Victorian

This design style was named after Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837-1901. Queen Victoria's lifestyle influenced much of the manners and attitudes of her day - social, political, industrial and scientific. It was a great period of prosperity, growth and rapid industrialization.

The style revived elements of several styles, including classical Greek, Romanesque, Gothic, Elizabethan, Italianate, Egyptian and Oriental. As a result the rooms were dark and cluttered, filled with heavy furniture, boldly coloured and patterned wallpapers. Windows were covered with luxurious curtains - it was distinctive as it was comfortable but the result was ostentatious, often to the point of vulgarity.

Two types of Lighting for the Victorians:

Candles:

*Tallow (made from animal fat in moulds - cheapest and very smelly)

*Spermaceti wax (made from whale oil)

*Beeswax

(Candlelight was used for most ordinary activities throughout the Victorian period, from dining and playing cards to cooking, particularly in areas where there was no gas, until finally eclipsed by electric 

light.)

Oil Lamps:

Oil had been burnt in lamps at least since the Palaeolithic age, and the cheapest light fittings used in Victorian homes had changed little since then, with a simple wick protruding from a small container of whale oil or vegetable oil. However, much brighter and more sophisticated lamps had emerged late in the 18th century, the most important being the Argand oil lamp. This lamp had a broad flat wick held 

between two metal cylinders to form a circular wick, with air drawn through it and around it.

A type of Paraffin lamp with a duplex burner which was common in the late 19th century. The simple pulley arrangement enabled the lamp to be pulled down low over a table to provide a bright pool of light, or raised to illuminate the whole room.

Meadows, Cecil Discovering Oil Lamps. Shire Publications, Princes Risborough, 1972
Marsden, Josie Lamps and Lighting. Popular Collectables, Guiness Publishing, Middlesex 1990

Victorian Club Sofa

This is a nineteenth century English two seater Club Sofa, dating back to 1880. It is still in fantastic condition, having never been restored. It is currently on sale at Collinge Antiques for approximately $825.51 American Dollars. Item found on Antiques Atlas. 

The Victorian Period consisted of lavish detailed furniture, incorporating tones of pink and other rich colours including Gold to emphasise this indulgence of grandeur decorative elements. This particular tub style sofa piece details soft pink velvet with buttoned upholstery. The timber legs are of Walnut, with the front two legs raised on the original brass castors.

Width: 59", Depth: 31", Height: 29"

Replicas can be found at Club Furniture. 

Thonet Chair - Chair No. 14

Michael Thonet and Sons

Design: 1859-60

Production: 1865 to the present

Manufacturer: Gebrüder Thonet, Vienna

92.5 x 42 x 50; seat height 46.5 cms

Bent Beechwood

The Thonet Chair No. 14 is one of the most successful products worldwide in the history of industrial mass production. It also established the international reputation of the Thonet Company.