Victorian Furniture

Figure A--This spool chest dates to the late 1800s and is made of American walnut. These were commonly used in shops and stores to hold spools of thread and other items.

Figure B--Roll-top desks such as this one were popular between 1868 and 1880. The desk is American black walnut and features rectilinear* decoration with strong vertical and horizontal lines. The style was a reaction to earlier, ornate rococo** designs.

Figure C--This serpentine, marble-topped chest shows a French influence by not having any hardware mounted on the drawers. The only way to get into the chest is with a key.

* moving in, consisting of, bounded by, or characterized by a straight line or lines

** a style of art, especially architecture and decorative art, that originated in France in the early 18th century and is marked by elaborate ornamentation, as with a profusion of scrolls, foliage and animal forms