Since our independence from British rule over four centuries ago, American has gone through many various design and architectural styles. Architecture in the United States is very diverse. It can vary depending on region and many other factors. Overall the American Period shows great innovation, especially with furniture. I will discuss a couple well known furniture styles.
Duncan Phyfe was a Scotsman who was best known for his Regency style work. His furniture included skillfully carved, pieces with exceptional veneers and ornamental fittings. Other Duncan Phyfe characteristics include the simplified Klismos chair, rolled back, lyre motif, and cornucopia leg.
Shakers were a group of people who seeked political and relgious freedom. They believed in hard work and discipline. Their interior were very organized, clean, and sparse. The furniture of this style reflects these traits. The architecture included round barns that were normally built into a hill. Ladder back chairs are also known for this time.
John Belter was a cabinetmaker and designer most known for his Victorian Rococo pieces. He produced some of the most extraordinary and luxurious furniture for his time. His pieces often included twigs, flowers, and vines with a unique and innovative process for laminating wood.
Modern Examples
Below are current applications of a Duncan Phyfe sofa and a Shaker bench.
Helpful Videos
Duncan Phyfe History | https://youtu.be/CRks5u0znv8
Shaker Furniture | https://youtu.be/pOnN5ykWELM
Peer Reviews
Haley | I enjoyed reading Haley's blog this week. She talked about the main architectural styles, which was interesting for me to read since I focused mainly on furniture.
Emma | Emma posted a really good video that was really helpful to watch. I now understand the Shaker style much better!
There was a lot of change in the daily life (therefore, interior design) during the English Renaissance. International trade was becoming much more readily available to the consumer, which allowed for much more variety in decoration. Houses were becoming more comfortable and more elegant and people were able to be much more ambitious in their designs. I am going to briefly discuss a few important architects from this time and their contributions to this style period.
Inigo Jones was instrumental in bringing aspects of Italian design into English design during the early English Renaissance. He greatly studied the work of Palladio and brought many features of the country villa into his work. Jones's architecture was proportional and harmonious with both interior and outdoor elements. One of his most known works is the Queen's House at Greenwich.
Richard Boyle, like Inigo Jones, brought many features of Palladio's work into English design. Richard was often called "the Apollo of the arts." Boyle's money and political position allowed him to influence taste and ensure through his connections that his Palladian ideals were evident in important buildings throughout England. A few of his major projects include the Burlington House, Westminster School, and the Cheswick House.
Robert Adam was one of the most important English architects working in the Neoclassical style. He was instrumental in the development of a style of architecture and interiors that revolved around including both the fixed and moveable objects in a room. He incorporated design ideas of ancient Greece and Rome into his decoration as well. Some of his famous London houses include the Kenwood House and Syon House.
Current Applications
Below are a few pictures of modern Palladian architecture. It is evident that the symmetry and other principles are still strongly shown in these current examples.
Helpful Videos
The Classical Influence on English Architecture | https://youtu.be/1ek1SI1oAwU
English Renaissance History | https://youtu.be/_z-CoEEcTxA
Peer Reviews
Emma | I really appreciated the modern application pictures that Emma posted. Since I focused mostly on exterior examples, it was very interesting to see more interior spaces and furniture.
Shannon | I also really liked that Shannon focused mostly on furniture. I enjoyed learning more about certain pieces from this time.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the french were collecting many art treasures and bringing in new stylistic ideas. Many Renaissance chateaux appeared at this time, the earliest being Chateau d'Amboise. The style of these chateaux become known dominant under Francois I, but eventually the style grew into a French Mannerism known as the Henry II style. I'm going to discuss three chateaux that are very important to this time period.
Chateau d'Amboise
For the majority of the 15th and 16th century, the Chateau d'Amboise was favored as the royal residence. It was seized in the 1400s by Charles VII and underwent a lot of renovations. This castle was the first to have five gardens laid out in the formal style that eventually became known as French style gardens.
Chateau de Chambord
Chambord is the largest Chateau in the Loire Valley. The building, constructed by Francois I, was never actually completed. It was originally built to serve as his hunting lodge. The layout is reminiscent of a typical castle with a keep and corner towers. The chateau has 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases. One of the highlights of Chambord is the double helix open staircase that is the centerpiece of the chateau.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
Located south of Paris, Chateau de Fontainebleau is one of the largest French royal chateaux. The medieval castle and later chateau was the residence of monarchs from Louis VII to Napoleon III. A key feature of this chateau is the Gallery of Francis I. It is known as the first and finest examples of Renaissance decoration in France.
Modern Applications
This style of chateaux can be seen in many different modern applications. Below are pictures of residential applications of the French Renaissance style.
Helpful Videos
Cheateau d'Amboise Tour | https://youtu.be/PRnOiJLwNiE
Chateau de Chambord Tour | https://youtu.be/Te8u5B2vLts
Chateau de Fontainebleau Tour | https://youtu.be/0k23mOuGTws
Peer Reviews
Nichole | I really enjoyed the pictures that Nichole posted of modern applications of French Renaissance design. The strong detailing that each picture had was really spot on with the time period.
Haley | I appreciated that Haley went into a lot of detail about the specific subdivisions of the French Renaissance. I definitely learned a lot from reading her blog this week.
