Restoration style

Restoration style, also known as Carolean style from the name Carolus (<a href="/facts/Latin/pM3Kge85">Latin</a> for 'Charles'), refers to the <a href="/facts/Decorative/AQTx8lL2">decorative</a> and literary arts that became popular in England from the <a href="/facts/Stuart_Restoration/xdp8JnEc">restoration of the monarchy</a> in 1660 under <a href="/facts/Charles_II_of_England/Acc7cFtF">Charles II</a> (reigned from 1660 to 1685) until the late 1680s. Similar shifts appeared in prose style.
The return of the King and his court from exile on the Continent led to the replacement of the <a href="/facts/Puritan/BJQsWCfT">Puritan</a> severity of the <a href="/facts/Cromwellian/pyCDY3vk">Cromwellian</a> style with a taste for magnificence and opulence, and to the introduction of Dutch and French artistic influences. These are evident in furniture in the use of floral <a href="/facts/Marquetry/NVJgwdaA">marquetry</a>, <a href="/facts/Walnut/lEkDbm8N">walnut</a> instead of <a href="/facts/Oak/1NJJzkzB">oak</a>, twisted turned supports and legs, exotic <a href="/facts/Wood_veneer/HluaU5Yt">veneers</a>, cane seats and backs on chairs, sumptuous <a href="/facts/Tapestry/xv2x9uE7">tapestry</a> and <a href="/facts/Velvet/6lTpUVTf">velvet</a> <a href="/facts/Upholstery/nHeTqDfz">upholstery</a>, and ornate carved and gilded scrolling bases for cabinets.
Restoration silver is characterized by embossed motifs for <a href="/facts/Tulip/oq5B0jMb">tulips</a> and naturalistic fruit and leaves. New types of furniture introduced in this period include cabinets on stands, <a href="/facts/Chest_of_drawers/lqRhfPmT">chests of drawers</a>, armchairs and <a href="/facts/Wing_chair/AC4dNDFK">wing chairs</a>, and <a href="/facts/Daybed/I4MpzwBB">daybeds</a>.
The growing power of the English <a href="/facts/East_India_Company/jpfw533d">East India Company</a> resulted in increased imports of exotic commodities from <a href="/facts/Qing_dynasty/5j6r4p5m">China</a> and <a href="/facts/Tokugawa_Shogunate/S4q54Sq6">Japan</a>, including <a href="/facts/Tea/oDQhcyrc">tea</a>, <a href="/facts/Porcelain/deuLm3sb">porcelain</a> and <a href="/facts/Lacquer/83C6H1IW">lacquer</a>, and <a href="/facts/Chintz/E2SzHJcI">chintzes</a> from India. This led to a craze for <a href="/facts/Chinoiserie/7Gfb16CM">chinoiserie</a>, reflected in the development of imitation lacquer (Japanning), <a href="/facts/Blue_and_white_porcelain/amx9Nx7g">blue and white</a> decoration on <a href="/facts/Pottery/XLcUT1mX">ceramics</a>, flat-chased scenes of Chinese-style figures and landscapes on silver, and new forms of silver such as <a href="/facts/Teapot/WILqD30M">teapots</a>, as well as colourful Indian-style <a href="/facts/Crewelwork/Ppn2auf1">crewelwork</a> bed-hangings and <a href="/facts/Curtain/bVwpjLJh">curtains</a>.
Other developments in the Restoration period were the emergence of the English <a href="/facts/Glass/hezRsAGf">glass</a> industry, following the invention of lead glass by <a href="/facts/George_Ravenscroft/l4eNY8vU">George Ravenscroft</a> around 1676, and the manufacture of <a href="/facts/Slipware/63UVvDMI">slipware</a> by <a href="/facts/Thomas_Toft/eaS38MJY">Thomas Toft</a>.
After the accession of <a href="/facts/William_III_of_England/x72cM4jw">William III</a> and <a href="/facts/Mary_II/VdX8hDe9">Mary II</a> in 1689, Restoration style was superseded by <a href="/facts/William_and_Mary_style/BhetoJGz">William and Mary style</a>.

Restoration style open-in-new

Restoration style