7. What styles do these features below belong to?

ornamented cupboard, curved legs, animal shaped couch, scrolled pattern, curved slabs, guilded chest, S-shaped curves, three-legged stool.

• Try to explain the meanings of these expressions and draw these elements of furniture.

Example: three-legged stool - the stool which has three legs.

• Working in pairs. Look at Pictures E, F and G and discuss what styles these pieces of furniture refer to? Give reasons for your choice.

1. Look at the pictures again and match them with the styles using the information given in the table. Compare your answers with a partner.

Style	Period	Distinguishing features	Picture
Victorian	1835-1900	Soft curves combined with straight lines, exotic carving, turning, inlay of brass or wood.
Duncan Phyfe	1790-1856	Lyre motif on chair backs and table bases. Mahogany was the preferred wood, but later pieces were made of rosewood.
Directoire	1795-1803	Straight lines, judicious use of classic curves, motifs derived from the antique, like swans, stars and lyres, and French Revolutionary symbols.

2. Fill in the table using information from "World Book":

Style	Period	Distinguishing features
The rococo style
English neoclassical style
The Regence style
Art deco

8. Read the text describing French Provincial Style and answer the questions:

Why is carving on the early beds of French Provincial Style often made on one side? What are the main distinguishing features of this style?

The rural way of life in France during the 18th and 19th centuries produced a large amount of carved wooden furniture - gilded decorative French style. These country pieces were often adaptable: most farmhouses consisted of multipurpose rooms where linen and food cupboards would stand side by side and look practically identical. Small side tables for eating supper, for example, were often taken upstairs and used as bedside tables. Until the 19th century, these tables were bought as single items, rather than in pairs, because beds were pushed right up against the wall.

As a consequence, carving on early beds is often only found on one side. A wooden coronet would be attached to the wall above the bed and curtains hung from it to be drawn at night. These were often made from printed cotton fabrics. Provencal flower motifs were popular. Plain linen and hemp were also used, while upholstery and curtains were occasionally made from indigo-dyed linens, especially in the south-west.

The regional differences occurring in early 18th-century French country furniture are quite distinct. Furniture from Brittany was nearly always made from cherrywood with scallop or shell carvings - symbols that identify the region's coastal influences. Provence favoured olive branches, daisies and leaves, while the towns of Arles and Nimes were known for their carvings of large tureens. In Normandy, garlands, roses and daisies were the main form of carved decoration on furniture. Armoires were often made especially for a marriage, and the carvings on these might reflect the livelihood of the family they belonged to.