What is Traditional Furniture?
Traditional furniture depends on who you are asking in what country. If you asked the common person, they would probably say that traditional furniture is dependent on where you grew up, your perceptions of “traditional,” and that bit of nostalgia that you feel when you see your grandmother’s country worn furniture that she’s had seemingly forever. Traditional furniture will last throughout the trendiest of décor fads and a good piece of furniture is handcrafted.
With trends, something always comes back into fashion and this is why so many people want the look of traditional furniture back in their living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. “Traditional” emits thoughts of well-made, well-established furniture that will last throughout a life time and possibly beyond.
So let’s look at some furniture from three different countries. England, Germany, and France; no doubt three of the most influential countries that have pioneered traditional European furniture and continue to churn out new reproductions. All three countries have been influenced by each other’s styles and a blending of techniques is found in all categories of the furniture, however, there are distinct qualities that show a buyer or collector that a style is traditionally English, German, or French.
England
The Golden Era of English Furniture dates back to the late 17th to early 18th century where Mahogany timbers shipped over from the West Indies preferred wood for the solid wood furniture that was made in this era; however, Walnut was still a popular choice, but nearly always second choice. English furniture was pioneered by the likes of Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite, and Thomas Sheraton. It is their designs that today have become synonymous with traditional furniture in England.
Their selection of materials, methods of production, and high quality manufacturing ensure that the dark Mahogany timbers were painstakingly hand carved and well-built. Although designed to be solid, there were very few square edges; preferring the delicate curvature of table and chair legs or intricately detailed chair backs to offer that extra grandeur that made this the style of choice for the upper class.
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| Charlesbarr.com |
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| Charlesbarr.com |
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| Charlesbarr.com |
Germany
German furniture is often an amalgam of styles
from different countries depending on the time period. Categorizing German furniture is a bit harder
than categorizing traditional English and French furniture. What can be said is
that traditional German furniture is sturdy and robust. Often used were woods like Walnut, Mahogany,
Fruitwood, or any of the variety of woods that are plentiful in Germany.
While earlier influences on German furniture
were in the French style, the typical style that is now associated with German
furniture is generally bigger and less ornate.
For example, large “schranks” painted with country scenes or folk art
are dead giveaways for German furniture from Bavaria. Tables, dressers, and trunks, are heavy and
evoke straight lines of the Biedermeier period.
Popular German furniture makers of the time
were Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Abraham and his son David Roentgen who displayed
both earlier German and later German styles, and a little more recently, Walter
Gropius and Richard Neutra.
Today, if one looks at Pennsylvania Dutch furniture, though an American style associated with the Amish community, it is directly
influenced by Germany and continues the tradition of sturdy, well-made
furniture.
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| Bierdmeier (elitechoice.org) |
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| Bavarian Schrank (bavarianfurniture.ca) |
France
There is no mistake; traditional French
furniture is probably the easiest to define or spot at an antique or flea
market. The curving, graceful lines of
their settees, headboards, and armoires are designs that people identify as unequivocally
French. Many of these styles were
associated with high culture and status in France.
When I think of French furniture it
conjures images of furniture from the Louis periods; Louis XIV (Baroque), Louis
XV (Rococo), and Louis XVI (Neo Classical), with Rococo style being the most
grandiose and extravagant of them all. Rococo
designs were asymmetrical and curvy, often with a cabriole leg and gilding over
wood.
Pioneer furniture designers of these
periods were Jean Berain, Jean Francois Oeben (and it is worth noting that
Thomas Chippendale had a great influence on Rococo interior), and Jacob
Georges. Woods that were often used were
Walnut, Mahogany, Maple, and Pine.
Many people, not just the serious
collector, are now captivated by what is essentially painted furniture in the
style of “Shabby Chic.” This is a new
type of interior design that has only been established from the 1990’s on. The movement is interesting because it is said
to have begun in Britain, but much of the painted furniture is in the French
style with a diluted and pale pallet of pastel colors. Followers of this style don’t just paint
antiques, they also paint distressed or even new furniture to either make new
items look old or old items look new again.
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| Rococo (galerieversailles.com) |
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Shabby Chic (homedit.com)What is your favorite style?
Remember, England, Germany, and France have
often borrowed each other’s styles and the furniture style as a result is
dependent on the time period that is being visited. However, we can pick out distinct
characteristics of each country that define their own unique style. Many genuine period antiques are either in
museums or are too expensive for the average collector, however, there are many
revival and reproduction pieces that are beautiful in their own right and can
satisfy an avid collector to general hobbyist.
When it comes to traditional English,
German, or French furniture, what is your favorite type? Or do you prefer the more modern spinoff
styles that have been influenced by England, Germany, and France?
Written by Brittany Ruth of
TheRococoRoamer.blogspot.com
*Contributions:
Michael Price (England section)
**Sources: Forrest,
Tim. The Bulfinch anatomy of antique furniture: an illustrated guide to
identifying period, detail, and design. Boston: Little, Brown, 1996. Print.
***Links: www.Charlesbarr.com , www.padutchcountry.com, www.elitechoice.org, www.bavarianfurniture.ca,
www.galerversailles.com, www.homedit.com.
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