Blog
Queen Anne (1700-1755)
The Queen Anne style is a refinement of the William and Mary style with a moderate proportion and graceful appearance. It is characterized by cabriole legs terminating in a pad or drake foot, fiddle-back chair backs, and bat wing shaped drawer pulls. It is named after Queen Anne of England who reigned from 1702-1714.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Appearance
| Graceful and Refined – Elegant Appearance.(Federal style shown) |
Chair Arms
| Outward Flare – Arms have slight outward curve. |
Chair Back Material
| Upholstered – Cushioned and fabric covered. | |
| Wood – Solid wood, horizontal slats, vertical slats, or vertical splats. |
Chair Back Shape
| Fiddleback – Fiddle-shaped central splat. |
Chair Leg
| Cabriole – Curved leg in the shape of an animal’s leg. The cabriole leg increased the stability of seating pieces and reduced the need for underbracing. | |
| Decorated Cabriole – Cabriole leg with decorative carving, usually on the knee. |
Chair Seat Material
| Upholstered – Cushioned and covered with fabric. |
Chair Seat Shape
| Curved – Circular or rounded seat. | |
| Horseshoe – Horseshoe shaped seat with a rounded front. |
Drawer Pull
| Bat Wing Plate with Bail – Bat shaped solid or pierced cast brass back plate with a bail handle. The size of the backplate varies from 2.75 to 4.5 inches wide by 2 to 3.25 inches high. | |
| Ring Pull with Round Back Plate – Ring pull attached by a knob to a circular back plate. |
Fabric
| Chintz – Plain woven sometimes glazed cloth imprinted with patterns or designs, often floral with five bright colors. | |
| Crewel – Embroidery using wool on closely woven cotton, linen, or wool, often of floral motifs and vines. | |
| Damask – Medium weight, glossy fabric with a reversible pattern and a figured intricate weave, often of linen, cotton, silk, or wool. | |
| Needlepoint – A type of counted thread embroidery in which yarn is stitched through an open canvas weave. | |
| Tapestry – Heavy weight fabric with decorative designs. | |
| Velvet – Woven pile fabric that is soft and sturdy, often made of silk with blends of cotton, nylon, and rayon. |
Finish
| Lacquer – Tough, adherent finish that can be clear or pigmented. | |
| Oil Varnish – Clear finish that emphasized the grain of the wood. | |
| Wax – Paste finish over a sealer, stain, or bare wood. |
Foot
| Ball and Claw – Carved claw grasping a ball. | |
| Block – Flat-surfaced foot. | |
| Bun – Rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot. | |
| Drake – Simple carved animal paw. | |
| Pad – Simple, rounded carved foot. |
Hardware Material
| Brass – Yellowish metal made from copper and zinc. |
Joint
| Dovetail – An interlocking wood joint in which a series of wedge-shaped projections fits into a series of alternating grooves. |
Line
| Cyma or S-Curve – S-shaped curve, partly concave and partly convex. | |
| Straight – Straight lines. |
Motif
| Acanthus leaf – Conventionalized leaf. | |
| Shell – Fan shaped shell. |
Ornamentation
| Carving – Cutting or chipping the surface of wood to create a shape or design. | |
| Finial – Decorative turning affixed to the tops of case furniture, and chair and bed posts. | |
| Inlay – Contrasting material set into the surface of wood to create a shape or design. | |
| Marquetry – Combinations of veneer used to create pictures or patterns. | |
| Oriental Lacquerwork – A lacquer surface on which designs are drawn in gold or color; also referred to as Japanning or chinoiserie. |
Proportion
| Medium – Moderate dimensions.(Queen Anne style shown) |
Underbracing
| Limited Use – Limited use of stretchers.(Queen Anne style shown) |
Wood
| Ash – Whitish-gray American hardwood with similar graining to oak. | |
| Black Walnut – Dark brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures. | |
| Cherry – Red-brown American hardwood. | |
| Elm – Red-brown American hardwood. | |
| Fruitwood – Pink-brown American hardwood, including apple and pear. | |
| Hickory – Red-brown American hardwood. | |
| Mahogany – Red-brown South American and African hardwood. | |
| Maple – Golden to Red-brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures. |


