come into existence till the beginning, of the next century.

Colonial furniture is, naturally, the Jacobean, William and Mary, Queen Anne - Early Georgian, Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and other furniture made in America previous to "the birth of the nation", often somewhat varied by its local makers. There were also some Dutch derivations, and a few original American forms.

When the new nation began to find itself, there was, to phrase it gently, a pardonable coolness toward things British and a corresponding gratitude toward France which had done so much to aid us. Toward France, then, attention was strongly turned, and when in that country the Directory, Consulate, and Empire succeeded upon the chaos of the Revolution and new styles of decoration there developed, what more natural than that they be seized upon as a basis for America to follow? These local variants of French furniture are therefore properly known as American Empire, the term Empire being a generic one often broadly given to the whole period in France. It is these very pieces which are most often carelessly called "Colonial".

PLATE 147. SHERATON CONSOLE-TABLE AND HEPPLEWHITE SIDEBOARD IN SATINWOOD MARQUETERIE DUNCAN PHYFE.

DINING-TABLE. 54 in. diameter. 8 feet extension.

BLOCK-FRONT DESK. Length 44 in.. Depth 23 in., Height 42 in.

GOVERNOR WINTHROP DESK. SERPENTINE FRONT. Made in 3 sizes.

Manufactured by Charak Furniture Co., Boston, Mass.

PLATE 148. COLONIAL HIGHBOYS IN SOLID MAHOGANY.

Manufactured by Charak Furniture Co., Boston, Mass.

We have, then, to give attention to two types of American furniture - the English and the French - distinct, but after all well blended by the American consciousness, already making itself felt. Furthermore, it must at once be recognised that, while there was a considerable amount of simple, primitive furniture constructed, the cabinet-makers of the period were of English birth or immediate descent, well-trained and of decided ability. Furthermore the social life of America had advanced to a marked degree and there was a great demand for all the amenities of other civilisations.

Let us first consider the furniture of English provenance.

Some pieces of the earlier periods found their way across the Atlantic with the settlers of those times and a greater number were made here; but, naturally, with the development of the country, the demand for household goods greatly increased; the styles most common, then, were those from that of Queen Anne to Sheraton, inclusive. Nor must those of Dutch inspiration or native American devising be forgotten. Such furniture as appears in Plates 4 (lower cut), 24, 60, 115, 125, 127, 131, 132 and 135 is Colonial, the greater proportion of British forms being made here as well. Special attention is drawn to the Chippendale ladder-back chair and the Sheraton chair appearing in Plate 131. These are faithful reproductions of American pieces of their period, showing slight deviations from their English prototypes but well-proportioned, fine of line, and incisive.

Referring to the illustrations given in this chapter, the console-table, sideboard, and serpentine desk on Plate 147 and the highboys on Plate 148 are all of like excellence. In Great Britain the use of highboys died out with this period and wardrobes came into favour, but in America they persisted for many years. In this connexion there is an interesting fact which has never before been noted. In America, and particularly in Philadelphia, highboys were made intelligently and completely carrying out the Chippendale style - and yet Chippendale himself, to the best of the writer's knowledge and belief, never made a highboy! Wonderful pieces of furniture they were, too, and those by William Savery (1722-1787) and other excellent makers now fetch high prices. It may be mentioned that a close investigation of all the arts in early Philadelphia is now being carried on, and regarding this we may use words from Hans Andersen's "The Snow Queen": "When we shall have got to the end we shall know more than we do now".

America made many variations in the four post beds of British origin, many of which are charming. They are usually to be recognised as of Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton type but often present distinct proportions and special features. This was quite in order, and it was precisely what all other nations did in taking to their own the styles of other countries; but let this not be seized upon as a justification for the "adaptations" of present-day designers of commercial furniture - it does not invariably so much matter what one does in this world as how it is done!

So was it with the French styles which America took over as a basis for its own product. Far more than with the English modes were changes made. In cabinet-work particularly the flatness of the Empire style was oftener relieved by corner pillars, the structure was made more evident, the metal mounts were generally omitted, and pomp was discarded as unbefitting to a republic and the general manner of life.