What is early American furniture style?

Early American furniture, furniture made in the last half of the 17th century by American colonists. Instead of shaped legs or feet, American case furniture had legs and feet that were simply downward extensions of the rectangular styles.

What was the most important piece of furniture for the colonists?

Perhaps the most important piece of colonial furniture was the chest. From its origin as a plain box to a box with a drawer in it, to chest on chest, until it became the highboy and lowboy, and our modern chest of drawers, it has assumed a prominent place among all the other pieces of furniture.

What is the difference between early American and colonial furniture?

Colonial-style decorating reflects the styles of that era, varying from rustic to refined. Early American furniture was sturdy yet simple, but it evolved into the distinctive, formal style of furniture of designers such as Chippendale and Hepplewhite.

What are the two first styles of furniture which originated in the United States?

American furniture of the early colonial period generally falls into two stylistic categories: the Seventeenth-Century style (1620–90) and the Early Baroque, or William and Mary, style (1690–1730).

What kind of furniture did the colonial settlers use?

The Colonial Style Furniture that graced the homes of early settlers throughout the years of 1620-1780 embraced a variety of styles including Early American, Jacobean, William and Mary, Queen Anne and Chippendale, with each lending a hand to the one that came before it.

What was the style of furniture in the early 1800s?

Sheraton (1780 to 1820) The Sheraton Period was the most widely-reproduced style of the early 1800s. Named after English designer Thomas Sheraton, the period featured relied heavily on veneers and rich upholstery. Carvings were generally conservative, with intricate brass hardware catching the eye.

What kind of wood was used in early American furniture?

Finishes were often oil varnish, paint or wax over a stain. The dovetail joint began to make an appearance along with the mortise and tenon joint as a carryover from the Early American period. Mahogany, elm, and walnut were also more predominantly used in this period.

When did people start making furniture in America?

After the first colonists to the Americas set foot on land, history tells us that it took a number of years before the settlers were able to shift their focus from solely surviving to pursuits such as furniture making. As time went on, furniture began to evolve from merely utilitarian to stylish.