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| Dates |
British Monarch |
British Period |
Style |
| 1714-1727 |
George I |
Early Georgian |
The three phases of Georgian are a continuum of each
other. As the century progressed, the style became lighter and lighter
in terms of colours and decoration and
eventually became regency style.
Plants and animal themes
were popular. Furniture was frequently
made of mahogany and satinwood, and mass production became increasingly
common; designers included Thomas Chippendale and George Hepplewhite.
The silver of this period is particularly fine, and ranges from the
earlier, simple forms to the ornate, and from the neoclassical style of
Robert Adam to the later, more decorated pre-Victorian taste |
| 1727-1760 |
George II |
| 1760-1811 |
George III |
Late Georgian |
| 1811-1820 |
George III |
Regency |
The Regency gave its name to an elegant style of
architecture and decorative arts characterized by borrowings from
classical Greece and Rome, as well as from ancient Egypt, China, and
India.
The complex designs of Sheraton's 'Cabinet
Directory' of 1803 and the elaborate taste of the Prince Regent, laid
the foundations for the styles which we often assume to be Victorian.
The Regency was an era of innovation but based on revivalist styles such
as Jacobean, French and the Grecian designs of Thomas Hope. This period
saw the introduction of more exotic imported timbers, rosewood was in
common use until the middle of the century, often inlaid with brass. In
many cases pine or deal replaced oak for drawer linings and legs were
turned rather than square. |
| 1820-1830 |
George IV |
Regency |
| 1830-1837 |
William IV |
William IV |
The
brief reign of William IV was an important period of transition between
the Regency and Victorian eras. Classically inspired architecture of the
Regency period was still popular, but the romanticism that was to
characterise the Victorian era had begun to take hold. |
| 1837-1901 |
Victoria |
Victorian |
Characterized by a
romanticism in all areas of the arts. Visual arts, music and literature
all showed a strong concern filled with emotion. Victorian style
was often very ornate, markedly so in architecture, where there was more
than one ‘revival’ of earlier styles, beginning with a lengthy
competition between the classic and Gothic schools. Gothic Revival drew
on the original Gothic architecture of medieval times.
Art Nouveau
(1895-1905) An art movement
defined largely by the work of Alphonse Mucha. This style made profound
use of stylized natural forms. Elegantly curving vines and floral motifs
were common. Women with long, flowing hair and dresses were often to be
found in Art Nouveau style pieces such as paintings, sculpture and
clocks. Classical themes were quite popular as they were throughout much
of the Nineteenth Century. |
| 1901-1910 |
Edward VII |
Edwardian |
After the heaviness, clutter and dark colours of Victorian
interiors, people wanted something new and cheerful.
Often produced in large quantities,
Edwardian design drew heavily on fashions from the previous two
centuries. If it was innovative, it was in its clever reduction of scale
to fit smaller rooms at a time when space was at a premium with the
massive boom in urban sprawl. Mahogany, rosewood and satinwood were
particularly popular, often with ivory or bone stringing outlined with
boxwood. The style was fresh, light and informal. Bamboo and
wicker furniture were produced. Floral patterns and pastel colours are
typical of this style. |
| 1910-1936 |
George V |
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Art Deco
(1920-1935) The Art Deco movement
was born in and dominated by France. Young designers reacted against the
sinuous style of the previous twenty years and reintroduced straight
lines into furniture. The use of wood once again became an important
factor, a leading proponent of the movement was Emile Ruhlmann who used
Macassar ebony and even sharkskin. A Chinese style lacquer became
popular. After the upheaval of the First World War, new styles allowed
new materials such as chromed steel tubing for chairs by Le Courbusier,
Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer.
The Art Deco movement frequently used long sharp lines and bright
colors, much of the style was very angular. |
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