Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-12
American Period Furniture.
BY GENEyIEyE HENDRICKS.


The best of American furniture wa:
made in period which extended from
about 1880 to about 1925, during whtcf
time furniture was carefully made by
hand. With the advent of the rae
tory a demand for quantity, not quail
fly. output resulted. But little gooo
furniture has been produced since
about 1925, as one fad or fancy mas
followed another until the present dec
ade. when furniture manufacturers are
reproducing, with great care ana sue
cess, the early original pieces
The history of the American colonies
nnd the young Republic is rejected IN
the character of the furniture pro
duced. Three very distinct PERIODS IN
furniture design represent the eco
nomic status of the times.
The first period is that of early COZ,
onization between the years OF 1917
and 1T25. This being per'"d OF
struggle and hardships, the furnltS'e
produced was largely utilitarian IN oe
sign Also. because the majority OK
the early settlers, in New England az
least. were people of moderate means
rather than those Of great wealth.
the general taste was for simpie
things. Since there was no faculties
for elaborate carving and Woodwork'
but only the simplest of tools, rurhi'
t1re was made along simple, prac
teal rugged lines.
Chests Characteristic OF Period.
characteristic pieces produced dur
ing this early period are chests cup
boards. heavy chairs with solid wooden
backs and later the Stat back ana
turned spindle-back chairs. Small
stools were popular. Long benches
and trestIe tables with loose tops rest
ing lIpOn two or more trestles are also
characteristic. Another type OF tabie'
popularly known as the tavern taole,
with legs connected by simple stretch-
ers. belongs to this period. The gate
leg table. with legs that swing out TO
hold a folding top. appeared in the
latter part Of this first period The
butterfly table. so called. because OF
the wing shaped flap that swings out
to hold up the top. was popular, eS-
pecially in the New England States.
The ma jority of pieces produced in
this early period were fashioned OF
oak, pine. maple or hickory. Frequent
~ these woods were painted or stained
and the chests especially were fire.
ouently covered with elaborate,
though rather crude. designs. Simple
textiles were woven in the homes
often with designs in copy of fabrics
which traders had bought. Block
printing was also done at this time
on calico and other thin cotton mate
rails, producing materials similar In
design and color to the East Indian
prints.
Candle stands and whale oil lamps
usually of wrought iron or pewter.
were crude and simple in design but
very effective with the rugged furni-
.t4i +,f, ted
Other accessories were similarly
simple.
log Houses Replaced.
The first simple houses of logs were
in time replaced by more elaborate
houses as life became less difficult for
the settlers. Through most of this
early period, however, the rooms were
low-ceilinged. Walls in the better
houses were often simply but beauti-
fully paneled in pine.
The second period of American
decorative art, dating from about
1725 to 1890. shows far more foreign
influence, as of course trade had be.
come more extensive with foreign ma
tons. The colonists had more time,
leisure and money and had fewer
hardships to face The furniture
therefore became less rugged and
more ornate and elegant.
The Renaissance i'm Europe, with
itssrather elaborate designs and cary
ings, in time influenced the craftsmen
in America, although American furni-
ture never was as elaborate as it's
European models.
During this second period furniture
was designed with the Gabrielle leg, it's
beautifully curved contours making
sharp contrast to the sturdy square
or simple round legs of the earlier
period. Highboys or tall chests of
drawers mounted high above the
noor on tall Gabrielle legs and lowboys
bling the same. except that the upper
drawers were omitted, are character.
tstic new pieces of this period Chairs
frequently had these same Gabrielle
legs and the simple splat or solid
backs were replaced by curved pieces
in the shape of violins.
Tea Tables Center of Interest.
This being a period of some leisure
the tea table was a center of interest
IN the better homes. Small tip.top
tables on tripod bases and other
lovely tea tables We're made in great
numbers. Card tables with sections
that folded up against the wall also
were introduced. Slant-top secre.
tarieS began to be used and beautiful
tall clocks. many of them with elab-
crate faces, gave both beauty and
utility to their owners rooms.
Whereas the walls in the first
period had been either plain or of
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