File:The practical book of period furniture, treating of furniture of the English, American colonial and post-colonial and principal French periods (1914) (14592384758).jpg

Identifier: practicalbookofp00eber (find matches)
Title: The practical book of period furniture, treating of furniture of the English, American colonial and post-colonial and principal French periods
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Eberlein, Harold Donaldson McClure, Abbot, 1879-
Subjects: Furniture
Publisher: Philadelphia, London, J.B. Lippincott Company
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

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seat rails, underframing of tables and theknees of chair and settee legs. Masques, both human and grotesque, were freelyemployed for the embellishment of elaborate^ pieces,but are not commonly found (Plate XVIII, p. 170). Evolutes, or the wave pattern, can sometimes befound on Chippendale pieces. The motif, however, be-longs to an early period, and is not to be reckoned ascharacteristic. Egg and Dakt motifs for mouldings were of occa-sional occurrence and were also retained from thearchitectural motifs of the Queen Anne-Early Georgianstyle. Claw and Ball, feet were habitually used on muchof the furniture of this date. Acanthus of a peculiarly graceful type was freelyemployed in both the English and French types of theChippendale period. French Shells were frequently used in the French type offurniture which followed Rococo motifs from generalinspiration. Chinese Pagoda motifs were the most characteristic detailsof the Chinese type of decoration (Fig. 4; Key VII, 1;Plate XVII, p. 166).
Text Appearing After Image:
CHIPPENDALE 181 Gothic Pointed Arches and Quatrefodls were the essentialelements on which the Gothic type of decoration wasbased. STRUCTURE Chippendales furniture is structurally honest. Itis not only apparently strong but is actually so. Other-wise so much of it could not have remained to the pres-ent date in a perfect state of preservation. The carcase work is all most carefully fitted andjoined; that is to say, it is mortised and tenoned or elsedove-tailed together, and as only well-seasoned timberwas used it is quite as strong to-day as it ever was,except in cases where it has been subjected to ill-usage.Even in the most delicate work which sometimes hasthe appearance of being fragile, the parts are all sowell-proportioned that the support for weight andthe resistance to strain come exactly where they aremost needed. As we have said before, Chippendaleschief title to fame rests upon his chairs. In these hedisplayed not only sound knowledge but common sensein making his designs fit

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