American-style furniture has always been a favorite in the furniture market, particularly the simplified American style. The elegant and romantic ambiance of American-style furniture, coupled with its grand and modern exotic charm, is undeniably appealing when decorating a new home.

 

Characteristics of American Furniture:

1. Cultural Influence and Aesthetics: American furniture is characterized by its distinctive European and American flair, with a primary focus on vintage and natural elements. It showcases the natural grain of wood, reflecting the human desire to connect with and return to nature.

 

2. Material Selection: American furniture often uses joined panels and solid wood, prohibiting the use of finger-jointed materials. Mid-range products may feature partial veneers, while high-end products require solid wood throughout, excluding particleboard and medium-density fiberboard. However, plywood is permissible.

 

3. Structural Integrity: The overall structure of American furniture is typically non-detachable, with minimal use of metal hardware. Essential hardware such as hinges and brackets is a must. Some DIY enthusiasts may opt for metal hardware for legs of sofas and beds. The frame construction primarily uses mortise and tenon joints, with drawer boxes employing dovetail joints, continuing the traditional Chinese furniture-making methods. Notably, the drawer guides use a central rail, with high-end products favoring wooden structures for a closer connection to nature.

 

4. Finishing Techniques: The painting process of American furniture is holistic and complex, requiring a high level of technical skill. A complete process involves at least a dozen steps.

 

Styles of American Furniture:

1. Leg and Post Designs: Modern American furniture incorporates and refines foot and post designs from various countries. Common styles include:

   - Bracket feet, octagonal, S-shaped, claw and ball, small round bun, Fleming's double scroll, concave columns, concave square tapered feet, Dutch pointed, leaf scroll, trumpet, concave axis, knuckle-shaped, tripod, spiral.

 

2. Crown Molding: The crown moldings in American furniture are inspired by classic Western architectural shapes, including:

   - Tooth edge, flagpole, triangular pediment, concave circle, keystone, swan neck cover, convex circle, triple arch, swan neck.

 

3. Hardware Decorations: The hardware in American furniture is distinctive, creating a unique decorative effect, such as:

   - Rose spindle, rectangular, embossed floral, acorn drop, Queen Anne drop, pear drop, ring, elliptical surround, swan neck, hub cap, double ring, octagonal, elliptical, inlaid floral, circular.

 

4. Decorative Flowers: Decorative flowers and patterns are essential decorative techniques in American furniture, reflecting a blend of global influences. The themes are drawn from religion, mythological tales, and the appreciation of natural beauty, carrying profound cultural connotations. The visual focal points of the furniture often feature relief carving and wood carving, with appropriate decorations chosen based on the style, purpose, type, and customs of the furniture, highlighting the overall sense of hierarchy and creating an aesthetically artistic style.

   - Decorative flower styles include: leaf expansion, petal, pendant flower, floating leaf, drooping flower, undulating scallop, hanging flower, leaf cluster.

 

5. Chair Backs: A key distinguishing feature of popular American chair furniture is the chair back, which is a culmination of styles from around the world. The combination of back height and seat width varies depending on style, purpose, customs, and status. The typical 18th-century British neoclassical furniture back design is the inspiration for today's American-style chair furniture: exquisite carvings and a lightweight design, combined with modern processing techniques, bring an elegant style to American middle-class homes, embodying the idea of "art for the masses."

 

   - Chair back styles include: bow-shaped, comb-shaped, back strap, comb ring back, fan-shaped, iron ring, arrow-shaped, Prince of Wales feather style.