A list of some the

common furniture
styles in
chronological order;
• Baroque style (1600-1750’s)

• Shaker style (1820-1860’s)

• Victorian style (1840-1920’s)

• Art Nouveau style (1880-1910’s)

• Modern style (1970-today)

Baroque Style
It had a marked effect upon furniture design throughout
western Europe during the 17 century. The Baroque art
th

began in Rome, Italy and spread to Spain, German, Australia,

France and Britain.

Large wardrobes, cupboards, and cabinets had twisted

columns, broken pediments, and heavy moldings.
 Baroque is a style characterized by
exaggeration of
Movement form of artistic decoration
consisting of "surface
Decorative excess decorations based on
Dramatic effects rhythmic linear patterns of
scrolling"
Chairs with high backs
 squared legs with curved, diagonal stretchers
Use of curvaceous, arabesque forms
(S and C-curves), scrolls and shells
Shaker style
It represents a substantial contribution of
the utilitarian lifestyle of the religious
group, the United Society of Believers. The
style is based on pure simplicity. It was
created to be simple but useful.
Shaker style
Shaker furniture is simple and functional. It is made to show good
craftsmanship and serve a purpose in the home.
Common features in shaker
style include:
• Plain appearance
• No decoration
• Natural materials
• Emphasis on function
• Straight tapered legs
Victorian style
• This style of furniture was named
after Queen Victoria who reigned over
England from 1837-1901.
• It relies on more gothic forms with
dark finishes, elaborate carving and
heavy proportions
Victorian style
Ornamentation was extensive, mahogany and
rosewood were often used
 Late Victorian furniture was known for its
straight lines and solid woods with dark stains
and less upholstery than the earlier pieces.
It was the first furniture style to be mass
produced.
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is French new art and it emerged in the late
19th century in Paris. The style was said to be influenced
strongly by the lithographs of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha,
whose flat imagery with strong curved lines was seen as a
move from the academic art of the time.
Art Nouveau
 Used lines and curves as graphical ornamentation and
hard woods and iron
 It is characterized by sudden curves and dynamic flowing
lines and often incorporates floral designs and natural
forms such as branches, leaves, waves and flames or
vines.
Modern style
Modern furniture originated under the modernist
movement in the early 1900’s. It often combines
leather, vinyl, steel, molded plywood and plastics with
monochromatic color scheme to create sleek and
stylish interiors
Modern furniture has a very distinguishable shape
The shapes tend to be very angular,
with a lot of right angle corners,
distinct edges,
and overall lines that mat be asymmetrical or otherwise not
quite square.
This is usually very little in the way of carving ,
decoration, or other intricate details. Surfaces are typically
very smooth in texture and flow in an even line from one end of
the piece to the other.
Iconic examples of
Modern Furniture
Marcel Breuer's Wassily Chair
 The Wassily chair, also known as the Model B3
chair, was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925-26.
 The design of the chair is most interesting in that
it is a symmetrical abstraction of wafer thin,
geometric planes that appears to be suspended
in space.
Eileen Gray side table
Designed in 1927 as a bedside table for a guest
room , in the home Eileen Gray designed for
herself (and Jean Badovici) in Cap Martin, France,
the asymmetry of this piece is characteristic of
her “non-conformist" design style in her
architectural projects and furniture.
Barcelona chair
The Barcelona chair has come to represent the Bauhaus
design movement. Designed by Mie’s Van Der Rohe and
Lily Reich in 1929 for an international design fair in
Barcelona, it is said to have been inspired by both the
folding chairs of the Pharaohs, and the 'X' shaped
footstools of the Romans, and dedicated to the Spanish
royal family.
Noguchi coffee table
Noguchi table was designed by Isamu
Noguchi. He was a sculptor, architect, furniture
and landscape designer. He is famous for his
organic modern forms. The Noguchi table has
become famous for its unique and
unmistakable simplicity.