| We are going to see more designs and types of | | | | 1800, square legs were replaced by turned |
| furniture, which came up into prominence in | | | | ones with reeding. Sheraton's most |
| the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Some | | | | characteristic chairs have rectangular backs |
| of these people were very influential and | | | | with horizontal bars. Use was made of |
| powerful as well. They were the Adams, the | | | | satinwood, as well as the more general |
| Hepplewhite, and the Sheraton, King William | | | | mahogany, either painted or inlaid or left |
| IV and the early Victorian. They encouraged | | | | quite plain. |
| their own styles of furniture. | | | | |
| | | | Regency (1800-1820) |
| Later Georgian | | | | |
| | | | The Regency style is a combination of at |
| Adam, Hepplewhite and Sheraton (1770-1810) a | | | | least three, or any one may be found alone in |
| number of styles succeeded and partially | | | | apiece made during the period. The three |
| overlapped each other during these years. | | | | principal styles are, Greek and Roman: |
| | | | figures of mythological gods and goddesses, |
| Adam | | | | the lyre (used as the shape of table-ends), |
| | | | the lion's-paw foot. |
| The Adam brothers, Robert and James, were | | | | |
| primarily architects, but their interest in | | | | Egyptian: sphinxes, Egyptian heads and feet |
| design did not stop with the building itself. | | | | as tops and bases of columns; crocodiles. |
| Not only did they plan the layout of their | | | | |
| mansions, but usually they decided the | | | | Chinese: Chinese patterns, shapes and colors; |
| decoration and coloring of the principal | | | | of which the contents of the Pavilion at |
| rooms and the furniture to go in them. Their | | | | Brighton are outstanding examples. |
| work was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman | | | | |
| art, and most of their decorative ideas were | | | | All types of unusual woods were used, as well |
| borrowed from those sources. The honeysuckle | | | | as mahogany, and there was frequent use of |
| (anthemion), the ram's head and hoof, and | | | | brass for inlay and gilt bronze for mounts. |
| garlands of husks are typical features. The | | | | Chairs were smaller in size than in earlier |
| work of the Adams was carried out between | | | | periods, which explain why they are so very |
| 1760 and 1790 and many of their designs for | | | | popular today. Early Regency chairs had legs |
| furniture were actually made by Thomas | | | | shaped like a curved sword (the saber, after |
| Chippendale's firm. | | | | which they are named), but later they were |
| | | | turned. |
| Hepplewhite | | | | |
| | | | William IV and Early Victorian (1820-1840) |
| George Hepplewhite was a cabinet-maker whose | | | | |
| business was run later by his widow, who | | | | Much of this furniture can be confused with |
| published a book of his designs. These show | | | | that made earlier in the Regency period. |
| pieces of simple form and small size; one of | | | | Although many of the designs are similar, |
| the most noticeable is perhaps the chair with | | | | they were carried out in a much heavier |
| a heart-shaped or a shield-shaped back. | | | | manner, and chairs, tables and other pieces |
| Sometimes the shield holds a pierced and | | | | are coarser and clumsier in appearance. The |
| carved Prince-of-Wales feather. | | | | saber leg was no longer used, and almost all |
| | | | furniture had turned supports, often tapered |
| Sheraton | | | | and carved. |
| | | | |
| Thomas Sheraton published his first book of | | | | Every artist gets inspiration from different |
| patterns in 1791. His designs show furniture | | | | sources. The Adams were inspired by the |
| that is much more slender in line than | | | | ancient Greek and Roman art. One of the most |
| hitherto, and he led a return to the use of" | | | | noticeable works of George Hepplewhite is |
| inlay; with this his name seems to be linked | | | | perhaps the chair with a heart-shaped or a |
| inseparably. Inlay often took the form of | | | | shield-shaped back. Sheraton's most |
| cross banding and stringing, and a common | | | | characteristic chairs have rectangular backs |
| feature was an oval shell of satiriwood, | | | | with horizontal bars. |
| scorched to imitate shading. After about | | | | |