William and Mary is a European influenced style, named after the reign of William and Mary of England (1689-1694). William and Mary has Dutch and Chinese influences. It is characterized by trumpet turned legs terminating in a ball or Spanish foot, padded or caned chair seats, and Oriental lacquerwork.
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Appearance
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Graceful and Refined – Elegant Appearance.(Federal style shown) |
Chair Arms
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Contoured – Arms curve inward. |
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Straight – Arms are straight and perpendicular to the chair. |
Chair Back Material
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Cane – Woven rattan. |
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Upholstered – Cushioned and fabric covered. |
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Wood – Solid wood, horizontal slats, vertical slats, or vertical splats. |
Chair Back Shape
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Banister – Three to six vertical turned slats in the shape of a baluster, flat on the front and round on the back. |
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Stile and Panel – Wood or cane back panel framed between two straight or turned stiles. |
Chair Leg
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Cabriole – Curved leg in the shape of an animal’s leg. The cabriole leg increased the stability of seating pieces and reduced the need for underbracing. |
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Elaborate Turning – Turned leg with multiple types of turnings. |
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Round – Round, usually shaped or turned leg. |
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Straight – Straight leg, vertical to chair seat. |
Chair Seat Material
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Cane – Woven rattan. |
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Leather – Animal hide. |
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Rush – Woven rush. |
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Upholstered – Cushioned and covered with fabric. |
Chair Seat Shape
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Square – Square shaped seat. |
Drawer Pull
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Ring Pull with Round Back Plate – Ring pull attached by a knob to a circular back plate. |
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Tear Drop – Tear-drop shaped pull attached by a knob to a back plate. The back plate is usually circular, oval, or diamond shaped. |
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Turned Wooden Knob – Elongated, turned wooden knob, often 3 inches long and 1.25 inches in diameter. |
Fabric
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Chintz – Plain woven sometimes glazed cloth imprinted with patterns or designs, often floral with five bright colors. |
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Damask – Medium weight, glossy fabric with a reversible pattern and a figured intricate weave, often of linen, cotton, silk, or wool. |
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Needlepoint – A type of counted thread embroidery in which yarn is stitched through an open canvas weave. |
Finish
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Gilding – Gold leaf. |
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Lacquer – Tough, adherent finish that can be clear or pigmented. |
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Oil Varnish – Clear finish that emphasized the grain of the wood. |
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Paint – Opaque, pigmented finish that obscures the grain of the wood. |
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Wax – Paste finish over a sealer, stain, or bare wood. |
Foot
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Ball – Rounded ball-shaped foot. |
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Bun – Rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot. |
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Spanish – Elaborately carved foot, resembling a hoof. |
Hardware Material
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Brass – Yellowish metal made from copper and zinc. |
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Iron – Grayish-brown metal with a dull finish. |
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Silver – Gray-white metal, which can be highly polished. |
Joint
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Dovetail – An interlocking wood joint in which a series of wedge-shaped projections fits into a series of alternating grooves. |
Line
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Straight – Straight lines. |
Motif
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Acanthus leaf – Conventionalized leaf. |
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Floral – Flowers, such as roses, sunflowers, and tulips. |
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Oriental Patterns – Oriental figures, usually painted or lacquered. |
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Scroll – Form that resembles a roll of parchment paper. |
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Seaweed – Very delicate marquetry representing a marine plant. |
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Shell – Fan shaped sell. |
Ornamentation
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Carving – Cutting or chipping the surface of wood to create a shape or design. |
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Inlay – Contrasting material set into the surface of wood to create a shape or design. |
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Marquetry – Combinations of veneer used to create pictures or patterns. |
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Oriental Lacquerwork – A lacquer surface on which designs are drawn in gold or color; also referred to as Japanning or chinoiserie. |
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Parquetry – Combinations of veneer used to create geometric patterns. |
Proportion
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Medium – Moderate dimensions.(Queen Anne style shown) |
Underbracing
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Moderate – Moderately proportioned stretchers(William and Mary style shown). |
Wood
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Black Walnut – Dark brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures. |
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Ebony Veneer – Dark brown to black African hardwood with black stripes. |
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Fruitwood – Pink-brown American hardwood, including apple and pear. |
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Holly – Creamy-white American hardwood with a speckled grain. |