Types Of Decorative Design

The types of decorative design used by the Brothers Adam were exceedingly rich in variety, and might be classified as architectural, floral and animal.

Under the Architectural motifs may be included swags, both floral and of drapery (Fig. 1, A and C), beading, guilloche (Fig. 1, E) interlacings, paterae, both circular and oval (Fig. 1, A, B and C), masques, Ionic capitals, and anthemion or classic honeysuckle pattern, urns (Fig. 1, C), vases, minute and varied Pompeian details, spandrel fans (Fig. 1, D) and egg and dart mouldings.

Under Floral, motifs may be mentioned pendent husks (Fig. 1, C), water leaves or endives, roses, pal-mette pattern, pineapples, acanthus leaves, and fuchsia drops. Of course all the foregoing floral motifs were pretty thoroughly conventionalised and of architectural affinities.

The Animal motifs include rams' heads-, goats' heads, goats' feet, lions' heads, griffins, birds, and human figures. Ribband designs were also used.

Structure

The structure of most of the Adam cabinet-work, owing to its generally rectilinear character, was good. Furthermore, it was usually made by the best joiners. The pieces with semi-circular or semi-oval fronts were carefully and strongly made and structurally sound. With chairs and settees, however, it was a different matter. Some of them, especially those made in mahogany, were strong and durable, but others, while exceedingly graceful in design, were structurally weak. The satinwood chairs, above all others, were of frail structure, and it needs only a glance at the lines of the arms and backs to be convinced of this.

The Brothers Adam, as architects, thought mostly in terms of marble, stone and stucco, and some of their designs for furniture were utterly impracticable until modified by the cabinet-makers to whom they entrusted their commissions.

Mounts

The metal mounts for Adam furniture were designed with the characteristic delicacy and care that mark all work that goes by the name of the Adelphi.

A

B

C

Fig. 3. Characteristic Adam Mounts.

The patterns varied largely with the individual pieces designed, but the accompanying illustrations will convey a fair notion of their beauty and refinement.

Finish

The finish of Adam furniture was to all intents the same as that of other furniture of the period, and what is said in the Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton Chapters will quite cover the subject.