#18th century furniture

[novemb-r]

Windsor armchair, 1760-1775

[frozenwolftemplar]

Attributed to Martin Carlin. (ca. 1769). Desk (bonheur du jour). Retrieved from: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/206969 

Oh, to have a desk named for the joys of letter writing with porcelain inlays!

[chapmanrestoration]

Mahogany Marquertry drum table restoration

Mahogany Marquertry drum table restoration

[thakefurniture]

The 18th century marked the golden era of cabinet making. The styles used and creative carvings left a mark on the history of cabinet making. 

[fashionsfromhistory]

Rosendale Bed

c.1700

Rijksmuseum

[eyesaremosa1cs]

Mahogany Bookcase In Gothic Style

[frogteethblogteeth]

Dog kennel created for Marie Antoinette by Claude I Sené, ca. 1775-1780

[artschoolglasses]

Writing Table, made 1774-80 by David Roentgen

From the Victoria & Albert Museum

[ltwilliammowett]

Furniture on board a ship

Ships of the 18th and early 19th century were designed as floating gun platforms with an efficient discharge of guns. The fact that people also had to live there, and softly for years at a time, often fell a little behind. But at sea, people were clever and had furniture that was as practical as possible and could be folded up or stowed away as quickly as possible. At least above the waterline. The men didn't have that much space and the first lieutenant didn't always have a lot of room either. As First Lieutenant James Trevenen, HMS Crocodile, 24, guns off Cape Finistere, reported in a letter to his brother on 17 August 1781.

Une Chambre d' Officier à Board, by unknown mid 19th century   (x)

My habitation, then is six feet square, which six feet is now completely filled up as an egg. My cot in which i sleep is two feet broad (c.61cm) and fivve and a half long (c.1,65cm), allowing half a foot (c.15cm) on each side for swinging (and this is too little when it blows hard). I wish i had not mentioned the cot, for it blows hard now and bring to memory that i shall have a bad night's sleep. Allowing half a foot then for swinging, my cot will take up just half my cabin and htere will be left six feet by three feet. A very small bureau will take up three feet square, and my chair and myself will pretty well complete the rest of the space. [...]

Officer’s cabin with cot, HMS Trincomalee (1817), photo by  Simon Cotterill  

It wasn't much space, let alone much furniture. But most of those who held the post of first lieutenant had an bureau in their cabin. Everyone else usually had a lapdesk (writing box) to do their writing properly. In addition, there was usually a small table and a chair, and possibly one or two shelves with a border so that the contents did not fly through the cabin. In addition, there was the swinging bunk, the sea chest and, depending on their means, all kinds of furnishings such as carpets, curtains, musical instruments, pictures, books and so on. So one person's cabin looked different from another's.

Mahogany naval chairs, 1795 (x)

In the great cabin, in addition to the office, the swinging cot and possibly one or two chests of drawers, there was also a large table and matching chairs. Depending on the type, these chairs could have been foldable or simply solidly made. The table might also have had folding or unscrewable legs. But many were also simply solid.

Admiral’s great cabin aboard HMS Victory - the walls are lifted up

All the furniture was made of mahogany, moveable and able to be lashed and, with a few exceptions, was provided by the Navy Board as fixed furnishings.

Captain’s day cabin abord HMS Victory (x)

Private items also had to be purchased privately and brought on board. These included the lieutenants' chests of drawers, washstands, sofas and harbour beds (these were folding beds used mostly in the harbour - Nelson had one of these).

Nelson’s portable bed (x)

If everything had to be cleared during a battle, the partition walls were hauled out or lifted up under the ceiling. All furniture and personal belongings had to be moved to the hold so that they would not be damaged. And hopefully they did, although it often happened that the good furniture was damaged. When the battle was over, everything was put back in its place and everyday life resumed.

[salomedebeaurepaire]

The impressive beauty of malachite furniture made in the 18th-19th century :

[the-regal-sim]

Some new painting frames in the works ^-^ p.s I’m still alive

[vivelareine]

A pair of footstools created for the salon de la maison du seigneur at the Hameau de La Reine, under Marie-Louise, in 1812. The seats were part of a seat including a sofa, two bergères, eight armchairs, twelve chairs and a fireplace screen. The footstools were set to be auctioned but it appears they have been preemptively taken off the block.

[frozenwolftemplar]

Settee. (1763-64). Attributed to Johann Michael Bauer.

[chaoticdesertdweller]

A 17th/18th Century Stumpwork Chest. Inside door reads "Sarah Manser 1652, Willm Towler 1767".

[thakefurniture]

The golden era of Cabinet Making

The 18th century marked the golden era of cabinet making. The styles used and creative carvings left a mark on the history of cabinet making. The styles included a mix of many styles overlapped together, creating something unique in the process. The styles included William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Sheraton and Adam.

Each of these styles had different characteristics which were clubbed together to form the furniture and cabinets of the 18th century English furniture. While the cabinets and furniture designed in the 18th century was done so with a specific purpose in mind, they also made sure the antique furniture was aesthetically pleasing. The colours and designs were kept in mind while designing and carving in the cabinets.

There were various kinds of cabinets designed for different purposes – storage, show pieces and simply décor. However, all of these designs had a few things in common – the wood used was of extremely high quality to make the antique pieces of furniture long lasting. The antique furniture and cabinets of the 18th century also included French styles in the furniture making. The technical and artistic quality was something that was never seen earlier.

The 18th century is known as the golden era of cabinet making because the styles and types were highly superior as compared to any other era. They focused on looks and durability of the antique furniture rather than simply making something for the heck of it.

If you do get a chance to stumble upon the cabinets made during this era, grab the opportunity and find an antique piece of 18th century furniture perfect for your home.

[desolatus]

Drop-front desk, C. 1776

Attributed to Martin Carlin

Sèvres Manufactory, Central plaque decorated by Edme François Bouillat père