Throughout history, great leaders have left their marks on our world in a number of ways. Some created powerful empires, others left heirs and legacies and some influenced an era of furniture design. England’s three Georges, cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite and practitioners Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Roche, inspire this Design Dictionary entry. These epic figures and their roles in the past are the motivation behind the Georgian, Hepplewhite and International styles of furniture.
Georgian
This style of furniture emerged in 16th century England during the reigns of George I, II and III. Originally, this style of furniture had more characteristics of Queen Anne designs. As the Georgian fashion evolved, the design included highly decorated and ornamented pieces with masculine characteristics. Commonly used details included rustic animals such as eagles’ and lions’ heads and claws, as well as satyrs’ masks. We think our Dylan Ottoman from our Drexel Heritage Upholstery collection is a lovely more contemporary take on the regal Georgian style. Along with the intricate wood detailing, the ottoman’s dark wood finish is reminiscent of the mahogany woods used during the “Golden Age of Furniture.”
Hepplewhite
Renowned cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite also had a talent for designing furniture. His styles included simple, slender lines and straighter shapes with features inspired by Adam and neoclassical designs. This artisan was also known for adorning chair backs with Prince of Wales’s feathers motifs. With the shield shape back and Bordeaux finished wood, our Lisette Chair from our Accents Provence collection is a great example of this elegant style.
International
This contemporary European style of furniture, circa 1920-1930, features clean lines and is all function and no frills. Practitioners like Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Roche were part of this modern design’s most significant origin, Germany’s Bauhaus. This style of furniture is a progression from traditional designs, as evident by the incorporation of current materials and methods of production. Our Urban Contemporary Nesting Table from our Mixers Collection is the perfect simple, utilitarian piece. But with features like the glass top and chrome detailing, this table is anything but ordinary.