San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
Of.
PERIOD DESIGNS.
VERY HELPFUL.
Study Of Furniture History
May Prevent Costly
Mistakes.
is NO SMALL TASK
Furnishing Home Requires
Taste and Use of Com
mon Sense.
In the general awakening to the

StduulnS Ut Tue outset DetOlncS dI'-
parent. If costly and discouragipS
mistakes are TO be avoided, some
knowledge of the intimate relation
between the artistic and the practi-
cal in furnishing and decoration. OF
the principles of harmony and de-
sign and the manner in which they
are carried out must be acquired,
Furnishing and decorating a home
so that it will be at once comfort
able, artistic and liveable is an I'M
dertaking of no little consequence.
1t requires good sense, taste and at
least a recognition of the principles
by which the master craftsman of
furniture have worked.
In the evolution of the better
American home, the home-maker
will not go far in her study of her
plan before she begins to realize the
part which the so-called "periods"
has played in making the home a
place of higher significance than
a mere roof over the head. Without
going into an exhaustive study of
the subject, she will soon come to
understand that the different histor-
ical periods with which styles of
furniture are associated have q rela-
tion to one another which bears vi
tally on the well-balanced and har-
monious whole of the successful
home as it is understood today.
JacObean the First Influence.
Going back historically the Jaco-
bean is the earliest period whose di-
rect influence is felt to any great cx-
tent in the furniture of today. 1t
was a period of English furniture
(which extended roughly from 1908
TO 16SS, embracing the time from
the accession of the Stuart family TO
the reign of the Dutch rulers, Viii
lam and Mary. The name is de-
rived from Jacobus, the Latin for
James, the first of the Stuart line
on the English throne. The king
and his court and the nobility had
an important influence on. the de-
s->sg and making of furniture.
They were the patrons of the fine
arts. The designer who received the
royal favor had means and oppor.
tunity for the perfection of his
york on the artistic side without
he bampering Of commercial con-
siderations.
Articles Of English furniture had
)een few in number and simple and
solid in construction. 1t was not
easy to get away from this influence
in the direction of lighter, more
graceful forms. Then, too, this pc
riod embraced the time of Cromwell
with its Puritanical reaction against
the ornamental. Still there followed
IA tendency later in the Jacobean
period toward forms of more grace
and beauty. 1t was a time of con-
flicting influences in history and it
is not to be wondered at that wide
variations exist in the styles which
ire grouped under the names Jaco-
,ean.
Oak FavOrite Wood.
As might be expected, the furni-
ure of that time was solid. thick
md heavy-sometimes even clumsy.
The practical, hardy life of the peo-
ole was reflected in simple forms,
which were for the greater part
rectangular. Mechnical construc-
zion was strong and good. Oak was
the wood most employed in the early
Iacobean period and oak does not
lend itself readily TO other than SIM
pie forms. Cabinets were in general
use and their broad surfaces were
ornamented freely with heavy cary
ing. Later in the period. in the time
of Charles III, spiral twists and scroll
treatments appeared on members of
he pieces of furniture, as well as
arriving on the broad surfaces.
n distinctive article of the Jaco-
Iean period was the chair. The
.arly type was chair of wood
throughout with a flat. rectangular
seat and straight back having but
k&ske. Evidently ease was not
Iuch Considered. Straight lines and
light angles prevailed.
After the Restoration. when !
;harles II came to the English |
hrone, forms began to deviste from !
he straight and the rectangular.
Twists from France and scrolls |
rom the Flemish appeared. Arched
'front.' stretchers and high narrow |,
backs were motifs seen in chairs. |
The gateleg table is form which !
,as come down to us from this tine |
most unchanged. Sideboards, de-
eloped from the cabinets or cup
cards of that day. had their begin
ing. Jacobean furniture seems 10 |
ave been particularly adaptable TO |
re dining room and more of its. mo-
ifs are used in the dining room to- !
sy than in any other form Of use.
he settee is another article of fur /
iture favored for Jacobean repro
uction. SUGGESTIONS of square and |
eund forms on the legs or chairs.
,iral twists. ball feet, arched backs
nd carved stretchers arc character
tics Of the Jacobean style. which
e used and may be recognized 70.
y. Naturally this early style had
tile immediate influence on Ameri-
IN furniture. The few settlers in
merica Mt this time We're too busy
sllting Indians and cutting down
.rests TO pay much attention TO the
finements of home.
William and Mary Influence.
The William and Mary period. in
lite of TIE shortness of their reign
England. from 1850 to 1902. was
I'll defined during the rule Of the
utch king and queen. Usually the
iglish were rather slow in adopt
new manners of life. But 1t was
lerwise in their taking mp of new
PAS in furniture in this brief peri
Political conditions were hecom-
more settled and the English
more time TO turn their atten-
htls .,rcfinements of LIVING.
SNs. iers came follow.
ne nobility who had
N adonting foreign
arietics Of furni'