English Period Furniture

Victorian Furniture Continued
(Mahogany, Burr Walnut, Rosewood, Ebony 1830-1901)

Overall the Victorian period saw the introduction of labour saving machinery which was misused due to high demand which caused a serious deterioration in design and construction.

Features of Victorian Furniture

• Cumbersome furniture, dust catching carving.
• Buttoned upholstery - armchairs frequently with low arms scrolled at the front
• Balloon back chairs and spoon back
• Thonet's steam bent chair
• Abbotsford Chair inspired from Charles II era (Restoration)
• Ladies easy chairs without arms because the vastness of the skirts.
• Chesterfield - fat layer of well sprung upholstery named after the Earl of Chesterfield.
• Later Victorian easy chairs removed the fully upholstered arms to help lighten up the appearance. Sometimes had a small drawer fitted in the front to hold a spittoon.
  

• Papier Mache chair. Boxes and trays but applied over a wooded frame for chairs.
• Ottomans used in rooms which had bow windows or circular ends and picture galleries.
• Smokers bow for houses, barbers shop, cottages and offices.
• Worktable for games and sewing. Reflects Louis XIV style.
• Davenport - lades writing desk
• Chest of drawers with wooden knobs - more to do with cheapness
• Chiffioniers used in dining and sitting rooms.
• Lootable named after the fashionable card game
• Whatnot suited the over furnished rooms
• Sutherland table - a cross between a gateleg and Pembroke table. Very narrow, failing in proportion.
• Gothic revival sideboard.
• Telescopic table - strong steady table with bulbous turning. Solved the problem of leg room.
• Sideboard contained back piece of mirror - mass produced in 1840
• Military desk - designed in three parts for traveling, sunken handles.
• Brass bedstead - four poster with curtains started to disappear.