Queen Anne style

Style of English decorative arts that reached its apex during the reign (1702–14) of Queen Anne. The most distinctive feature of Queen Anne furniture is the cabriole leg, shaped in a double curve (the upper part convex, the lower concave) and ending in either a claw-and-ball or paw foot. The Queen Anne chair is identifiable by a splat back curved to fit the hollow of the spine. The wood used was almost exclusively walnut, often embellished with marquetry, inlay, veneering, and lacquerwork. Ornamentation motifs include scallop shells, scrolls, Asian figures, and animals.

Find more information on Queen Anne style. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Queen Anne style.