Reductionism
Simplify down to essentials needed to communicate a period. Making a form simpler to construct.
Fraktur – Decorated documents
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Fraktur – Decorated documents
- Heart motif
- Tulip Motif
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Pennsylvania German motifs
- Birds
- Tulips
- Hearts
- Houses
- Hex sign
- Swastica
- Angels
Chest
- Unicorn motif
- Given to child when age 14
- Holds dowry, frakturs inside lid
- Also used as seating
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Hex sign
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Candle Boxes
- Tulip motif
- Painted
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Schrank
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Hutch
- Curved detail in side elevation
- flat top, straight elements
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Plank chairs
- Social influence: not comfortable because hardworking people do not prioritize sitting
- Heart motif
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Barns
- Hex, horse motifs painted on building
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Bedroom
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Fraktur style dining room
PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN
Shaker dates
1800 - 1860
Built-in drawers
- Do not have to clean around pieces of furniture
- Keeps things out of sight / away from dust and mold
SHAKER
Shaker philosophy
The Millennial Laws – Shaker’s philosophy in life and design:
- Simplicity - Objects should not “.... feed the pride and vanity of man”
- Utility - “Anything many be called perfect which perfectly answers the purpose for which it was designed,” “Beauty rests on utility”
- Communal character
Chair
- Flame-like finial
- Simple
- High quality construction
SHAKER
Bed
- Put on casters so that they can be easily moved and cleaned under
SHAKER
Bentwood rocking chair
SHAKER
Shaker peg rail
- Value cleanliness because many unrelated people live together with no running water
- Pegs make it easy to clean floors
SHAKER
Spider leg table
SHAKER
Exposed dovetail
- No nails / metal
- high quality
SHAKER
Chest
SHAKER
Sewing stand and stool
- Wooden knobs blend in
- Education was not a priority, so not many desks
- Community influence: may be used by two people at a time
SHAKER
Sisters' workroom
- Sewing table used by two people at time
SHAKER
Dining room
- All chair the same - sense of community
SHAKER
Table swift
- Used to string yarns of wool
SHAKER
Tailor counter
SHAKER
Wash shop
- Clothes are washed by people in the community
SHAKER
American Victorian - Gothic Revival and Elizabethan
dates:
1840 - 1880
