Styles of the American Colonial Period

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Time Line for American Colonial Styles
Architecture Furniture
Early Colonial    1620-1700

Late Colonial      1700-1720

Early Georgian   1720-1760

Late Georgian   1760-1780

Jacobean                      1620-1690

William & Mary           1690-1725

Queen Anne                 1725-1755

Chippendale                  1745-1790

Colonial Architecture 1620-1720

Settlers brought their vernacular English architectural traditions with them to the new world. Virgin forests provided the raw materials for the post and beam construction, steeply pitched shingle roofs, clapboard facade and batten doors.  Central chimneys are characteristic of the hall and parlor plan typically found in New England. In addition to the medieval English forms we find Garrisons (with a second story overhang) and the  Cape Cod style.  As homes evolve, saltbox additions provide necessary storage areas.

Georgian Architecture 1720-1780

Classical motifs are added to the colonial form and the in the Late Georgian style, we see the introduction of the central hall plan with the chimneys moving to the side walls.
 
 
 
 
STYLE New Furniture Forms
Jacobean Furniture
Simple mortis and tenon construction Court Cupboard or Press
Carving, turning, and paining are favorite forms of surface decoration Connecticut Sunflower chest
Split turns, oval bosses and raised panels are also seen Hadley Chest
Brewster Chairs
Carver Chairs
Wagon board Chairs
Butterfly tables
William & Mary Furniture
Introduction of dovetail construction Lowboy
Veneering, cross banding and herringbone boarders Highboy
Bracket feet introduced on case-goods Bannister back chairs
Chair backs do not meet the seat rail.  Slat back chairs
Turned legs with stretchers and ball or paintbrush feet Periwig chairs
Queen Anne Furniture
Introduction of cabriole leg with pad, paintbrush, slipper or trifid (drake) foot  Splat back chairs 
Japanning Broken scroll, swan neck, and bonnet top pediments 
Secretary Bookcases
Tea tables
Card tables
Corner cabinets
Kneehole desks
Tripod (pedestal) tables
Chippendale
Introduction of architectural, rocaille, Chinese and gothic motifs  Block front furniture
 Claw and ball and bracket feet typical on case-goods Camel back settee
Changes to top rail and vertical supports of chairs bird cage mechanisms
Claw and ball feet typical on chairs piecrust edges to tea tables
 

 
 
Syllabus Egypt, Greece, Rome, Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine Renaissance Baroque Rococo