Hepplewhite (Mahogany and Satinwood 1760-1792)
Shield back chair
Paragra George Hepplewhite owned his own factory and made furniture for Robert Adam. He produced a book of designs "The Cabinetmaker and Upholsters Guide".
He had a fondness for the curved line and introduced this into his design wherever possible. Hepplewhite moved away from the heavy carving of Chippendale and used more refined carving.
Best known for his chair back designs - shield back, hoped back, oval and heart shaped which were very popular.
Features of Hepplewhite Furniture
- Mahogany and Satinwood
- Used straight tapered legs and French cabriole leg
- Used decorations such as wheatears, husks, urns, draped cloth, and Prince of Wales feathers.
- Cylinder fall used on writing table
- Reeded chair legs, also single corner reed on square legs.
- Modern sideboard with concave ends and bow front center, searing end.
- Chest of drawers with curved base
- Toilet table (no running water - table to hold basin)
- Wardrobe starts to be used
- Bureau bookcase
- Pembroke Table - drawer at end
- Inlay used around the drawer fronts
Adam (Mahogany and Satinwood 1760-1792)
Robert Adam was a Scottish architect. He spent a lot of time studying in Italy.
He returned to England to become the Court Architect to George III. There were already changes happening in the Georgian furniture, the flowing curves, the ornate carving. Adam brought back the simple classical lines of the Roman and Greek Styles.
The people then turned to Adam's simple straight lines and simple mouldings. He started the new Neo Classical style.( Buildings inspired by the classical architecture of Greece and Rome.)
He returned to England to become the Court Architect to George III. There were already changes happening in the Georgian furniture, the flowing curves, the ornate carving. Adam brought back the simple classical lines of the Roman and Greek Styles.
The people then turned to Adam's simple straight lines and simple mouldings. He started the new Neo Classical style.( Buildings inspired by the classical architecture of Greece and Rome.)
Features of Adam's Furniture
Sideboard
- Used other tradesmen to produce his designs
- Oval and shield back chairs
- Used straight, tapered legs
- Used low relief ornament based on Greek and Roman Motifs
- Often-massive pieces of furniture
- Lower back chairs. Introduced the lyre shape, with metal rods which are still now being used in furniture making
- Introduced the pedestals to the side table for the start of the modern sideboard
- Rounded front commode
- Used center motifs on frieze with fluting and patereas
- The mouldings were of the simplest kind, dentils were used
- Applied decoration to Wedgewood China: applied to center panel (Adam Stucco Ceilings)
- Applied plaster motifs usually painted or gilded
- Used octagonal and hexagonal shapes
- Winged griffins
