452 THE BAROQUE AND ROCOCO MOVEMENTS
The Queen Anne Period

Furniture. In this period (1702-1714) the Dutch influence
continued to grow and comfortable furniture became common.
Straight lines had practically disappeared, and furniture was built
on curved lines to fit the shape of the body. The Baroque and
Rococo furniture of France influenced this period, but the English
furniture was much simpler and stronger. Walnut, which was
used either in solid form or in veneering, was the favorite wood,
but others were also utilized. Simpler woods were sometimes
finished with brilliant-colored lacquer decorated with gold. The
turned leg went completely out of fashion, and the shaped stretcher
was replaced by a simple one which, also soon disappeared. The
cabriole leg had now arrived and was often carved with a shell
motif on the knee, ending with a club, spoon, or scroll foot. Even
the case furniture had curved legs and sometimes double hoods
to repeat the curved lines. See pages 90 and 460.

For the decoration of furniture, turning, carving, lacquering,
gilding, and veneering were used rather sparingly, and marquetry
had almost gone out of fashion. The beauty of the grain of the
wood was preferred to carving, gilding, or ormolu. Shells and sun
rays were carved on cabinet furniture; sphinxes, griffins, eagles,
flowers, and human and animal figures were carved on table bases.
Chinese motifs were used on furniture and wall paper.

The typical chair of the period had a hoop back, spooned to
fit the body, with a solid fiddle- or vase-shaped splat down the
center and a slight dip in the middle of the top rail often filled in
with a carved shell ornament. The comfortable upholstered wing
chair of this period is still a favorite. The ever-popular day bed
was graceful, having three or four cabriole legs on either side and
a rolled head rest.

Very fine secretaries were made with broken pediments at the
top and cabriole legs. Sometimes they were lacquered a brilliant
color such as vermilion, green, or black. Cupboards, called dress-
ers, with open shelves above and drawers below, appeared at this
rime* Sideboard tables had marble tops. Corner cupboards and
cabinets were numerous because collections of porcelain were
fashionable. Chests on stands, tallboys or highboys, and knee-hole
as well as many small desks, were made.