As mentioned before, general characteristics of the Golden age of Furniture Making are ; Fantasy - asymmetry, an abhorrence of straight lines - curved ( "s" shaped) elements used instead, well balanced profiles and rich decoration. Chest of drawers, powdering tables -Chiffoniers, study arm chairs and card tables (Backgammon Tables) are the examples of new original pieces.
The best known designer and furniture maker from that period - Thomas
Chippendale, was a son of a cabinet maker from Yorkshire. In London, where he established himself, soon earned the reputation
of master designer and craftsman. His " Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Directory" published in 1754 contained many of designs copied and followed until today. Chippendale modified the heavy cornices and pediments of the Queen Anne period, lightening them and introducing dentil course. His cabriole legs are
proportioned and enriched with knee carving, claw and ball and scroll foot. Also several designs of the chair back are very distinctive -" ladder" back with curved and pierced horizontal splats, "ribbon" back -with a rich pattern of interlacing ribbons and vertical carved, pierced vertical splat.
Robert Adam, son of a Scottish architect and designer acquired his knowledge during his travels to Italy. Details used included ram's heads, swags, festoons and drapery, Cupids and Caryatids. His designs often covered a building and the interiors with a furniture being in harmony together.
George Hepplewhite work can be characterized by delicacy and graceful, charming form and contour. He abandoned the
cabriolet leg and replaced with square - turned and tapered. Two innovations are the oval and the shield back chairs.
Thomas Sheraton, another great talent, spent much of his life in a state of poverty - a paradox, but often found among the talented people. His pieces were made with a use of beautiful timbers
with a delicate marquetry work, while carvings and ornamentation were reduced to a minimum. His chairs were graceful,
with arms forming continuous sweep. Back was generally rectangular and fitted with shaped vertical splats between top rail and an extra rail above the seat.
We are getting close to the end of the Golden Age and from now will notice progressing deterioration in styles, lack of originality and growing cheap production killing inventiveness, however, there is still a few changes worth mentioning.
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