Characteristics of Gothic Revival Furniture

The appearance of old castles and churches built in the Middle Ages lent their style and detailed ornaments to 19th century furniture designs. The first Gothic era occurred in the Middle Ages - in the 12th century - in Europe, but its period of renewal occurred centuries later, from the mid to the end of the 19th century to the Victorian era. Neo-Gothic furniture appeared when Victorian furniture designers began to search for older design styles for inspiration. Neo-Gothic offered a welcome alternative to the dominant neoclassical style.

A dominant presence

The neo-Gothic furniture echoed the architecture of the cathedrals, churches, castles and houses of the wealthy nobles for whom the furniture was made. He incorporated heavy woods - rosewood, walnut or oak - in dark hues and colors, and distinctive ornamentation in his design. The upholstery had to resist the heaviness of the wood and was chosen for this, because the fabrics were just as sumptuous and rich in burnished and aromatic leathers, clover brocade or thick and luxurious velvet. Neo-Gothic furniture controls the space and often shares a religious association with the architecture of the church by including intricately carved crosses or religious symbols in its designs on high-backed chairs.

Turrets, gargoyles and rosettes

The characteristics of the furniture also favored the detailed and decorative patterns used in the architecture: ornate sculptures, finely hand-made or machine-made florets, festoons, vine and leaf motifs, rosettes, pointed arches, real and imaginary creatures , gargoyles and turrets. As more and more furniture manufacturers used mechanical construction methods during this period in the aftermath of the first industrial revolution, wooden legs and arms turned in turn appeared very detailed on chairs with backrests and seats oval padded squares and parts of the arms. covered with expensive, padded floral brocade fabric. The wooden frame on the back of the chair reaches for the sky, well above the head of the caretaker, in miniatures, turrets and spirals carved and pointed.

Shapes and ornaments

Designers often favored the three-lobed form, or Gothic clover; the outline of the quadrilobe, a flower with four petals; or the cinquefoil, or the form with five arcs. Designs ranged from simple to extremely fine and detailed. Another Gothic favorite included a bell in a hollow center surrounded by a floral theme with three or four lobes. Look for lots of lace gingerbread trims to accentuate heavy and massive pieces. The furniture frame used mortise and tenon joints, fitted together tightly without glue. In large pieces, for example, panels have been grooved in the frame. Square oak pegs, driven into round holes in the joints, kept the studs secure.

Fit for a king

You will not find anything modest in neo-Gothic furniture. The tables and chairs are massive and dominate the room. But in simpler forms, you could find chairs with backrests that resemble the intricately designed stained glass windows found in many European cathedrals. The bed frames - usually single or double posters with four posters - have elaborate carvings lining the canopy in carved wood. The furniture is generally uncomfortable, ornate and ostentatious, mainly designed for the nobility and the wealthy in Europe. If you plan to decorate your home with neo-Gothic style furniture, make sure you have a castle or at least one large house with large rooms. After all, neo-gothic furniture is suitable for a king - or a queen.