The Renaissance Era started in America in the 14th Century. The Renaissance period is historically famous because it revived the classical themes and merged them with the church, especially the Catholic Church. These themes of individualism, learning, naturalism, and humanism were evident in all aspects of the American Classical Revival, especially in different art forms.
The American Classical Revival relating to the furniture style was prevalent in America from 1895 to 1950. The Americans mimicked the trend from Europe though it has its outstanding American features (Albert 72). One of its characteristics is that furniture items were massive and bulky, which is a tradition that was originally inherited from ancient Roman and Greek traditions. Several features, including the marble and bronze decorations, complex geometrical shapes, classical motifs, and heavy pedestal bases, characterize the American Revival. Other features that characterize the American Revival are the scroll-shaped legs that look like the animal paws and the bold carving. The most outstanding pieces of the American Classical Revival period are the scroll-end sofa, klismos chair, and canopy and settee beds. Primarily, the Classical Revival Period in America was a period of rapid industrialization that automatically influenced the furniture industry. It is also necessary to note that availability of new technology and machinery in this period allowed the production and selling of furniture items at a logical prize, which habituated the extensive and quick development of American Classical Revival (Albert 81). Additionally, the American Classical Revival was widely characterized by notable designers like Duncan Phyfe, who was an immigrant from France, and Charles-Honoré Lannuier. Duncan introduced gilded caryatids on tables and chairs. This period also utilized Mahogany widely. A clear example of American Classical Revival style is a chair that has legs that resemble an animal’s claws as outlined in the image below.
In sum, the American Classical Revival style shares numerous features with other revival styles, but it has many other distinguishing features that make it unique and peculiar. It is a significant period in the history of America because it shaped the future of art.
Works Cited
Albert, Boime. Art in an Age of Revolution, 1895 – 1950. Great Britain: Macmillan, 1987. Print.
