Tag Archives: 1stdibs
History Lesson: Shaker Furniture
Shaker furniture is a distinctive style developed by the Shakers, a religious sect that came to America from Manchester, England in 1774. The style is admired for its simplicity, innovative joinery, quality, and functionality. The Shakers worked mainly with maple, cherry, birch and walnut woods sourced on lands that they owned. They rejected materialism, vanity, [...]
History Lesson: The Sleigh Bed
The sleigh bed first appeared in the early 1800s during the French and American Empire periods. These ornate beds feature a high curved headboard, lower curved footboard, and low side rails. The resulting design resembles a horse-drawn sleigh. The first sleigh beds were made of wood with mahogany veneers, and both the headboard and footboard [...]
History Lesson: The Regency Style, 1790-1837
The Regency era of design in the United Kingdom refers to works of art produced in England between the late 1790s and 1837. It is a visually rich style characterized by a combination of classical inspiration and British upper class culture. Greek krater-style copper vase patinated to imitate bronze, designed by Thomas Hope, England, 1802-03. [...]
History Lesson: España Bunching Chest
One of my memories of my grandmother’s house when I was growing up is of a shiny black dresser she had in her bedroom. When I lifted the drawer pulls and let them fall back against the wood they had a very specific sound, and I remember running my fingers along the wavy lines of [...]
History Lesson: Cabriole Leg
The cabriole leg is a symbol of 18th century furniture. The design is based on the shapes of animal legs, formed of two curves; the upper one is convex (curved outward), and the lower one is concave (curving inward). The design was developed by the ancient Chinese and Greeks, but wasn’t considered in fashion in [...]
History Lesson: Claw and Ball Foot
The inspiration for the design of the claw and ball foot came from a Chinese motif of a dragon’s claw clutching a pearl or crystal ball. Often associated with the cabriole leg (a symbol of 18th century furniture), good examples of the claw and ball foot can be found in Chippendale and Queen Anne furniture, [...]
History Lesson: Milk Glass
Milk glass is a translucent or opaque glass which was first made in Venice in the 16th century. Original colors included blue, pink, yellow, brown, black, and the opaque white which inspired its name. The milky appearance was achieved by adding tin dioxide or bone ash. It was used mainly for dinnerware, lamps, vases, and [...]
History Lesson: The Chandelier
The chandelier is a decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more branches supporting light, either candles or electric. They are intended to provide light and create a dramatic focal point in a room. The word chandelier originates from chandelle, which is French for candle. The earliest chandeliers were constructed of two crossed wooden beams, [...]
Destination: Westchester County, NY
Westchester County is conveniently located just north of Manhattan. With an easy commute into the city by train, real estate is desirable and its small-town charm is a destination for tourists as well. It is made up of river towns and sleepy villages with cafes and antique shops, castles and stone walls, and luxury lofts [...]
