When you antique furniture shop for an antique writing desk, it’s good to have some knowledge about the origin of these important pieces of furniture.
Here are some important bits of history to consider as you antique furniture shop for a desk:
It is believed that the very first desks were adapted from women’s dressing tables. All through history antique writing desks come in different sizes and styles and were used in many countries for letter
writing, bill paying, etc. Each country is known for having it’s own individual period and style…here are a few of them…
AMERICA
American antique writing desk styles were influenced by the styles of different countries but they are primarily based on English styles, and because of this, are somewhat restricted to them. When you
look at an American antique writing desk, you can see adaptations of English styles ie; Pilgrim (early English settlers), the short William and Mary period, Queen Anne style, Federal (based on the style
of English furniture designers Sheraton and Hepplewhite), Chippendale, Empire and Victorian.
ENGLAND
English antique writing desk and furniture style in general is quite involved and depicts various elements of their society ie; differnt monarchs, their religious beliefs, available furniture materials and
and their social values…here are the various English styles…
Tudor: mostly all were made of oak and designed to be weighty and impressive.
Elizabethan: lots of heavy carving and ornamentation.
Jacobean: more refined and organized in ornamentation.
Commonwealth: heavy Puritan influence, austere and stark but having a refined appearance.
Restoration: feature bowed legs, a common feature of the period, and more decorative.
William and Mary: feature scrollwork,moldings and were lacquered.
Queen Anne: same as Wiliam and Mary but even more refined and graceful.
Georgian: Similar to Queen Anne but more extreme in ornamentation and weightiness.
Regency: featured exotic elements with simpler lines and lighter in feeling.
Victorian: heavier in feeling and use of ornamentation.
Edwardian: very much lighter with delicate lines and a feminine feeling.
Colonial: correspond to Federal style desks in America with clean lines but show more Grecian and Roman influences.
FRANCE
France is famous for having incredible artistic talent in many areas of the arts and design with inumerable variations in styles. The names of each style is based on the names of the corresponding
monarch ruling at the time ie; Rennaissance, Louis XIII, Baroque…also known as Louis XIV, Regence, Rococco…also known as Louis XV, Neoclassical, Directoire, Empire, Restoration, Louis Phillipe and Art Nouveau…here are brief descriptions of the various French styles…
Renaissance: these desks display craftsmanship and motifs featuring winding curves.
Louis XIII: similar and typically feature ebony wood.
Baroque: desks frequently feature brass and tortoise shell inlay with ornate lines.
Regence: desks feature asymmetrical scrollwork and carvings, and also the as of gilt.
Rococo (Louis XV): desks are detailed, with slender, cabriole legs and exquisite moldings.
Neoclassical: desks are known in America respectively as Federal and Colonial in America and England, share Roman and Grecian motifs as well as extensive carvings.
Directoire: desks are traditionally more restrained, but also feature Egyptian motifs.
Empire: In French, and then American styles of decor, desks feature extensive Roman themes and will display the letter N, which stands for Napoleon. Restoration:period desks are smaller and simpler,with contrasting wood hues as the primary decoration. Louis Philippe: desks are noted for their cathedral influences and darker woods. Lastly,
Art Nouveau: desks are delicate and more feminine.
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