What period in time does the Early American Farmhouse (EAF) style cover?
1600's-1800's
Characteristics of EAF
1) Lines of furniture were simple
2) Workmanship is unrefined
3) Furniture was designed for small houses.
What are the 5 exterior characteristics of houses built during the EAF period?
1) Peaked roof
2) Small windows
3) Shutters
4) Brick or stone chimneys
5) Wood plank walls
What are the seven interior characteristics of houses built during the EAF period?
1) Small rooms
2) Low ceilings (<7ft high)
3) Vertical wall planking (pine)
4) Rough hewn ceiling beams
5) Wide wooden floor planks
6) Wooden pegs in floor
7) Wrought iron hinges and door latches (strap hinges)
What are the 3 general characteristics of EAF Furniture?
1) Square frame structure and straight back, legs, arms etc
2) Turnings-rounded spindle-like form on legs etc. Legs can also be square shaped
3) Painted wood (black, green, blue, wood stain)
What are the six types of chairs of EAF style?
1) Slatback/Ladderback
2) Bannister back chairs
3) Fiddleback chairs
4) Windsor chairs
5) Shaker chairs
6) Settees (also called settles)
What are the characteristics of a Slatback/Ladderback chair?
Have rushed seats- straw-like fiber stretched over wood frame.
What is the characteristic of Bannister Back Chairs?
Contain vertical poles
What are the characteristics of Fiddleback Chairs?
-Back resembles shape of violin or fiddle. Upright is called "splat".
-Cabriole leg (appearance of prosperity in early 1700's colonies)
-Legs may be straight, turned, or cabriole
-Curvature at back of posts
What are the characteristics of Windsor chairs?
-Round spindle backs which are stronger, longer lasting, and more comfortable.
-Wood seat shaped to butt
-Spindles sunken into holes in back.
-Legs into holes too and splayed.
What are the characteristics of a Shaker chair?
-Simple, utilitarian, devoid of comfort or detail, similar to slatback.
-Tend to have finials (simple) on top of leg backs
What are the characteristics of Settees?
-Many settees were similar to windsor chairs
-Seats sometimes wood planks or rush
-Used to seat more than one person.
What are the characteristics of a farmtable?
Has apron under tabletop to provide rigid frame for legs to fit into and sometimes has drawer space.
What are the characteristics of a trestle table?
Legs form "X" or upside down "T" in others.
*all have a stretcher piece running down the length of the table from legs to legs.
What are the characteristics of Tavern and Drop-leaf Tables
1) Designed for rugged use
2) Had two defining features:
-Apron
-Stretcher
Drop leaves could be opened for larger family gatherings and dropped when not in use to save space.
What are the two types of leaves/tables in tavern tables?
1) Gateleg table (legs support leafs)
2) Butterfly table (leaves held up by hinged support that resembles butterfly wing)
What are the four characteristics of EAF beds?
1) Informal simple frame
2) Low four poster (formal)
3) High four poster (formal-some had canopy's)
4) Trundle bed-roll-out bed underneath.
Define: Casepieces
Any piece of furniture used for storage- ie chest, bureau, cupboard, desk etc.