Encyclopedia of Antiques
William And Mary
Mary, the daughter of James II, and her Dutch husband, William III, took the English throne after her father abdicated. William III had ruled in Holland, and, while there with him, Mary learned to enjoy the customs and habits of the Dutch. She then, naturally, took back to England influences of Dutch furniture as well as furniture craftsmen. The style was comfortable and within the reach of the middle-class public.
More extensive use of upholstery was one of the characteristics of this period. Other features included hooded tops for cabinets, bun or ball-and-claw feet (ball and claw representative of a dragon grasping a jewel—Chinese legend), crossed stretchers, large surfaces, similarity in sofas and chairs, and trumpet-turned legs.
Decorations were done with veneers, lacquers, and carvings. Tables varied in size and often had veneer tops. Chairs were high-backed and either carved, upholstered, or caned. Many of the carved chairs had scrolled, wooden arms. Stools had heavy, carved legs with upholstered tops; beds were very elaborate and canopied. The four posts sometimes were topped with plumes. Desks, cabinets, and secretaries (desk with cabinet top) have drop handles on the drawers and shaped aprons. Combined woods of walnut and curly maple went into the construction of ladies’ desks. Lowboys and highboys were popular in the days of William III and Mary also. Highboys had six or eight legs with ball-and-claw feet, which were connected with curved stretchers and hooded tops.
Lowboys, the dressing tables, often had mirrors hung above, and the X-shaped stretchers facilitated comfort when sitting close to them. Chest of drawers differed only slightly from those of the Jacobean era. Cabinets were designed with open shelves. Because of Mary’s hobby of china collecting, she could display the china to the best advantage in a cabinet of this type.
Upholstery fabrics included velvets, brocades, damasks, braid, and chintz. Tapestry, embroidery, and petit point also were used. The ladies of the court and Mary enjoyed needlework; much of their work was displayed as decorative hangings, and much was used for upholstery.
More extensive use of upholstery was one of the characteristics of this period. Other features included hooded tops for cabinets, bun or ball-and-claw feet (ball and claw representative of a dragon grasping a jewel—Chinese legend), crossed stretchers, large surfaces, similarity in sofas and chairs, and trumpet-turned legs.
Decorations were done with veneers, lacquers, and carvings. Tables varied in size and often had veneer tops. Chairs were high-backed and either carved, upholstered, or caned. Many of the carved chairs had scrolled, wooden arms. Stools had heavy, carved legs with upholstered tops; beds were very elaborate and canopied. The four posts sometimes were topped with plumes. Desks, cabinets, and secretaries (desk with cabinet top) have drop handles on the drawers and shaped aprons. Combined woods of walnut and curly maple went into the construction of ladies’ desks. Lowboys and highboys were popular in the days of William III and Mary also. Highboys had six or eight legs with ball-and-claw feet, which were connected with curved stretchers and hooded tops.
Lowboys, the dressing tables, often had mirrors hung above, and the X-shaped stretchers facilitated comfort when sitting close to them. Chest of drawers differed only slightly from those of the Jacobean era. Cabinets were designed with open shelves. Because of Mary’s hobby of china collecting, she could display the china to the best advantage in a cabinet of this type.
Upholstery fabrics included velvets, brocades, damasks, braid, and chintz. Tapestry, embroidery, and petit point also were used. The ladies of the court and Mary enjoyed needlework; much of their work was displayed as decorative hangings, and much was used for upholstery.