FURNITURE 



2354 



FURNITURE 



.URNITURE . The furnishings of the typical 

 modern household are the result of little more 

 than four centuries of furniture-making, for 

 furniture in the present sense of the word is a 

 development of our later civilization. Mar- 

 bles, and such costly woods as cedar and ebony, 

 and ivory, bronze, gold, silver and precious 

 stones have been used from earliest times in 

 the construction and decoration of household 

 furnishings, but even the most magnificent 

 mansion of the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, 

 Greeks or Romans lacked many of the familiar 

 appliances found to-day in the humblest 

 home. The chair, the couch, the table and the 

 bed were the principal articles of furniture 

 used by ancient and medieval peoples. In 

 Europe, fixed tables were the exception until 

 the sixteenth century, the usual custom being, 

 to lay sets of boards across uprights when it 

 was time to serve meals, and chairs did not 

 become common until the seventeenth century. 

 A modern householder would think the medi- 

 eval castle of the European nobleman a 

 meagerly-furnished place indeed 



The Notable French Periods. The awakened 

 interest in all forms of art was extended to 

 furniture during the period of the Renaissance 

 (which see), and Florence, Rome, Venice and 

 Milan became important centers of cabinet- 



making. The Italian influence was felt espe- 

 cially in France, where, during the reigns of 

 Louis XIV, XV and XVI, furniture of the 

 most exquisite design was produced. Under 

 the first of these three monarchs the curved 

 line in furniture became established; in the 

 reign of Louis XV the love of ornamentation 

 reached its height, many of the cabinets, com- 

 modes, bureaus and bookcases of the period 

 showing painted landscapes elaborate in design 

 and brilliant in hue. Marvelous effects were 

 also produced through carving, inlaid work 

 and the use of bronze or brass ornamentation. 

 In this reign also there was a return to the 

 straight line in furniture, which prevailed 

 through the next period. Mahogany became 

 the favorite wood of the cabinet-makers under 

 Louis XVI, but gilded or enameled walnut 

 was also used. Among the most notable 

 achievements of this period are the Louis XVI 

 chairs and sofas, with fluted, tapering legs, and 

 carved frames enclosing beautiful tapestry 

 backs. During the empire, grace, elegance and 

 refinement in furniture were replaced by heavi- 

 ness and solidity; this is known as the period 

 of decline. 



English Development. In England, as in 

 France, the eighteenth century was a period 

 of achievement in cabinet-making. Under the 



CHIPPENDALE DESIGNS 

 A chair, and cabriole and taper leg's of tables. 



SHERATON CHAIRS 

 Two chairs in the characteristic Sheraton designs. 



