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William and Mary (1690-1725)
William and Mary is a European influenced style, named after the reign of William and Mary of England (1689-1694). William and Mary has Dutch and Chinese influences. It is characterized by trumpet turned legs terminating in a ball or Spanish foot, padded or caned chair seats, and Oriental lacquerwork.Â
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Appearance
| Graceful and Refined – Elegant Appearance.(Federal style shown) |
Chair Arms
| Contoured – Arms curve inward. | |
| Straight – Arms are straight and perpendicular to the chair. |
Chair Back Material
| Cane – Woven rattan. | |
| Upholstered – Cushioned and fabric covered. | |
| Wood – Solid wood, horizontal slats, vertical slats, or vertical splats. |
Chair Back Shape
| Banister – Three to six vertical turned slats in the shape of a baluster, flat on the front and round on the back. | |
| Stile and Panel – Wood or cane back panel framed between two straight or turned stiles. |
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. | |
| Elaborate Turning – Turned leg with multiple types of turnings. | |
| Round – Round, usually shaped or turned leg. | |
| Straight – Straight leg, vertical to chair seat. |
Chair Seat Material
| Cane – Woven rattan. | |
| Leather – Animal hide. | |
| Rush – Woven rush. | |
| Upholstered – Cushioned and covered with fabric. |
Chair Seat Shape
| Square – Square shaped seat. |
Drawer Pull
| Ring Pull with Round Back Plate – Ring pull attached by a knob to a circular back plate. | |
| Tear Drop – Tear-drop shaped pull attached by a knob to a back plate. The back plate is usually circular, oval, or diamond shaped. | |
| Turned Wooden Knob – Elongated, turned wooden knob, often 3 inches long and 1.25 inches in diameter. |
Fabric
| Chintz – Plain woven sometimes glazed cloth imprinted with patterns or designs, often floral with five bright colors. | |
| 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. |
Finish
| Gilding – Gold leaf. | |
| Lacquer – Tough, adherent finish that can be clear or pigmented. | |
| Oil Varnish – Clear finish that emphasized the grain of the wood. | |
| Paint – Opaque, pigmented finish that obscures the grain of the wood. | |
| Wax – Paste finish over a sealer, stain, or bare wood. |
Foot
| Ball – Rounded ball-shaped foot. | |
| Bun – Rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot. | |
| Spanish – Elaborately carved foot, resembling a hoof. |
Hardware Material
| Brass – Yellowish metal made from copper and zinc. | |
| Iron – Grayish-brown metal with a dull finish. | |
| Silver – Gray-white metal, which can be highly polished. |
Joint
| Dovetail – An interlocking wood joint in which a series of wedge-shaped projections fits into a series of alternating grooves. |
Line
| Straight – Straight lines. |
Motif
| Acanthus leaf – Conventionalized leaf. | |
| Floral – Flowers, such as roses, sunflowers, and tulips. | |
| Oriental Patterns – Oriental figures, usually painted or lacquered. | |
| Scroll – Form that resembles a roll of parchment paper. | |
| Seaweed – Very delicate marquetry representing a marine plant. | |
| Shell – Fan shaped sell. |
Ornamentation
| Carving – Cutting or chipping the surface of wood to create a shape or design. | |
| 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. | |
| Parquetry – Combinations of veneer used to create geometric patterns. |
Proportion
| Medium – Moderate dimensions.(Queen Anne style shown) |
Underbracing
| Moderate – Moderately proportioned stretchers(William and Mary style shown). |
Wood
| Black Walnut – Dark brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures. | |
| Ebony Veneer – Dark brown to black African hardwood with black stripes. | |
| Fruitwood – Pink-brown American hardwood, including apple and pear. | |
| Holly – Creamy-white American hardwood with a speckled grain. |


