Ways to describe victorian furniture?

tinkikiwi · Feb 4, 2011

I'm writing a little short story and basically, I need a better way to name these chairs and loveseat than calling them victorian parlor furniture. And NO I don't want to change to a more practical/generic furniture. I have a very clear image of where this is set and I don't want to mess it up. Does anyone have suggestions?
<img src=http://www.cordierantiques.com/assets/images/db_images/db_Victorian_chairs12.jpg>

<img src=http://images.oneofakindantiques.com/4353_victorian_sofa_1.jpg>

Examples: She collapsed back onto the (loveseat)
He perched on the edge of the (lady's parlor chair [the one without arms])

Also, the characters are youngish, this is not their parlor. She isn't thinking about the antique furniture, but he is. This is written from his perspective and he knows that it is antique furniture.

Lil · Feb 4, 2011

Can you describe the furniture without giving it a name? I mean, talk about the fussy carving on the back of the loveseat, the prickly horsehair upholstery, the squat legs on the chairs — that sort of thing. The victorian furniture I have encountered is not designed for lolling about, so you could use that fact—"He sat stiffly in the chair because there was no other way to sit in it." Are there antimacassers (or however you spell that)? You could say the furniture seemed to be longing for them.
You could also say something like "He stepped into the room and was suddenly transported to 1857." of "She felt as if she should be wearing a corset when she sat down."

backslashbaby · Feb 4, 2011

http://www.furniturestyles.net/european/english/early-victorian.html

http://www.furniturestyles.net/european/english/late-victorian.html

http://www.victoriana.com/Furniture/

and a very brief part of http://www.victoriana.com/Furniture/furniture-1.htm

That's a good start there. If you need 'technical' words, so to speak, you might look up Victorian stuff on Rubylane.com.

Also the folks who make reproduction legs:

Cabinet and Furniture Feet

Furniture feet can include everything from turned legs to bun feet and chair legs. During the Victorian period, furniture legs and furniture feet were discretely hidden by tapestry. It was the finest fabric used to hide parts that people of that time actually associated with human anatomy. While to today's mind such thoughts are preposterous, during this period of history virtue was so extolled that no extent of protective care of the minds of men would be considered extreme. As time moved forward the tapestry was lifted. Furniture designs moved towards the development of Queen Anne legs, fine carvings, and furniture feet. While styles varied by region and period, these basic parts of furniture design have developed as useful parts of daily living which transcend time and culture.

http://www.osbornewood.com/cabinet-and-furniture-feet.cfm

Kenn · Feb 5, 2011

The chairs are armchairs and might be described as upholstered, walnut, etc. The sofa is a canape, I believe, but you would probably refer to it as a settee.

Ways to describe victorian furniture?

tinkikiwi

Lil

backslashbaby

*

Kenn

New kid, be gentle!

Ways to describe victorian furniture?

tinkikiwi

Lil

backslashbaby

~~~~*~~~~

Kenn

New kid, be gentle!

*