Origins of Early American Furniture Style

Colonial Craftsmen Inspired by European Examples

Oct 8, 2008

Much of the familiar mid-20th century home furnishings in American homes is known as "Early American" or "Colonial." It's a good value in second-hand, vintage furniture.

Early American, or "Colonial" style, was extremely popular in the beginning-to-mid 20th century. The American pastor and amateur historian, Dr. Wallace Nutting (1861-1941), popularized a revival of interest in early American furniture. Today, used furniture and thrift shops abound with beds and dinette sets with heavily-turned legs and knobby posts, which once were ubiquitous across suburbia. Many new home-owners and first-time apartment dwellers find used furniture in this style to be comfortable, sturdy and a good value for the money.

Dates of the Colonial Period in the US

The Colonial period in the US dates from about 1620 to the end of the American Revolution. Popular furniture styles included Jacobean, Queen Anne, and Chippendale. Wealthy merchants and farmers were able to import furniture from England, but most middle-class and less affluent folks depended upon local craftsmen to create their furnishings.

Most commonly, Colonial American furniture is based on the Jacobean style of English furniture. It is named after James I of England, and covers the period of the reigns of James I and both Charles I and Charles II, 1603 – 1688.

Development of Regional Styles

Naturally, these craftsmen used the English imports as inspiration. With typical American inventiveness, they enhanced their creations with their personal artistic vision, and within a few decades regional "personalities" developed in major metropolitan areas like Boston, Philadelphia, and Savannah. Today, a well-trained antiques expert can recognize the origin of a gate-leg table or highboy by the type of foot on the end of a leg, or the shape of a shell carved into the top of the dresser.

Differences Between English and American Furniture Characteristics

Almost all Jacobean furniture was made of oak, a wood well-suited to the massive, sturdy style, while its American counterparts would be made of local woods including pine, maple, cherry and walnut. Almost all flat surfaces on chairs, chests, etc. were carved in low relief. In this period before the Industrial Revolution, furniture was assembled with mortise and tenon joints, held together with pegs. Shapes are square or rectangular rather than curvilinear. While the English would use some veneering, American woodworkers might paint the pieces to imitate veneer. Some furniture pieces would be covered with leather, tapestries, crewelwork, wool, linen, silk, and velvet. (Artisans of the Valley, 2005)

Common household pieces would be large "library" tables, straight-backed chairs, gate-leg tables (introduced about this time) for gaming, low-boy and high-boy chests, cupboards, and four-poster beds.

After the thirteen colonies won their fight to be free of the English, native craftsmanship improved steadily. Styles continued to be influenced by both English and Continental imports, however, for many generations to come. In time, the heavy wooden furniture so prized by the well-to-do in the Colonies, was banished to the attics of their Victorian descendants. Not until many years into the future, in the early 20th century, would Colonial furniture regain its pride of place in American homes.

References:

The copyright of the article Origins of Early American Furniture Style in Home Furnishing is owned by Barbara Bell. Permission to republish Origins of Early American Furniture Style in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.