Restoration style

[2] The return of the King and his court from exile on the Continent led to the replacement of the Puritan severity of the Cromwellian 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 marquetry, walnut instead of oak, twisted turned supports and legs, exotic veneers, cane seats and backs on chairs, sumptuous tapestry and velvet upholstery, and ornate carved and gilded scrolling bases for cabinets.

Restoration silver is characterized by embossed motifs for tulips and naturalistic fruit and leaves.

New types of furniture introduced in this period include cabinets on stands, chests of drawers, armchairs and wing chairs, and daybeds.

This led to a craze for chinoiserie, reflected in the development of imitation lacquer (Japanning), blue and white decoration on ceramics, flat-chased scenes of Chinese-style figures and landscapes on silver, and new forms of silver such as teapots, as well as colourful Indian-style crewelwork bed-hangings and curtains.