The Evolution of Animal Motifs in English Furniture Design

Early Inspirations: Egypt, Greece, and Rome

Observing how much eighteenth-century English furniture designers drew inspiration from natural and mythological creatures is fascinating. This practice, however, was not an English invention. The integration of natural forms into furniture can be traced back to the early Egyptian Empire, where lions’ paws, heads, and bulls’ hooves were commonly used.

The Greeks and Romans further developed these designs, and by the height of the Roman Empire, a plethora of animal motifs adorned furniture. These included lions, panthers, dogs, hares, swans, and mythical creatures like griffins and winged lions.

The Palladian Influence and William Kent

In the early eighteenth century, English architecture underwent a significant transformation under the influence of Lord Burlington and his fellow Palladian. Inspired by Palladio and Vitruvius, they prioritized principles of proportion and classical correctness in building exteriors. However, there were no specific guidelines for classical interior design since the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum had yet to be unearthed.

Among the Palladians, William Kent stood out for his innovative approach to interior decoration and furnishings. Lacking classical models, Kent’s furniture was grand and flamboyant, almost baroque in spirit, and heavily featured animal forms. Notable examples include gilt side tables supported by dolphins or an eagle with outstretched wings. Human torsos or masks, lions’ masks and feet, and various other animal forms, including mythological creatures, adorned many pieces, such as chairs and mirrors.

Armchair carved by William Ince

This 18th-century chair, part of a suite from Woodhall Park’s Music Room, features musical emblems, retains its original paint, and showcases a blend of ancient Greek-inspired decoration.

• The chair is part of a larger suite from the Music Room at Woodhall Park.
• Decorated with musical emblems: lyre-shaped back, crossed pipes, and medallions with female musicians.
• The arms are carved as dolphins, symbolizing the poet Arion’s myth.
• Retains its original 18th-century paint, which was fashionable in the 1770s-80s.
• Colours and decoration evoke ancient Greek or ‘Etruscan’ vase painting styles.
• Painted musicians may be derived from engravings.

The Rococo Style and Thomas Johnson

In the mid-century, the heavy architectural forms of Palladianism gave way to the lighter, asymmetrical, and natural rococo style. Rococo designs prominently featured animals and birds. Thomas Johnson, a significant figure in this movement, based some of his designs on Barlow’s illustrations for Aesop’s Fables. For instance, one table depicted a cat in a tree looking down at a dog and a fox. Though few of these pieces were constructed, cabinet-makers of the time used many animals, including dogs, cats, squirrels, and birds, especially in decorative console tables, mirrors, and girondoles.

Chinoiserie and English Craftsmanship

Simultaneously, the chinoiserie style was popular, featuring ho-ho birds and Chinese figures. The exceptional craftsmanship of English artisans at their peak made these intricate designs possible.

The Neo-Classical Revival and Robert Adam

The excavation of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 1763 marked the beginning of a new era in interior design led by Robert Adam. Adam, like Kent, emphasized harmony between a room’s decorations and furniture. However, the neo-classicists who followed placed less emphasis on animal forms, favouring classical simplicity for the next thirty years.

Nineteenth-Century Revivals and Egyptian Influence

Greek, Roman, and Egyptian styles resurged in popularity at the dawn of the nineteenth century. Egyptian motifs, popularized in France after Napoleon’s invasion, were especially prominent. Sphinxes supported console tables or chair arms, caryatids adorned chests of drawers and cabinets, and winged chimeras, griffins, and lions appeared in various furniture pieces.

The Timeless Appeal of Nature-Inspired Designs

To the modern observer, using animal motifs in furniture may seem unusual, but it reflects a long tradition of artists finding inspiration in nature. Eighteenth-century designers borrowed from Egyptian, Greek, and Roman forms, such as the claw and ball foot, which are of Roman origin.

While the initial inspiration for these fantastical designs was not revolutionary, the achievements of English cabinet-makers in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were remarkable, showcasing their brilliance and craftsmanship.

Sources

Boyce, C. (2014). Dictionary of Furniture: Second Edition. United States: Skyhorse Publishing. https://amzn.to/3wPZDkY

Polly De Courcy-Ireland. (1967/07/06/, 1967 Jul 06). Furniture’s still life forms: How dolphins, eagles, lions and doves entered the english style. The Field, 230, 47. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/magazines/furnitures-still-life-forms/docview/1840475838/se-2

Postell, J. C., Postell, J. (2012). Furniture Design. United Kingdom: Wiley. https://amzn.to/3QT4EQM

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