Tudor Period Pollen says: The Tudor style denotes that particular modi fication of Renaissance mingling with Gothic art, which arose in England under the first four sovereigns of the House of (Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary), °but more especially under Henry VIII.) The development of this style under Elizabeth is called Elizabethan. Henry VIII greatly en couraged the arts and, as patron, invited for eiFn talent to his court. Artists and artisans alike found profitable patronage. It has been termed the °English Carving done by native hands is crude flat work, but inlay work shows advance. The "linen pattern carving for panels was in use by the end of the 15th century. Gothic ornamental decoration prevailed till Henry VIII severed relations with the Catholic Church, when Renaissance treatment commenced. Tudor tables were narrow (evolved from the narrow trestle board) ; they had heavy stretchers sev eral inches from the ground to keep the feet off the cold, damp, rush-strewn stone floor. The credence table or dresser held the foods served at table, and some had enclosed closets below to hold broken food, and shelves above to dis play plate. Chairs (a rare piece of furniture till Henry VIII) during the first half of the 16th century were similar to the French; the currule X-legged chair came into favor about 1530 with curved decoration in front, and the curve at the back had projections above and leather bands stretching across the back to lean against. The °thrown° (turned) spindle chair was for bedrooms and stayed till the end of the 17th century. "Joined" or °joint° stools were in later days called "coffin° stools, being supposed to have been used to support coffins in churches, but were really for private residences. Those extant are mostly Jacobean, Benches and forms were the retainers' seats. Tudor settles were boxed in below and used for storage purposes as well as seats; panels were often carved. The high backs were to keep off draughts, and they were placed at right angles to the fireplace. Monks' bench settles had backs that could be let down to form a table resting on the arms. In the 15th and 16th centuries the coffer (called often huche and bahut) was the principal piece of furniture, serving as bed at night and seat by day; it held the textiles used for comfort and adornment. The highly decorated Gothic ones, seen in museums, are mostly inuniment chests and held church furnishings. Tudor beds had °testers) supported on four posts.
Elizabethan Period (1558-1603).— The anom aly of Elizabethan furniture is that the earlier pieces are far superior to the later. The Ital ian, French and Flemish artisans brought over by Henry VIII continued their fine work at almost princely pay. The native makers, al ready lacking in skill and genius, under the competition, had to produce the cheaper pieces for common use only and, consequently, de pended on the quick action of the lathe and rapidly but poorly executed carving. Chairs in this period are more in number but not in common use. They are heavy ceremonial furni ture with large seats (hoop petticoats are still worn), and have high, carved, paneled backs, heavy stretchers. Alongside these we see the native spindle (turned), rush-bottomed uncouth pieces. A parlor was added to the living rooms necessitating more decorative furniture. The table with its sup ports originated with the Italian Renaissance artisans; its legs had carved acanthus and grape-bunch decoration. Its name was de rived from the two slabs that could be with drawn on runners so that the table could be extended by dropping a centre slab in the opened space. The ((court cupboard" came into
use. "Day-beds" were in use, for Shakespeare mentions them; those extant, howevpr, are Carolean or Jacobean. Headposts are not used because the is supported by the high head-paneling. We find ornament often on furniture. "Elizabethan is a species of intreccio or interlacing flat band-work.
Jacobean Period (1603-1689).— This includes the reigns of James I, Charles I, the Common wealth or Cromwellian period, Charles II or the Restoration and James II. It has also been termed the Stuart Period. The reigns of the two Charles have been termed the Carolean Period. Woodcarving, descendant of Eliza oethan days, is now in its lowest stages. It consists of °scratch carving' largely; this is done by the primitive method of drawing an outline of the design, then excising these lines. Another style is done by chiseling and goug ing out a little of the surface and leaving the motif or design in the original fiat surface. °Split balustre' was a favored decoration, also pendants on corners of cornices. In panel work the Jacobean Period holds a high posi tion; typical is the panel built up with moldings so as to project beyond'the sarface of the carcase. Lozenge-shaped bosses are often found on panels. Chairs became so com mon in the 17th century that even children and servants used them. The upholstered chair usually had straight legs and straight back;" there was an open space at the bottom of the back as the upholstering did not start at the seat. Until the Cromwellian time Upholstering in finer material had a tasseled border, but in the Commonwealth period, leather (chiefly pig skin) was mostly used and the edges fastened with brass-headed nails. The front brace dis appears as better flooring made a foot-rest un necessary. Cromwellian legs were either turned or rectangular, always straight. Side tables with round tops in two pieces, one of which could be let down or °dropped" by turning a pivoted leg, belong to this day. All Puritan pieces are very sober, simple and strong. Some leather chairbacks were quite low. With the return of Charles II from French exile (Res toration) the style became ornate and French. Stuart furniture legs are typically spiral turned, on chairs, tables, drawers, cupboards. Inlays continue in bone, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tor toise-shell. Walnut, solid and veneered, takes the place of oak In the fashionable marquetry work we find apple, pine, plum, lignum vita, pear, yew, box, holly; some is burned or stained to get the desired color. Engraving is sometimes found in the inlay. The so-called °oyster-veneer)) is produced with cross sections of walnut branches. The number of drawers in furniture increases as clothing becomes more plentiful. "Court-cupboards" and *bread-and cheese* cupboards are in most households. Jacobean coffers lose architectural design and take on decoration of acorns, drops as pend ants, lathe-turned beads, split-spindles, etc. Geometrical designs prevail. They stand on globular or egg-shaped feet. Small tables are in vogue as tea-dnnking came into fashion; the °gate-leg" was a favorite table (it is fre quently termed °thousand* or °hundred' legged) because it could he reduced to almost the space of its balustres. The Elizabethan °melon-bulb" protuberance on furniture sup ports had dwindled to balustre knobs, hut now grew into a big ball, half-way down the leg. Cane and open work appear in chairbacks, dis placing leather, in late transition pieces. Day beds are now of walnut.