Queen Anne furniture is prized for its simple elegance.
Queen Anne-style furniture, which first became popular in England of the early 18th century, is named after the English queen who reigned during this period. When it was introduced, Queen Anne furniture marked a change in English design, moving away from heavy, ornate pieces to a simpler look. The style migrated to the American colonies, and antiques of English and American origin are sought by today's collectors. The characteristics of Queen Anne furniture are the use of lighter woods, a graceful design and simple ornamentation. Does this Spark an idea?
Light Materials
Queen Anne furniture was usually made of lighter weight woods, like walnut, cherry and maple --- but mostly walnut. According to Queen Anne Furniture.org, this was a function of greater mobility of English society in the early 1700s. People were traveling more than previously, sometimes across the ocean, and they wanted furniture light enough to take with them.
Curved Design
Queen Anne furniture is known for its graceful curvilinear design. The style's signature feature, the curvy cabriole leg, was in sharp contrast to the thick, straight legs of earlier styles. Queen Anne-style chairs also had curved, comfortable backs, as opposed to rigid straight-backed chairs of the day.
Simple Ornamentation
The scallop, or cockleshell, that often appears on Queen Anne furniture is the style's single most important ornament, according to Museum Furniture.com. Queen Anne furniture is otherwise relatively simple, with few other flourishes, which emphasizes the clean lines.
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