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QUEEN ANNE
A QUEEN ANNE STYLE FURNITURE is a style of furniture design that developed during and around the reign of Anne, Queen of Great Britain (1702-1714). Queen Anne furniture is "somewhat smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than its predecessors," and examples in common use include "curving shapes, the cabriole leg, cushioned seats, wing-back chairs, and practical secretary deskbookcase pieces.Other elements characterizing the style include pad feet and "an emphasis on line and form rather than ornament." In Britain, the style of Queen Anne's reign is frequently described as "late Baroque" rather than "Queen Anne," while in the United States the term "Queen Anne" describes decorative styles from the mid-1720s to around 1760, although Queen Anne reigned earlier. The cabriole leg has been described as "the most recognizable element" of Queen Anne furniture. Cabriole legs were influenced by the designs of the French cabinetmaker Andr-Charles Boulle and the Rococo style from the French court of Louis XV . But the intricate ornamentation of post-Restoration furniture was abandoned in favour more conservative designs, possibly under the influence of the simple and elegant lines of imported Chinese furniture. In addition to simple curvilinear lines and cabriole leg, Queen Anne chairs are characterized by vasiform splats and frequently featured a horseshoe shape.[7] Other important decorative elements included carved shell and scroll motifs, often found on the crest and knees. Wingback chairs, variations on other Queen Anne-style chairs, are fully upholstered with the exception of the exposed wood legs and jave sides folded inward to keep heat contained within the chair. All four of the cabriole legs sit on padded feet. The shoulders of the back droop slightly to give a more feminine look to the style, in contrast to the squared shoulders of the masculine King George wingback chair. The Queen Anne style was a continuation of the William and Mary style of furniture design.
CHIPPENDALE
Thomas Chippendale
He was born in Otley, Yorkshire, in 1718, the only child of John, a joiner and Mary, the daughter of a stonemason. Little is known about his early life, but it is believed he served a family apprenticeship and he was almost certainly employed by Richard Wood, a leading York cabinetmaker. By 1748 he was established in London and in 1754 he produced the worlds most famous book on furniture: The Gentleman and Cabinet Makers Director. There were over 3000 cabinetmakers in London and they couldnt understand why Chippendale had given away all his trade secrets, but it was this book that turned him into a household name. While lots more people could now afford his designs, he continued to work for some of the UKs richest people. One of his most famous commissions was Dumfries House, the home of the Fifth Earl of Dumfries. It was designed by the Adam Brothers and Chippendale was the interior designer, filling it full of his famous rococo designs, said to be worth 18 million today. After his death in 1779 his son Thomas carried on the family business until his bankruptcy in 1804. But his fathers work continues to inspire century furniture makers today.