Jacobean style antique furniture

Jacobean Style Antique Furniture

Jacobean is a term used to cover all English Gin Creek Kitchen style furniture from the reign of King James I to King James II. However, throughout this span of time Jacobean furniture showed markedly different influences. The earliest Jacobean furniture was influenced mainly by Elizabethan (1603 -1688) styled furniture. Commonwealth Style (1649-1660) marks this middle of the Jacobean Period, when this furniture was of simpler design and undecorated. This late Jacobean Period is that of this Carolean period, named for King Charles II. In this period this furniture was influenced by Flemish Baroque design.Early English Jacobean furniture was widely copied by the colonial Americans, although this furniture was more primitive, due to the fact that there were fewer skilled furniture makers living in America at the time. In true patriotic form, American colonists renamed their Jacobean reproductions to that of Early American furniture.

Jacobean furniture was very sturdy, massive in size, notoriously uncomfortable, and made to last. This furniture pieces that were produced consisted mainly of chests, cupboards, trestle tables, wainscot chairs, as well as gate legged circular tables. Brewster as well as Carver chairs (made with numerous spindles filling their straight frames) were also produced, their names taken from two distinguished American Colonists of the period.Oak and pine were the most popular woods of choice. Chairs would often have split spindles, bulbous Spanish carved feet, as well as rush seats. Chests, large cupboards, as well as trestle tables were embellished with Flemish scrolls, ornately carved panels, and ornamental twists. These design elements made the massive Jacobean pieces appear very formal and stately.As a rule, Jacobean furniture construction was simple. It was assembled with mortise as well as tenon joints, held together with pegs. The majority of lines remain square as well as rectangular, most with flat-fronted surfaces. This art of inlay as well as veneering added a wonderful ornate look, especially in cupboards as well as cabinets. Many pieces were painted, which further added to this style of this piece.Upholstering materials used for Jacobean chairs as well as settees were of very fine quality as well as ornate. Materials such as silk, tapestries, crewelwork, linen, velvet, as well as even leather were used on various types of chairs.Jacobean period furniture can mainly be found in the auction houses of England. Being built to last, many pieces have not only survived, but remain still in good condition. Although centuries old, Jacobean furniture remains still well sought after, as well as continues to provide an elegant option in home decor. There are many furniture makers today that have copied as well as reproduced fine quality Jacobean styled furniture, and made it affordable to own.