American Peer REviews

Alicia: Your blog really displayed a good understanding of the different styles of design from the American period I learned some new facts from the information you provided. Great job!

Micah: I enjoyed the pictures you provided throughout your blog especially your current applications. I also learned some new information from your blog as well!

America

During this time France and the United States overthrew their monarchs during the same time which then lead these two countries to allie at the beginning of the 19th century. Neoclassicism design represented their political aspirations and the Declaration of Independence started the foundation of the American architecture and design. Benjamin Latrobe and Charles Bulfinsh were considered the fathers of American architecture. There were many designers from this time wight the first being Duncan Phyfe. He was a superb craftsman daybed being his specialties. He included the cornucopia leg, lyre motif, rolled back, and sofas rolled ends in his style.

One of his famous pieces of furniture was the Duncan Phyfe sofa. We can see here the characteristics of his work that were notes earlier in the blog. 

Another influential man during this time was Lambert hitchcock. He was one of the first people to employ production-line methods. His characteristics of his design included black with gold paint, woven cane or rush seats, and stenciled designs of fruit, leaves, arrows, flowers, and eagles.

His famous chair was the hitchcock chai, which was seen in shaker styled homes of this time.



Shaker homes during this time included round barns built in the side of a hill entered at different levels. Elegant simplicity and superb craftsmanship. Cast iron stoves and ladder back chairs were also seen at this time and the ladder bad chairs were hung 6 feet from the floor in rows to hand them up.


This was a house including the shaker style and as we can see here this is how the chairs were hung.


Machine production also occurred during this time for competition of  inferior furniture. It was for the new middle class which showed symbols of success and body comfort,(overstuffed furniture).
The American victorian style came about which had very large houses with many smaller rooms inside. Each room having a specific function, heaved drapery with dark interior and light exterior. Two staircases one for the public and one for the family. The coil spring was invented which made the proportions of furniture change. Black walnut and rosewood were incorporated with inlays of brass and mother of pearl.

John Belter made some of the most luxurious furniture from this time.

Here was a sofa he created and you can see detailed craftsmanship within the wood. It is just amazing.


Some current applications during this time were first this modern interior of a shaker home.


Another application would be this modern interior of a victorian home, we can see the design motifs fro this picture.





Below is a youtube clip provided about shaker styled homes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwA9JoL4BxE

French Renaissance Peer Reviews

Mackenzie: your blog really displayed a lot of great images that displayed this eras style of design thoroughly! I really liked your choices of the modern applications they were great.

Nichole: you blog was very informative based on the great information you provided through the paragraphs. I really liked the different Chateau's you blogged about especially the Chateau d’Amboise in the Loire Valley.

French Renaissance

The  French Renaissance was a artistic and cultural movement  between the 15th and 17th centuries. The period is paired with the pan-European Renaissance and includes the spread of humanism along with the incorporation of new artistic forms of printing, architecture, music, sculpturing, and painting. Also, new codes of sociability were introduced as well as codes of etiquette and discourse. 

The French Renaissance lasted roughly between the French invasion of Italy in the year of 1494 to the reign of Charles VIII until the death of Henry IV in the year of 1610.  The French word for Renaissance literally means "Rebirth" which is why this era was know as the era of rebirth for new design techniques. France followed the gothic style of design which included Large windows, high ceilings, rib vaults, and ornaments were incorporated throughout this era. 

Here are some famous architectural sites during the French Renaissance:

Here is the Chateau de Chambord, which was one of the most well known Chateau's during this era. 

Here is the Palais Ducal de Nevers:

Here is the Chateau de Fontainebleu:

Here are some current application of Design style of French Furniture :

Below here is a link to a short documentary on the French Renaissance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bosu6_qw2W0

Spanish Renaissance peer reviews

Nichole: I really enjoyed reading your blog especially the video you provided. I was really able to receive a thorough understanding of the furniture displayed during this era.

Hailey: I really likes your blog because of all the informative picture you provided throughout the writing. The pictures displayed a great understanding of the architecture and furniture from this era.

Spanish Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance influenced the Spanish and the French. The fusion of christian spain with moorish art termed and the final expulsion of the moors was in 1607. There was a great loss to the handicrafts and commerce of southern spain after this happened. Also, the plateresco phase and the desornamentado phase began in this era. The baroque style and churrigueresco style of surface decoration were also brought out in this time frame in spain. Residential design was influenced by moorish design and there were numerous modest rural houses built. Interiors consisted of iron grills on windows, colored tiles, pine-paneled ceilings, and tile pictures. Spain was also a leading center for fine leather work. There was a lot of inlay work and carvings in bone, exotic woods, and mother of pearl. Inlay work was one of spain's finest artistic achievements.

One of the last spanish palaces that was completed before the expulsion of the moors was Alhambra, Granada 1354. This was a supreme achievement of moorish architecture and decoration. The exterior was plain and it had numerous courtyards with gardens, fountains, and reflecting pools.









Another beautiful place during this time was the Cathedral of seville. This cathedral was located in seville, andalusia spain. It was the largest cathedral in the world in the 15th century. The style was gothic and was larger than hagia sophia. This cathedral also demonstrated the cities wealth and included 80 chapels that required 500 masses daily.











Another huge site during this era was el escorial. It was 30 miles north west of spain in the 16th century. Its massive structure was known for its simplicity, sobriety, and plainness. It was a highly moral building and a royal palace for monarchy.









Furniture was bold and simple with heavy proportions. Walnut wood was common and silver was used for ornamentation. Rectangular shapes were preferred with crude carvings. One of the most famous chairs from this era was the sill on de frailero(monk's chair). It was a walnut armchair with a leather seat and back and a broad front stretcher with decorative nailheads.






Benches were also very popular in spain, they were found everywhere and had trestle support, usually wood, and had scrolled wrought-iron under brace.






Vargueno cabinetwork was spain's most distinctive cabinetwork. It was deigned as a receptacle for documents and valuables. Could be used as a desk and early designs in the moorish or mudejar styles. Ivory was often painted in bright red, blue, green, and gold for the stand and the bases were puente and taquillon. The puente was elaborately carved table trestle with the sides being pulled out to support the drop-front. The traquillon was a facade in four sections including drawers and a cupboard.








Tables and chests wer important pieces within the homes at this time. The tables usually were made from wrought iron and were thick an massive with movable tops.




The chests were the most important and necessary piece of a home. There was inlay of bone and ivory with some being coverers in leather or fabric.






Here are some modern day interiors that display spanish detail and style:




Below is a youtube video displaying architecture, motifs, and interior design during the spanish renaissance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqUKkpUjh4o

Italian Renaissance peer reviews

Samantha: I really enjoyed the video you provided on your blog as well as the current applications you selected. Very informative blog!

Kari: Your blog had great explanations of all the material we went over plus more. I also really like the modern applications you selected, especially the one of Millennium Bitmore hotel in Los Angeles.