The Gothic era began around 1150 and was known as the Middle Ages. During this period, there was a clear distinction between furniture for the poor and for the rich. The furniture for the poor was crude, but functional, while furniture for the rich was classical. At this time, a non-classical theme was developing and consisted of heavily carved and ornately decorated motifs. Furthermore, motifs, such as heraldic symbols like griffins, lions, and hawks were used, as well as the royal fleur-de-lis.
The term “Gothic” refers to the barbarians of the north, known as the Goths, and was used as an uncomplimentary reference as a way to part from the classic themes of the past. Since the middle class (particularly, the minor nobles) were forced to move from home to home in order to follow their lord, this led to the emergence of chests and cabinets that could easily be packed and transported. These included the introduction of large and solid pieces, such as the armoire for clothes, the buffet for the storage of eating utensils, and tables with drawers.
Moreover, bedroom furniture consisted of large four poster beds that had intricate backboards and posts. The carvings were usually of Gargoyles and other mythical creatures that were thought to be instrumental in scaring away lingering evil spirits. This idea was borrowed from the church, which is where the Gothic style originated. The most popular material used was oak. Other decorative accessories associated with religious themes were incorporated into this style, such as stained glass windows, ornate candelabras, brass, and pewter. In addition, the Gothic style includes rich tapestries and hangings, along with stone walls or paneling. Window treatments are generally of a heavy fabric and feature bold colors, such as gold, rich reds, purple, and black.
It should be noted that there were two distinct periods of Gothic influence, between 1150 and 1500, and then it resurfaced between 1840 and 1880, known as Gothic Revival. During the Gothic Revival period, the proportions were medium to large. The essential elements consisted of motifs, such as tracery, arches, rose windows, and quatrefoils, and the woods used were walnut, mahogany, rosewood, cherry, or oak. Some notable features of the furniture were tall-back chairs, with some having upholstered backs.
Searching for antique Gothic furniture is not difficult if you know where to look. Many antiques store will carry some sort of antique Gothic furniture, which features intricately carved designs. You may also find Gothic furniture reproductions that are identical to the real thing and not discernible by the untrained eye.
To further enhance your Gothic home, consider a Gothic fireplace. An elegant Gothic fireplace is a wonderful focal point and works well in bringing together the decorative elements of a room. Gothic fireplaces were generally painstakingly hand carved with details consisting of Gothic architectural elements, such as repeating patterns, delicate tracery work, and repeated pointed arches and quatrefoils (ornamental flowers with four lobes). Also, a number of wooden fireplaces were carved with coat of arms, mythical creatures, which were located in the center of the mantel or on either side of the fireplace. The fireplaces were also constructed of stone and had less detail because carving intricate patterns in stone was more difficult than carving wood. However, stone carvings were larger and rougher than the wood carvings, and were composed of roses, diamond paterae, and other patterns, with the detailed carvings being located in the spandrel (the area immediately above the arch) or small portions of the jambs.
