We asked nancy bilyeau, author of the 1700sset thriller the blue to fill us in on the historical backdrop of the period drama, and on the real queen anne. Furniture crafted in the queen anne style dates from the 1720s to approximately 1750 in england, although the ruler it is named after died in 1714. Queen anne 17001755 the queen anne style is a refinement of the william and mary style with a moderate proportion and graceful appearance. Evolution of this design style is from queen annes court, 1702 to 1714, and lasted until the revolution. It is characterized by cabriole legs terminating in a pad or drake foot, fiddleback chair backs, and bat wing shaped drawer pulls. Theres a lot of buzz around the favourite, but you may not have heard as much about the life of its protagonist queen anne. Queen anne furniture itself is a mix of baroque, classical, and asian styles. During the early georgian and transition periods, the english furniture tends to drop the purely dutch characteristics of the. Beautiful compact queen anne style display cabinet made in walnut. Furniture styles of historic smithfield and the alexander black house duration. In this article i will explain the history of the furniture style and its name. Queen anne style swan neck bail pull 3 12 queen anne style swan neck bail pull 3 12. Queen anne furniture takes its name from anne, who served as sovereign over england, scotland, and ireland which, amid her reign, joined as the united kingdom from 1702 to 1714.
The term inaccurately implies aesthetic ideas from the reign of queen anne 17021714. Nicholas wells antiques specialises in 18th and 19th century european furniture, and we pride ourselves on having an expert eye for spotting those unique, exceptional quality pieces. Queen anne furniture queen anne style amish furniture. For many, the queen anne style typifies the architecture of the victorian age. Welcome to queen anne book company welcome and thank you for visiting our website, which is part of our bookstore in the center of the queen anne neighborhood. A concise history of early american period furniture. But it continued in favor right up to the time when the impact of chippendale designs made themselves felt in american furniture craftsmanship. His ideas on finishes for the pieces is also first rate. In america, the queen anne style did not get its hold on the popular taste until the monarch whose name it bore was dead and the first of the hanoverian georges was nearly half through his reign.
The peak period of the queen anne style architecture was 18801900, although the style persisted for another decade. If you want to go for a classic look, do you choose antique. Oak, in massive, sturdy style, square and rectangular. Queen anne style remain popular in modern furniture production. Theres a built in china cabinet with leaded glass doors, an oak plate rail in the dining room, hardwood floors, an exquisite fireplace, and many other fantastic features to this oneofakind fixer upper. When studying french art and furniture history, we often focus on the elaborate styles that developed for members of the monarchy and royal court, like the rococo. Primarily because so many of us naturally do whats most important when collecting antique furniture. In particular, we think that the georgian period produced some of the finest examples of furniture. Without familiarizing yourself with a furniture styles guide, how will you know what type of furniture youre looking for in your home. In contrast to its time, queen anne furniture was designed to be light and. The style was named and popularized in england by the architect richard norman shaw 18311912 and his followers. His pieces are probably the nicest of all the queen anne ones that you can find in books or in plans.
Queen anne style furniture started to gain popularity in the americas at the beginning of the 1720s. Georgian furniture style guide nicholas wells antiques ltd. In the united states, production ran longer, right up to 1800 or so. This everpopular style falls within the colonial period. Curved lines and minimal ornamentation are known characteristics of the queen anne style, sometimes known as late baroque. Queen anne style antique furniture features cabriole legs with padded feet and upholstered wing chairs. Anne stuart, queen of great britain from 1702 to 1714, reigned during a time of european growth and expansion when aristocrats and. Led by members of the townsend and goddard families, newport cabinetmakers developed a distinctive local style epitomized by blockandshell case pieces that have no known parallel in european furniture or contemporary furniture books. Some blend the wingback concept with cuttingedge contemporary design, and yet the early queen anne shape has an enduring popularity. Other characteristics include decorative hardware, bonnet tops, finials, and motifs such as seashells. Queen anne furniture is somewhat smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than its predecessors, and examples in common use include curving shapes, the cabriole leg, cushioned seats, wingback chairs, and practical secretary deskbookcase pieces. It is also clearly queen anne style because of the use of a tower and a defined porch.
