Design Elements

Each of the major eras of furniture styles is marked by specific elements of design and construction.  While it is impossible to describe each piece from a period, there are certain characteristics that are common to the style and the period.

It is important to note that while all the elements may not be present in a piece of furniture, usually three or more are present and sufficient to determine the period.

As one period or style moved into the next there is usually a slight overlap in design, often combining one or more elements from both periods. 

Our mission is to describe the basic elements or characteristics of each period covered so the untrained eye can learn to spot the key elements to determine the style of the piece of furniture.  If there is anything that can be said, it is that learning to distinguish the styles becomes easier with time and practice.