Admittedly, when you enter a house where dark furniture greets you or a bureau with ornate wooden legs stands in the entrance area, most people look around in confusion because they might suspect an old couple behind the next door, after all everything seems very “antiquated”. . The fact that the word, which already suggests that antiques are part of the interior, does not necessarily have to be associated with the older generation, is becoming increasingly clear today, because refurbished, restored furniture is back in fashion.
What to the layman looks like the home furnishings from your grandparents shows the connoisseur that an interior design professional was at work here, because antique furniture and home textiles are ideally coordinated with one another.
Anyone who is familiar with the epoch of antique furniture can draw conclusions about when these ornaments could have been created.
While epochs are already firmly anchored in literary history and should be familiar to every student in the higher grades at the latest, epoch studies sound a bit strange when it comes to furniture. In reality, however, these eras can also be seen in the furniture:
– DieBaroque erastarts from 1600 and is easy to recognize. The furniture that was created at this time is ornate and overloaded and at times even appears very strange to the viewer. The birth of baroque furniture was in Flanders. German baroque furniture only emerged in the second half of the 17th century. The French-influenced Baroque was also allowed to find its way in. The ball base and the column leg were created during this era. Furniture culture is becoming more ostentatious.
The Rococo era and the console table
– DieRococo era, which is often referred to as late baroque and begins around 1720, replaced the heavy pomp of the baroque and became increasingly delicate, but also more playful. The shapes are curved and curved. There is nothing symmetrical here; instead, the pieces of furniture from this era appear elegant and almost cuddly. The console table appears new on the furniture stage. Light, mirrors and colors are also signs of the Rococo.
– Logic, seriousness and morality are signs ofEpoch of classicism, which begins around 1770. Even if we talk about the plait style, Empire or Biedermeier, this means that furniture from the classicism period is being referred to here. A flower garland represents the braided style, the elements of the Empire become more massive, and the Biedermeier style represents bourgeois living in Germany.
– DieEpoch of historicismcan be found from around 1830. At this time, individuality largely died out because industrialization made serial production possible. Typical of this furniture style is a colorful mix of ornaments and shapes that come from all previous eras. A true consideration of traditional originals is also clear, as is the tendency towards pompous representation.
– DieEpoch of Classical Modernismis literally incomprehensible, but can be seen as a response to the loss of individuality. Rustic and robust is the new face of furniture, which goes hand in hand with the desire for functionality, which is reflected in practical wall units.
– The era around 1900 is consideredArt Nouveau eradesignated. Flowers, decoration and curved lines are signs of this furniture era, which once again wanted to prevent industrial production from creeping into houses and apartments. The idea of combining purpose and benefit in an attractive form is also a thought construct and also a demand of this time.
The Art Deco era
– Metal, synthetics and geometric shapes are the symbols ofArt Deco, the era that becomes clear from 1910 onwards and is basically just one of many chapters in the book of classical modernism. Also striking: varnishes and exotic woods become socially acceptable during this time. But traditionalists are also still represented, who focus on contours and swing, but also emphasize the workmanship.
– After the pleasant-sounding furniture variants, a new generation of furniture was to develop from 1919 onwards, which at first glance is truly unspectacular, because now it beginsBauhaus style. However, the name goes back to an important arts and crafts school that was founded in Weimar and brought craftsmen and artists together. Geometric shapes and a conscious departure from Art Nouveau and historicism were typical of this era. Even today, these pieces of furniture are often restored, such as old onesBauhaus furnitureand don't look as neatly staged as they did back in the day.
What are the old eras still worth?
Showpieces with cult character can be seen in this picture. Arranged like this, they also make a statement - against the harmony in the large body of furnishing options.
Anyone who has consciously and attentively studied the small history of epochs has certainly noticed that hardly any of these epochs are still used today to refer to traditional furniture. Today, however, the popular trend style is called vintage, althougha look at those ornate coffee table legsbut almost suggests a historical era and alsothe vintage dining table ideas presented hereactually just show that old furniture can be quite impressive today, because if the right color skilfully highlights the traditional shapes, then even supposedly old furnishings can become a must-have in the living room.
Figure 1: pixabay.com © Mariamichelle (CC0 Public Domain)
Figure 2: pixabay.com © JamesDeMers (CC0 Public Domain)
Figure 3: pixabay.com © Werbefabrik (CC0 Public Domain)
Abbildung 6: pixabay.com © Monoar (CC0 Public Domain)