Please look around, and if you cant remember the exact title or author of that book youve been wanting to read, we are here to help you. History, design and construction vandal, norman l on. If you want a true antique, remember that queen anne style is just that. The transition from queen anne to chippendale furniture in the colonies was neither immediate nor universal. Chippendale drawer pulls, hepplewhite drawer pulls, queen anne drawer pulls, early american drawer pulls, furniture knowledge. You have searched for queen anne style furniture and this page displays the closest product matches we have for queen anne style furniture to buy online. Queen annes reign ended in 1714 however this style of furniture did not become popular until 17201760. The right owner could turn it into the showplace of independence. The first style of furniture in england named after a cabinetmaker rather than a monarch, it became the most famous name in the history of. Shop queen anne furniture at 1stdibs, the worlds largest source of queen anne and other authentic period furniture. Chippendale, hepplewhite, queen anne pulls furniture.
History of queen anne style furniture timber to table. Queen anne and victorian antiques are perfect examples. The queen anne style of furniture design developed before, during, and after the reign of anne, queen of great britain 17021714. Contemporary designers now produce all sorts of shapes and sizes of wing chair. Read on to learn about the history of the queen anne style and gain insight on the signature elements that collectors should look for. Gently used harden furniture up to 70% off at chairish. Bookcases and secretaries were also designed in the queen anne style. History, design and construction by norman l vandal 19900701 hardcover 1638 4. In there you will find a hardware for pulls, knobs.
Rich woods such as mahogany, cherry, tiger maple, and walnut are also part of the style. There is a very interesting and extremely well written history and background on queen anne furniture and the origins of the style at the beginning of the book. Queen anne style furniture at wayfair, we want to make sure you find the best home goods when you shop online. Queen anne armchairs the queen anne style is a refinement of the william and mary style with a moderate proportion and graceful appearance. All in all, when youre looking at cherry wood furniture, vintage harden furniture is a great investment. Around that time, prosperity beckoned immigrants to the colonies, including a large number of british craftsmen.
When, in the early 1870s, chineseinspired early georgian furniture on cabriole legs, featuring smooth expanses of walnut and chairs with flowing lines and slat backs, began to be looked for in outoftheway curio shops macquoid 1904, the style was misattributed to the reign of queen anne, and the queen anne misnomer has stuck to this day, in american as well as english furniturestyle designations see. The furniture designs began to evolve during the reign of william iii, but the term generally applies to pieces popular during and after queen annes reign 17021714. The grace of queen anne furniture collectors weekly. With its distinctive form, abundance of decorative detail, corner tower, expansive porches and richly patterned wall surfaces, the queen anne style is easy to identify.
Already used previously under the reign of queen anne, mahogany reached the height of its popularity about 1745, in chippendales time. Most antique furniture tends to be purchased by ordinary everyday people, rather. It was one way for the young colonists to show their own unique style, with each regional area initiating special design elements. A pioneer for comfort and flexibility, queen anne furniture took life in the homes of trending cities. Antique furniture styles are often named after whoever ruled the realm during the era of their creation. This style of furniture is much more delicate than its predecessor. Marquetry, inlay, veneering, and lacquerwork were all skillfully applied to the decorative furniture of queen anne design.
The artistic influence of the queen anne style flourished in europe from the 1720s until around 1760, interestingly enough, even though the queen s rule ended with her passing in 1714. Queen anne style architecture facts and history guide to. The georgian furniture was marked by the decline of walnut and the rise of mahogany. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Spend this time at home to refresh your home decor style. Chippendale, various styles of furniture fashionable in the third quarter of the 18th century and named after the english cabinetmaker thomas chippendale. Its emergence signified a shift in furniture, as queen anne was slimmer and more compact than the baroque furniture that came before it. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. This is a type of furniture foot style, consisting of a carved animal pawusually a lionswith an ornate extension above, such as a. Although queen anne reigned from 17021714, the style of formal furniture that would come to bear her royal name did not gain popularity in the americas until the 1720s. Queen anne book company your neighborhood, independent. One of the most recognizable traditional furniture styles, queen anne furniture is elegant, regal, and handmade for your dining room, master suite, or living space. Along with its distinctive cabriole legs, our amish queen anne wooden furniture is often formal and refined. Typical motifs in this ornamentation are scallop shells, scrolls, oriental figures, animals, and plants.