Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-10

who prdes herself on being some
what Of an authority on correct
home furnishing that she asked
neighbor who was building a new
home what period he was to have
it furnished in? In disgust the man
replied. mo period, I guess a ques-
ton mark" There are many other
in the city who probably would have
answered In the same words. not
from disgust, but rather from ig-
norance.
Period furniture and modern adap-
tons Of period furniture play such
an important part in the realm OF
modern homemaking. that every wo-
man should be generally informed.
at least, upon the predominatins-
characteristics which distinguish the
several periods, one from the other.
Period furniture Is so called because
the styles originated during certain
periods of history in different Euro
pean countries: and 1t is easier to
identify the styles by the name OF
the period than otherwise. Usually
the style bears the name of the rul-
err Of that period. as Queen Anne or
Georgian, and grew out of a number
of causes and influences, many no
table craftsmen, whose names for
the most part have been forgotten.
having contributed much to the
glory Of the style. Occasionally,
however there appeared a designer
whose work was SO revolutionary and
compelling that 1t dominated the
craft Of the period, forced the atten-
ton and approval Of the public and
acquired wide spread vogue. So. in
recognition of such creative genius,
the designers name became the
name of the style itself, as in the case
of Chippendale.
AS one studies style after style,
it is discovered that the development
Of each follows a more or less nat
termined in large measure by the
changing social standards and hab-
it's of living Of the different histori-
cal periods.
Few Of Many Periods Popular.
Records show that the first furni-
ture named for the ruler Of that per-
Tod was Elizabethan, after Queen
Elizabeth. She ruled. from 1858 to
1903 and during the next century
there were many rulers so the period
was named Jacobean and included
the william and Mary period furni-
ture. From 1902 to 1927 was known as
ha
was that Of Chippendale. about 1854.
Then followed quickly Heppelwhite.
Adam and Sheraton period work and
by 1920 the American colonial period
furniture was put out, strongly in
fluenced by English, especially Queen
Anne, style
1t should be understood that our
present day period furniture is mere
ly an adaptation Of the important
characteristics of that period car
ried out in a modern way. Designs
from every period have been used
but some are more popular than
others. The Queen Anne design has
remained In favor longer than any
other and is still very good but the
Adam. Sheraton and Louis XVI are
the newest offerings.
Styles Work Out Beautifully.
In nearly every instance the legs
of the furniture are the important
feature. as their design is what de-
termines the period to which the fur
niture belongs. There are other
characteristics peculiar to each per-
iod but the legs and feet are the
most important. In the Queen Anne
period the curved line Is the prevail
Ing mode. The capital S, or inverted
scroll curve, is the favorite contour
and Is worked out beautifully in the
legs of living room davenport Of
antique brown mahogany. The chairs
that matched the davenport further
carried out the characteristics OF
the period with backs lower and
slightly curved, the uprights flow
ing into hoped top. The legs of
the davenport terminated in cup
feet. Beauty was added to the set by
the insets Of cane in the backs. which.
however. Is not q mode Of the period,
and upholstry of rose velour.
Sheraton and Louis XVI Charming.
The Sheraton and Louis XVI char
acteristics were quite alike. the story
being told that Sheraton was the
originator and that Louis XVI stole
his designs Here again the legs are
important. both periods using flut-
rs and ...e tapeIin. form,
but the shape Of the Sheraton design
is square while that OF Louis XVI
n round. The latter also boasts
little carving while the Sheraton is
quite plain and simple When the
fluting Is placed as decoration on
furniture with the leg terminating
In a spade shaped foot then it is
of the Adam period.
Chippendale was the first designer
to have furniture named for him.
His designs were In four groups
English, Chinese, French and Gothic
but the first two are the only ones
now used. A dining room set of
American or black walnut shows the
true characteristics Of q Chinese
Chippandale in the bowed legs with
claw feet. little carving and ribbo"
back chairs. The legs and feet :
the same on buffet, table, chairs -
serving table. The carving was II
on the back board and below the
small center drawers Of the buffet.
also on the back Of the chairs which
had the appearance of a cluster Of
rtbon loops and thereby acquired It's
name. Elaborate metal pulls finished
the buffet.
Numerous othsr Styles.
STYLES which are not especially
good now are not shown enough for
one 70 attempt TO learn any Of tibet
characteristics and the same is trur