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Wednesday, 11 March 2015 12:17

Historic Opinions: How Critics Shaped American Tastes in Furniture

Sofa, ca. 1850, attributed to John Henry Belter (American, b. Germany, 1804–1863), New York, NY. Rosewood, rosewood laminate, and modern velvet upholstery. Milwaukee Art Museum, bequest of Mary Jane Rayniak in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Rayniak. M1987.16. Sofa, ca. 1850, attributed to John Henry Belter (American, b. Germany, 1804–1863), New York, NY. Rosewood, rosewood laminate, and modern velvet upholstery. Milwaukee Art Museum, bequest of Mary Jane Rayniak in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Rayniak. M1987.16. Photography by Larry Sanders

All styles eventually go out of fashion. Colonial hoop dresses, Victorian handlebar moustaches, and 1960s shag carpeting all enjoyed great popularity before falling out of favor. Similar cycles of taste have governed the history of furniture design. Going out of Style: 400 Years of Changing Tastes in Furniture, an exhibition presented by the Milwaukee Art Museum, displayed four centuries of major American furniture styles alongside scathing commentary written in the period by designers, architects, and writers.

Their critiques—which range from sarcastic to downright ruthless—reveal powerful opinions that helped drive the ebb and flow of taste from generation to generation. While the harsh assessments of the past may seem unfounded to antiques enthusiasts today, they remind us that most period styles—even the perennial favorites—were out of fashion at one time or another

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