A History of Design: James Huniford and the Story of Modern Furnishing
The History of 17th to 20th Century Furniture
The evolution of popular furnishing styles has long served as an extension of popular culture itself, and by looking at furnishing movements of the past we can better understand the broader art and lifestyle experiences that occurred beside them. Analyzing unique time period furnishings can prove to be an extremely helpful lens with which to observe the culture of a given time because furniture style stems from broad cultural ideals and daily life practices, so a piece of early furniture provides a tangible snapshot of life from that time. The ancient furniture pieces of the Egyptians and Romans have inspired revivals throughout human history, which can be seen in the modern furniture design found between the 17th and 20th centuries. The unique movements and revivals of this time period can be found in the furnishing pieces offered by James Huniford, who’s interior design company uses unique period styles to accentuate modern spaces.
The oldest uncovered piece of furniture came from the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, where intricately designed tables, chairs, and couches first surfaced in honor of royal families in 2575 BC. These original furniture influences are still found in modern furnishing style today, and the evolution of these ancient ideas throughout the 17th to 20th centuries is a fascinating parallel to modern cultural advancement. Throughout human history, most furniture has originated from a single material: wood. The power of human ingenuity and creativity is truly captured when one observes the dazzling array of distinctive furnishings created from this single substance.
This site explores the history of modern furnishing from the 17th through 20th centuries. This information is brought to you by James Huniford, an expert of the period who co-founded Sills Huniford Associates, an interior design firm that specializes in antique furnishing from that time. Hopefully, this information will give you a better understanding of the history behind the quality products that you have or may one day place inside your home, allowing you to better appreciate historic furnishing pieces. By studying 17th to 20th century furnishings, one can not only appreciate antique purchases, but better understand human culture itself.