A Break with Tradition

Thinking about a new Shaker piece to show at this years Salon d’métiers d’art in Orléans proved to be a difficult task. I wanted to make something with a relatively small footprint to maximise the stand area and in addition show some cabinetry work to compliment my tables and chairs. The well known and much copied Shaker chimney cupboard seemed to present a form that perfectly fitted my criteria. However I wanted to give it a slightly different interpretation, one based on fine furniture making traditions, rather than the somewhat utilitarian style of the original.

The shape that eventually evolved in my mind, ended owing more to the Arts and Crafts Movement, than it did to the shakers; but in my view this works very well. These two styles quite often converge in a way that is not always apparent. It could even be said that my interpretation looks even more like a chimney that the Shaker design, tapering as it does towards the top, in a classical chimney form. This is perhaps a little unfair as the term is only an arbitrary one. The Shakers didn’t set out to make a cupboard that looked like a chimney; this is simply a name someone at a later date appropriated.

My version is in Cherry with figured Oak panels, Walnut knobs and Walnut pegs to the joints. The back is constructed the same way allowing the piece to stand centre room if required.

Furniture Styles continued

We can Further define early British furniture styles by the materials used,



Early Tudor: 1540............

Almost exclusively Oak, this period saw the introduction of the fixed top trestle table.



Elizabethan, Late Tudor: 1560..............

Again Oak, saw the introduction of the press, cupboards and joined stools.



Early Stuart or Jacobean: 1610................

Continued in the oak tradition however, influence from the Flemish and Italian Courts saw the introduction of walnut used in some finer pieces. This period also saw the the introduction of Bulbous turnings on supports.



Commonwealth: 1650............

Oak continued to dominate right up until the end of this period and saw the introduction of the gate-leg table and the early appearance of caned chairs.



Restoration: 1660...............

This period marked the demise of oak's dominance, with the return of the Monarch to the throne. Charles II returned from the continent with French and Flemish artisans who brought with them new skills, including veneering, twist turning and polishing. Here we see the taste for oak finally giving way to walnut and more adventurous designs. This really marked the beginning of the craft of cabinet making as a separate trade from joining.



William and Mary: 1690.................

Beginning of interest in oriental design characterised by the outstanding talents of Grinling Gibbons, notably in the form of frames for pier glasses. Upholstered wing chairs make an appearance.

Queen Anne 1700............

The start of the Georgian period, we begin to see oriental influence in the decoration of furniture and the growing influence of architects in furniture design. Appearance of the cabriole leg.

Georgian 1730.................

Mahogany slowly starts to superseded walnut as the timber of fashion, we see here also a switch from mostly veneered walnut to solid construction in Mahogany although the art of veneering is still important. While oak is the timber of preference along with other native woods used in the construction of country furniture. Thomas Chippendale 1718-79, Robert Adam 1728-92 George Hepplewhite D.1786 and Thomas Sheraton 1751-1806 Were all names associated with this period and remain attributed to arguably the most glorious moment of furniture design. The straight leg starts to usurp the cabriol leg, especially under the influence of Gothic and Chinese taste. Walnut is almost fazed out although veneering again becomes fashionable in the form of highly figured Mahogany veneers. Thomas Chippendale publishes his Gentlemans and Cabinet-makers Director 1754. George Hepplewhite his Cabinet-maker and Upholsterer's Guide 1788 and Thomas Sheraton his Drawing Book 1791-4. Between 1800 and 1820 Rosewood came into fashion and springs were introduced to improve the comfort of upholstered furniture.

English Empire 1805

Thomas Hope 1770-1831 publishes his Household and Interior Decoration.

Regency 1811-1820

Eastern taste greatly influences this period, especially Egyptian. 1820 saw a renewed interest in satinwood, previously popular between 1760 to 1800.

Pre-Victorian 1820-1837

Early beginnings of machine made furniture, the Gothic revival and the introduction of cast iron for various parts. The influence of Architects, who for more than a century dictated furniture taste starts to wane.

Victorian 1837-1901

The Victorian period brought with it a huge expansion in furniture production, Furnishing the houses of the newly affluent middle classes. Furniture was also exported to all corners of the British Empire at this time at it's zenith. Hence the saying that ''London furnished the world'' The decoration of furniture became even more elaborate, giving cause, to some such as John Ruskin to speak out calling it vulgar. In responce the Arts and Crafts movement sprang to life led by William Morris.