Furniture at all times was a key element in the interior of the house. Especially if it is beautiful and exquisite. Modern products are practical and simple, meeting all the requirements of our crazy life. But antiques have always attracted the eyes of people. The high-quality and comfortable things of the previous centuries are capable of creating an unusual atmosphere of those years in the room. They look prestigious and aesthetic. Feature of good antique furniture is that over the years it has a property only to go up.
Styles of antique furniture
- The Romanesque style , which prevailed in Western Europe in the XI - XIII centuries, was not very special. In those days big coffers were in fashion, replacing people with cabinets and chairs. Chairs, stools and benches stood on chiseled round wooden legs. Tables often had shields instead of legs, which were joined together by brusks. For the manufacture of furniture, mostly oak, fir or cedar. To increase the strength of such products and as decorations, ancient masters used iron strips.
- Gothic style began to develop in France, beginning approximately from the second half of the 10th century. Such objects seem to be more elegant and slim. They are often covered with marvelous carvings or gilding, a bizarre painting. The benches or beds have the same design, but they are decorated with a canopy. Chests made of oak or chestnut also replaced the closet. Carved antique furniture of that period is decorated with various ornaments that contain scenes from life or plant motifs. If the household item itself was made by a carpenter, then the painter or gilded artist was entrusted to decorate it.
- The Renaissance originated in medieval Italy around the second half of the 15th century. Rectangular chests were put on chiseled legs, curved lines appeared, the quality of finishing improved, which became more diverse. Antique furniture of this time is decorated not only by carving, but also by mosaic, gilding, fine wooden inlay. Soft chairs began to appear. They are covered with leather or tapestries with the help of nails. During the High Renaissance, a fashion for friezes, pilasters, began to decorate household items in the form of heads or paws of animals.
- Baroque made furniture even more magnificent, more complex and majestic. Carved antique furniture is decorated most often with lions, griffins, intricate curls and ribbons. Soft furniture began to embroider velvet with large beautiful drawings. There were Roman motifs - swords, laurel wreaths, armor. The sofas began to appear in the form of three fastened armchairs with one common back. In the form of upholstery, tapestries with various pictures often appeared.
- Furniture in the Rococo style is even more airy and elegant. The furniture is decorated with bronze ornaments, carvings in the form of shells (from the word "sink" and the name of the style has gone). Characterized by rounded corners and curved shapes. Books cabinets, a sofa, a cabinet-drawers, chests decorated in Chinese style began to appear. Antique antique furniture is very refined. The tree is painted in light colors and is covered with brocade, velvet, satin, patterned fabrics, used for finishing gilding.
- Classicism appeared in the XVIII century and is associated with the interest of people of that time to the ancient culture of Greece and Rome. This style differs in objects in simplicity and clear proportions, they are not overloaded with unnecessary details. In the ornaments there are also antique motifs - grapes, nymphs, Greek heroes. Used for decorating mosaic, bronze and porcelain.
- Empire is already the end of the XVIII century, the era of the great emperor Napoleon. Such furniture became a parade, filling magnificent palaces. It is also decorated with antique figures - lions, sphinxes, helmets, swords, laurel wreaths. For upholstery, silk was most often used. A characteristic feature - furniture is usually rectangular, low, of dark wood and massive.
- Modern - appeared at the end of the XIX century. It is distinguished by the desire to make life as comfortable as possible, which also affected the furniture. Made it more from oak, walnut, birch or maple, which replaced the mahogany, becoming more light tones. In the decoration of many plant motifs. Characteristic is the rejection of straight lines in favor of more natural ones. We often see the curves of curls repeating the shape of plants, there are elegant lines, used to decorate the figure of animals or insects.
- Russian antique furniture was made both by famous people and by beautiful, but unknown, serf masters. It went through the same paths and styles as the European one, but it always had its own distinctive flavor, often associated with Russian architecture. This was reflected in the finish - geometric lines, ornament, carving have national features. Merchant houses had more modest and simple furniture than aristocrats, which was extremely expensive and luxurious.
Antique furniture absorbed the energy of the past eras, and at all times will remain interesting and in demand. In addition, that it is a good investment of money, ancient objects will always perfectly decorate the interior of your apartment.