Early American furniture is basic, useful furniture originally made from whatever wood was locally available, often including Ash, Birch, Cherry, Elm, Hickory, Maple, Oak and Pine. These same woods are used today in the manufacture of Early American furniture and may be available unfinished or finished with oil based varnish or paint and may include fabric such as leather or cotton. The original methods of joinery include mortise and tenon, however modern construction of Early American furniture may use glue, nails or other methods.
Most Early American furniture will have very straight lines, with thick, heavy construction and underbracing. It is most similar to William & Mary or Pennsylvania Dutch furniture. Chairs may use wood, cane or cloth for the seat. Early American chairs usually have straight legs and the arms are usually straight and flat with an occasional slight amount of turning. Chair backs may be a solid piece of wood but more likely will be rectangular with vertical slats that are either rounded or flat. Sometimes horizontal slats are used which may be curved or flat.
Tables and cabinetry are usually very simple without a lot of ornamentation however some will have carvings, and, bedposts, chair backs and cabinet tops may have finials on the top and some cabinets may have some framed or recessed panels.
Men and women of many nationalities settled America, and Early American furniture reflects this in the way that practicality and style were combined to create an entirely new style of furniture. |
