The Federal Period (1790 to 1830)
The Federal Period in American furniture history covers an important time frame in the formation of the United States. It begins just after the joining of the original 13 colonies with 2.5 million people into the first 13 states of the Union in 1787/1788 and it ends in 1830 with Andrew Jackson as the 7th President, 24 states in the Union and a population of approximately 12.8 million (that represents a lot of potential furniture). During this time, the country grew beyond its Atlantic seaboard boundaries with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the purchase of Florida from Spain in 1819. The Ohio country was being settled and the U.S. capital had been moved from New York City first to Philadelphia and then, in 1790, to its present location, Washington, D.C.
In the time from the signing of the truce between England and the colonies in 1783 and the Treaty of Paris formally ending the war in 1789, it was somewhat chaotic in the United States. There were many discussions about what the new government should look like. Some wanted a loose confederation between states, while others looked to a strong central federal government that could properly defend against outside forces and grow the nation beyond the borders of the Atlantic coast. Though we had signed a truce with England giving us independence, she was by no means pleased about it. And there was always France, lurking in the shadows, our professed friend but ready to pounce on a valuable prize should either we or England stumble badly along the way.
By 1790, the country had stabilized and none of the new states were in any danger of failing. Our sea trade was booming and prosperity was breaking out all over. It was our first “Golden Age”, the nasty little incident with England in 1812 that resulted in the sacking of the nation’s capital and the burning of the White House not withstanding.
Cabinetmakers, journeymen and apprentices were all now back home from the war and there was solid demand for new furniture and new styles. Though the country was not enjoying the best of relations with England, the “olde” country was still the beacon of style in all areas, including furniture. Gone from favor was the elaborate Chippendale, (the style continued to be made in less urban areas until around 1810). In its place, arising from the influence of Robert Adams and his brothers were numerous designers publishing stylebooks filled with patterns for all manner of furniture. Among the many, two English cabinetmakers took the field of popularity and still lend their names to the major styles of the Federal Period, Hepplewhite and Sheraton.
George & Alice Hepplewhite came first with their style book The Cabinet Maker & Upholster’s Guide in 1779. The Hepplewhite style (see details under Hepplewhite Style) of tapered square legs, inlays and delicate proportion quickly become the style of choice among both English and American consumers. Because it allowed for considerable individual interpretation, we find American Federal Hepplewhite furniture adorned with inlayed eagles, stars and all manner of intricate decoration in celebration of our newborn nation. Cabinetmakers from all of the major centers turned out regal examples of this style.
From 1790 until circa 1805 thousands of pieces of Hepplewhite furniture were crafted from Georgia to Maine. Then, in the late 1790′s, Thomas Sheraton, published his stylebook that featured turned or reeded legs, with bowed and/or hollowed facades. A new style called Sheraton (see details under Sheraton Style) was born and quickly accepted by the American public.
While there is ample evidence that both Hepplewhite and Sheraton furniture was crafted in both formal and country finishes and woods, the Federal terminology in furniture covers just the formal aspects of the styles. Their country cousins, though true period Hepplewhite or Sheraton, do not get the Federal designation. When we mention Formal vs. Country, we do not mean the location where the furniture was made, but the design, finishes and woods used. Formal Federal pieces featured inlays, better hardware and higher finishes than did country furniture. From 1790 through 1815 or 1820 over 75% of the very best pieces crafted in the major centers of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore were made from Mahogany as the primary wood. Though lesser pieces were offered in Cherry, Walnut, Birch and Maple they were in the minority. (As an interesting aside, in today’s market, Maple pieces, and particularly Curly, or Tiger, Maple items can easily be of greater value than many of the more formal Mahogany ones).
As the country continued to grow and prosper, demand continued to grow for more and more furniture. This demand was met by hundreds of cabinetmakers immigrating from England, Ireland, Scotland and eventually France. With the French came the first of the styles that we know as Empire (see details under Empire style). Originally delicate in form but full of ornamentation, the style gradually became heavier and increasingly bold with its marble-topped tables, columnar supports and excessive gilt.
The Federal Period was America’s heyday of celebratory design within the three basic styles of Hepplewhite, Sheraton and Empire. It began with elegant simplicity and ended with extravagant excess. While the Empire period is a fitting transition to the Victorian Period, one must not fail to recognize the Classical Period of American furniture which basically overlays both the end of the Federal period and the beginning of the Victorian from 1820 to 1835 (see details under Classical Period).
Reference note by p4A Contributing Editor Charles Wibel.