American furniture of the 19th Century was directly influenced by English and French designs. Not surprisingly, many of the earliest woodworkers in the United States came from Europe, and brought with them an already-flourishing industry. A worldwide fascination with classical lines and intricately detailed designs had moved to North America and started what would become a fundamental part of history.
The period of 1790 through to the early 1800s is known as "Federal" because it coincides with the establishment of the United States, although it is referred to as neoclassical elsewhere. Primarily inspired by Roman styles, many of the pieces designed during this time contain sharp contrasts of light and dark wood.
One of the most prevalent English cabinetmakers who helped to form this type of design was George Hepplewhite. While little personal details about Hepplewhite are known, his unique, creative eye influenced woodworkers for years.
Furniture from this period has distinguishable characteristics, including curvy shapes, decorative inlays, and slender, tapered legs. Chair backs were usually designed in the shapes of ovals or shields, a defining attribute of this time.
Perhaps the most influential of all designs in the Federal period was that of Thomas Sheraton. Another English cabinetmaker, Sheraton became famous for publishing The Cabinet Maker's and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, which gained instant fame. Approximately six hundred woodworkers subscribed to his book, providing an indirect invitation to copy his distinctive style.
As tastes and styles changed, the Federal-inspired pieces diminished in popularity. The following fifty years developed from French designs. Veering away from the Roman look, American furniture began to assume Egyptian and Greek detailing, such as bronze decorations and mahogany veneers.
Although many cabinetmakers were producing similar pieces, several American cities developed their own style. In particular, the renowned craftsmen of Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York all contributed significantly to the history of American furniture.
Antique American pieces are admired by collectors and dealers worldwide. As with any other type of antique, the better the condition, the higher the value. True antiques are at least 150 years old, although some pieces at the 100-year mark are often considered as antiques as well.
Antique furniture is usually placed in one of five categories: good, better, best, superior and masterpiece. "Good" is the equivalent to average or below, "better" contains some kind of minor imperfection(s), "best" contains enough quality and craftsmanship to easily become a part of a collection, "superior" describes a piece that is flawless, and "masterpiece" is used to express a design that surpasses the expectations of that particular era.
Antique American Oak Furniture
Over the years, through industrialization and mass production of lace and fabrics, items made with crochet and knitting have gained popularity in the lower to middle classes and the upper classes started showing their wealth in other, more material, ways.
Today, crochet and knitting are the craft art of choice for many people all over the world. They are both handicrafts which are challenging to learn yet affordable for nearly everyone. Supplies are easy to find to create some very amazing hand crafted items with the emergence of new yarns and colorful fibers.
As a beginner to the art of crochet, there are some simple things to learn to be successful. Here are ten steps to get you started on your road to crochet success:
Step #1 – Gather Up Your Supplies – To crochet you will need a crochet hook, yarn, scissors and a large-eye needle.
Step #2 – Holding Your Crochet Hook – You will want to hold your crochet hook in your dominant hand. Create a slip-knot and place it over the end of your hook.
Step #3 – Create a Continuous Stitch – Slide the hooked yarn to the slip-knot on the hook. This will create a chain of stitches. Continue to make this chain by brining your yarn to the top of the hook and pulling it through the slip-knot.
Step #4 – Move Up The Chain – Move up the chain allowing the first chain stitch to knot on the hook. This allows the yarn to stay in place and not loosen. It is generally a good idea to make this first knot tight rather than loose.
Step #5 – Creating Two Loops – Next, insert your crochet hook into the hole of the next chain stitch and slide the passing yarn through its center.
Step #6 – Bring Your Yarn Back – Bring your yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide your knot in the center of the loops which you have already created on the crochet hook.
Step #7 – Making Rows – From your second yarn loop, create another single chain stitch and make a counter-clockwise loop. Start again and create the same loops as the previous stitches.
Step #8 – Crochet Until Done – Continue this basic crochet technique until you have a swatch of fabric.
Step #8 – Cut your Project Off – Once you have completed a swatch of fabric, it is time to remove it from your ball of yarn. Cut it with about a 6" tail left at the end.
Step #9 – Fasten Your Project so it won’t Unravel - Bring your tail of yarn back through the last stitch to fasten it.
Step #10 – Cut the Excess – At this point you are finished and can cut off the excess tail of yarn.
Using these simple ten steps you can learn to successfully complete a basic crochet fabric. Like any new skill, crochet takes time. You will want to practice a lot at first and see what techniques and hand holds are the most comfortable for you.
Both Victor Epand & T. Detty are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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