Blog
Jacobean (1600-1690)
Jacobean (1600-1690)
Jacobean is an English style of furniture, which is medieval in appearance with straight lines, rigid designs, sturdy construction, ornate carvings, and a dark finish. Much of Early American furniture was patterned after this style.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Appearance
| Sturdy – Straight lines and a heavy proportion.(Arts and Craft style shown) |
Chair Arms
| Slopes to front posts – Arms slope down to meet posts from the seat. |
Chair Back Material
| Wood – Wood chair back. |
Chair Back Shape
| Solid – One piece or solid panel chair back. |
Chair Leg Shape
| Round – Round, usually shaped or turned leg. | |
| Straight – Straight leg, vertical to chair seat. | |
| Simple turning – turned leg with a few types of turnings. |
Chair Seat Material
| Rush – Woven rush. | |
| Wood – Various types of wood. |
Chair Seat Shape
| Square – Square shaped seat. |
Drawer Pull
| Brass Knob – Mushroom-shaped brass knob. | |
| Tear Drop – Tear-drop shaped pull attached by a knob to a back plate. The back plate is usually circular, oval, or diamond shaped. |
Fabric
| Leather – Material made from the tanning of animal hides. | |
| Velvet – Woven pile fabric that is soft and sturdy, often made of silk with blends of cotton, nylon, and rayon. |
Finish
| Oil Varnish – Clear finish that emphasized the grain of the wood. | |
| Wax – Paste finish over a sealer, stain, or bare wood. |
Foot
| Block – Flat-surfaced foot. | |
| Bun – Rounded foot, flatter than a ball foot. | |
| Continuation of leg – Leg does not terminate into a foot. |
Hardware Material
| Brass – Yellowish metal made from copper and zinc. | |
| Iron – Grayish-brown metal with a dull finish. |
Joint
| Mortise and tenon – Wood joint in which a projecting tenon of one board is fitted into a mortise or hole of another board. |
Line
| Straight – Straight lines. |
Motif
| Acanthus leaf – Conventionalized leaf. | |
| Acorns – Turned form often used as finials on chair and bed posts, and leg turnings. | |
| Carved Head – Carved front view of a human head. | |
| Diamond – A figure with four equal sides and two obtuse angles. | |
| Geometric – A figure made of squares, circles, and triangles. |
Ornamentation
| Banding – Thin strips of contrasting veneer used as a decorative border or edging. | |
| Carving – Cutting or chipping the surface of wood to create a shape or design. | |
| Paneling – Raised, recessed, and framed panels. |
Proportion
| Heavy – Sturdy, thick dimensions.(Chippendale style shown) |
Underbracing
| Heavy – Sturdy stretchers.(Jacobean style shown) |
Wood
| Black Walnut – Dark brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures. | |
| Oak – Gray-brown American hardwood. |


