How to Make Colonial Furniture
Colonial Furniture refers to furniture made in what is now the United States during the period prior to independence from England. Colonial furniture typically follows the basic European forms and styles of the 17th and 18th centuries. Makers employed local materials and adapted their pieces to the simpler conditions of Colonial life. Colonial furniture is highly prized and reproductions are common.
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Instructions
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Study authentic examples. Colonial furniture encompasses two distinct traditions and two major categories of furnishings. The first tradition was that which sought to emulate the work of Britain's leading cabinetmakers. Pieces in this tradition follow the example of Sheraton and Chippendale and other leading English makers. These pieces belonged primarily to the wealthy and mimic those found in the houses of Britain's aristocracy. The other tradition is the folk tradition. This is best exemplified by the work of local craftsmen and includes such things as chests and simple chairs and bureaus. All work breaks down into two broad categories--actual furniture like chairs and tables, or furnishings such as clocks, lamps, and silverware.
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Pay attention to form and material. Form is generally simple and straightforward. In the folk tradition, a chair might feature spindle-turned arms and legs. Different widths function as ornament. A leg may taper toward the floor, or expand outward at certain points. A common form was the Windsor chair. These feature a solid wooden seat and a back made of thin wooden rails. The arms are also of solid wood as is the area at the top of the back. The solid back portion generally curves gracefully, and the arms are linked to the seat by means of spindles.
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Use the woods employed by Colonial craftsmen to make the piece authentic you should. Furniture was usually made of pine, maple, oak, ash or elm. Windsor chairs and other pieces were generally painted. Painting was a prominent feature of folk design. Painting was even used to imitate the graining of the exotic woods that could be found on expensive pieces. Typically, folk pieces are boxier and less delicately ornamented than those in the European high tradition. Simpler turning would replace elaborate scrollwork and there would be less actual carving such as would be seen on claw and ball feet.
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Design furnishings that pay homage to form. Colonial silverwork is prized because of its beautiful lines and symmetrical shapes. Colonial silversmiths moved away from the heavy ornamental work of their European counterparts. They allowed the beauty of the material to shine through. In similar fashion, pewter served the needs of ordinary people. Pewter was one of the most popular materials in Colonial Times. Petwer is naturally much more difficult to ornament than silver. The material lent itself to simple homespun designs. Brass was used for everyday objects and also on furniture. Drawer pulls were often of brass. Pieces like these serve as a link between furniture and small furnishings.
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