Articles

Although the articles for which the Brothers Adam furnished designs at one time or another included practically every piece of furniture known to the domestic economy of the day, we are concerned, generally speaking, only with chairs, stools, settees or sofas, window seats and daybeds, bedsteads, tables, chests of drawers, console cabinets, secretaries, bookcases, sideboard tables, pedestals, mirrors and clocks.

Contour

In contour the style introduced by the Brothers Adam struck an entirely new note. As previously mentioned, the curving structural lines so much favoured during the Chippendale period were practically dropped and the rectilinear element, one might almost say the angular element, again became supreme. Curving lines in occasional serpentine fronts or in half round tables and console cabinets were often met with, to be sure, but the directness of the straight structural line everywhere asserted itself. All the furniture was lighter and more graceful in character. Legs were frequently tapered and had spade feet (Key X, 3, 4 and 5), other legs were round and fluted (Plate XXII, p. 190). Mouldings and cornices were small and exceedingly refined in detail (Fig. 1, A and B). Carcase work, save in semicircular console cabinets, was purely rectilinear. Tops of cabinet work were straight or adorned with rectilinear pediments. The well-known Adam vase or urn (Fig. 1, C) appeared as a finial embellishment, and the urn shape was also conspicuous in the knife boxes (Plate XXI, p. 186) for sideboard pedestals.

So far as contour was concerned, the oval shape appeared chiefly in mirrors, in semi-oval side tables - with insistently straight legs - and the semi-oval swells to some of the console cabinets with an otherwise rectilinear carcase. Circular or oval lines (Key X, 1, 2 and 3) were also to be found in some of the backs of the straight-legged chairs. Both contour and detail were instinct with classic feeling (Fig. 1,A,B and C) without any tincture of French or other contemporary Continental influence, for the Adelphi drew their inspiration directly from old Pom-peian sources and kept their style pure of any modifying medium.

A

B

C

D

E

Fig. 1. Decorative Details Characteristic of the Adam Style.

ADAM PAINTED CABINET WITH ANGELICA KAUFFMANN PANEL.

By Courtesy of Mr. C. J. Charles, of London.

ADAM PAINTED SIDE TABLE.

By Courtesy of Mr. C. J. Charles, of London.

PLATE XXII.