English Baroque explained

The emergence of the flamboyant English Baroque style coincided with the restoration to the English throne in 1660 of the equally flamboyant Charles II after 11 years of serious Commonwealth.

English Baroque developed in England under Charles II and matured in the reign of William and Mary (1689-1702) it was derived more strongly from Holland than France.

The Baroque is a style of theatrical grandeur, of swelling curves and massive forms. The basic shell of a room was rather sombre but was offset by the glowing jewel colours of painted ceilings, tapestries and upholstery and by the gleam of silver chandeliers, silver decorated furniture and mirrors.

Walls and ceilings

The walls of great houses were paneled in oak. Wood carvings in England were at an all time high whereby, motifs would be frequently carried out in pear wood or lime wood , then applied to oak panelling.

Quick drying plasters, stucco duro, where developed and made it possible to create elaborate naturalistic motifs similar to those found in wood carvings.

Wall hangings where often decorated with fringe along the top and bottom and down the edged. Leather was used as to absorb smells in dining rooms.

Wallpaper from China, which were hand painted where the height of fashion.

Chinoiserie- Chinese wallpaper from 1753

Create the look: large oak panels framed with mouldings painted to look like marble or walnut are both authentic treatments. An affordable approach would be to divide a plain plastered wall into sections edged by mouldings and then give each section a suitable faux finish.

Yellow is a pleasing background for collections of blue and white porcelain. Chinese hand painted wallpapers would also suit the style.

Windows

Curtains began to take on a more important role. They were often hung in pairs in the 1670s and soon rod and rings were disguised by a pelmet, which became the chief focus of decoration.

Floors

Parquetry was used sometimes in grand settings. Carpets were now seen on floors, including Persian, Turkish and Savonnerie. 

Create the look by the use of Savonnerie-style carpets or polished boards.

Lighting

Rooms were now brighter at night than had been, since people tended to burn more candles. Candle-stands had come into fashion as a result and chandeliers were hung quite low.

Create the look: Candlelight was still the only means of illumination. Silver candlesticks, chandeliers and wall sconces are all relevant. Silver coloured reproduction electric fittings are all correct or better still install concealed up-lighters with soft peach-coloured bulbs.

Furniture

Walnut ousted oak as a fashionable wood at this time, and pieces were often inlaid with marquetry. Decorating furniture with silver was now a passionate restoration theme. Oriental lacquer was extremely fashionable, and screens were sometimes cannabalised to make cabinet furniture. Corner cupboards were in demand to display collections of ceramics. Bed hangings were extremely elaborate with heavy draping and metal embellishments.

Soft furnishings included fabrics such as damask, moire and silk.

Create the look: Walnut is the wood for this era. High backed chairs with scrolled legs and carved tops. Barley twist legs were on trend. Chair seats and backs can be caned or covered in needlework or cut velvet. Swing toilet mirrors on box stands were very characteristic. Choose chests on chests raised from the floor on turned legs. Look too for lacquered chinoiserie pieces and screens.

Accessories

The fashion for tea, coffee and chocolate demanded new pottery and silverware. Forks were now usual, and as this was a prosperous time silver was used for a multitude of purposes.

Owing to advances in English glass, glass goblets were ousting silver for wine.

Get the look: Blue and white Chinese vases and jars massed on shelves and over fireplaces, on tables, cabinets and on wall brackets giving the feeling of the age. An abundance of silverware is characteristic and lacquered boxes would reflect the eras fascination in the Orient.

Finishing Touches

It was on trend to display a large piece of Oriental porcelain or Delftware vases on the stretchers under  a cabinet. Fora similar effect place a large vase under a side table and match it with a collection of blue and white vases and jars on top.