Evening star., 1927-02-05
Early English Furniture
ny ELTZABETH STETSON.


In England the medieval feeling and
style Of building fingered long AFTER
II had disappeared from the continent.
What we call the Tudor style was stli
essentially Gothic. The first breath OF
The renaissance comes during the
reign of Henry VIII, but architecture
and furniture do not show much or It's
influence until Elizabethan times. The
Gothic tradition of furniture building
was based on the joining of all struc-
Sural members at right angles. Fiat
surfaces on the sides of these pieces
were often decorated with carved de-
Signs, such as the famous grape mo-
tif and others of similar lines.
The legs of tables and stools were
very simply turned and connected
across the bottom with stretchers. The
interior OF an English Gothic or Tudor
room should have walls Of stone or
wood panels with half timbering and
rough plaster above for the great halls
Hnd simple paneling or rough plaster
for the smaller rooms. These panels
we're about 10 inches square. or slight
y oblong in shape. Sometimes they
were carved to make the 'linenfo!d
PANEL" but in later times they were
more often plain. The great window
of the hall had still an ecclesiastical
aeeling about 1t. It comprised a series
IF easement windows with small
square or diamond shaped panes lead
ed together, with here and there an
inset of stained glass. The mulions
and surrounding trim are of stone
heavily nodded with strong under
cuts. Sometimes the top of the win
dow is filled with Gothic tracery,
sometimes it is simply squared off.
'Ehe fireplace of this period is always
of stone or plaster with a fiat Tudor
arch framing the opening. Both
furniture and backgrounds are on q
large scale.
Barrel Legs" Come In.
BY Elizabethan times the long ia
he, the principal feature OF the great
hall or living room, had acquired four
ar six huge, buibous legs fiuted or GOV.
sred with carving. Buffets developed
with the same barrel legs" and carv-
ing over the fiat surfaces. The curving
lad by this time lost many Of the
Gothic motifs and had acquired in
stead crude renaissance motifs, one
especially. which is a very simple
;oSm of the acanthus leaf, seems to
uredominate.
During the reigns of the first Stuart |
Kings settees appeared with solid |
wood backs richly carved. We find |
individual chairs. some with simply |
Iurned arms and legs and the richly |
carved panel backs, wainscot chairs, |
as they were calked; others, uphol |
stored on the seats, backs and arms |
with velvet and tapestries. A very |
decorative type of chair was developed |
with arms and legs turned in a spiral |
twist and a low square back. which |
was upholstered as well as the seat. |
Up to this time furniture had been |
entirely of oak. Now walnut had ap- |
peared as a furniture wood and was |
becoming quite popular.
Under the later Stuarts. the wind |
sor chair and the gate-legged table |
originated. Also the famous Carolean |
chairs were developed showing the |
Baroque influence of the continent. |
These were of walnut with high mar |
row backs, cane or velvet insetS filled |
The back and seats, while the frames |
were carved with great scrolls or
twisted spiraliy.
Fireplaces of Stone.
Walls were still covered with small |
oblong panels. The ceilings had grad |
ually become much lower and were
decorated with ornamental plaster
work. Windows are still of the case
1nent style grouped together. Fire
places are Of stone with simple Tudor
stTCn framing the opening ana nave |
paneling above, or they may have a |
very elaborate wooden superstructure |
II two or more round headed arches, |
supported on pilasters. Rugs should |
be Oriental of brilliant color and of |
iseometrical design. Lighting fixtures |
should be wrought iron IL the house |
ss rather early and crude, but of brass |
f the style is more elaborate. The |
fixtures. both chandeliers and wall |
brackets, should be fitted with candle |
type bulbs to be in keeping with the |
architectural style of the room. OF /
course, in an average home. the chief |
lighting should be given by well |
placed lamps. For overdraperies and |
1angings, beautiful crewel work cur