Stools And Tabourets

Stools and tabourets were made on principles analogous to those of the chairs, with which they were made to correspond.

Canapes Or Sofas

Sofas or canapes were executed in considerable variety, but all followed the principles noted in the section on chairs. Some of the sofas were short, such as that shown in Plate XXIX, p. 226, the back being upholstered and the arms free, like those of arm-chairs. The back also was supported by continuations of the rear legs, shaped like Hepplewhite chair-back supports. Other sofas were long, such as that shown in Plate XXX, p. 232, were supported on light legs, and both back and sides or arms were upholstered. In this illustration the small conical finials capping the back supports should be especially noted, as Sheraton employed this item of ornamentation on his chairs again and again.

Bedsteads

The bedsteads of this period frequently had high head-boards or both head-boards and foot-boards, with straight tops, sometimes with a carved cresting in the middle and sometimes without. The legs were continued upward as supports for the head- and footboards and were usually fluted or carved and capped with some carved device such as acanthus leaves. The canopies, often used with these bedsteads, were entirely separate constructions.

Tables

The various sorts of tables in use at this period ordinarily had straight tapered legs, either round or square. They were made both with and without stretchers, which were sometimes flat and shaped, sometimes rising. Rectangular tables occur more frequently than round or oval tables.

Consoles, Cabinets And Commodes

Consoles, cabinets and commodes were made in great number and in great diversity of patterns, but in them all the same vertical aspect and the same rectilinear tendency prevailed, notwithstanding occasional departures from the usual type.

Armoires

Armoires or wardrobes were vehicles for great elegance of construction and elaborate ornamentation, but require no especial comment, inasmuch as they adhered mainly to the prevalent rectilinear and perpendicular tendencies characteristic of the period.

Bureaux, Escritoires And Cartonniers

The writing furniture of the Louis Seize period was quite as varied in form as that of the preceding reign. Expense was lavished upon the sundry pieces, both in point of elegant materials and intricacy of ornamentation. Many of the large cylinder or roll-top desks were both ingenious and beautiful, while not a few of the writing-tables, escritoires and cartonniers achieved the acme of daintiness. The contour of all this furniture coincided with the lines already noted in other cabinet-work.

Torcheres And Mirrors

The torcheres, mirrors and other small furniture accorded in design with other mobiliary forms, and require no special comment beyond the observation that they were usually subjects for lavish but tasteful embellishment.