Elements of a Federal Style Sofa

Lasting a relatively short period, from 1780 to 1820, the Federal style in the United States was a combination of the periods that came before tempered with the American master artisans' woodworking and design skills. The high level of fabric production and the abundance of natural products allowed the fabric masters to create fabrics that define the softer side of the Federal sofa. A Federal style sofa fits into many décor schemes and retains its popularity year after year, the most famous reflection of this being the Federal-styled Oval Office.

The Mood of the Style

  1. The overall shape of Federal style sofas is graceful, with gentle curves. They are medium in scale and feature master carving and woodworking techniques. The direct design influence was the preceding period, Hepplewhite, which was Neoclassical in intent. Because of the British influence on the Colonies, the period was a reflection of the Georgian period in England -- named after the then current monarch -- and renamed the Federal period to better reflect the American sensibility. Federal furniture is symmetrical, well-balanced and classic.

Fabric Adds to the Style

  1. Damask or heavy tapestry fabrics woven from wool, cotton, silk or linen, done in soft pastels or deep blue and vibrant red, were the fabrics of choice for covering the sofa. Soft padding added comfort to the backs and seats; you won't see an overstuffed sofa in the Federal style. Upholstered arms on sofas slope slightly from the back of the sofa to the front, where woodcarving would conclude the arm. Skirts are not used, and ruffles and ornate trim are absent in favor of low-profile flat braid trim.

The Furniture's Jewelry

  1. The American eagle, the symbol of the new America, is a frequent motif in Federal furniture. On a sofa, it could be carved into the front of the arm, or along the back if the piece had an exposed wood frame. Natural elements, such as the acanthus leaf, pineapple, shell and star, are also commonly carved embellishments. If there was metal trim, perhaps as nail-head trim, for example, it would most often be brass, which was a metal produced in the Colonies.

The Legs Support the Style

  1. Tapered, slim legs, with minimal carving and not terminating in a foot or claw, define the legs of a Federal sofa. The legs reinforce the slim, unfussy and overall elegant look of the period, and are always exposed. Stretchers -- braces between the legs -- are rare in this period. The wood used in sofas was wood found in the Americas: black walnut, cherry, maple, and some fruitwoods such as pear and apple. Typically left the natural color, wood was finished with oil varnish that brought out the prized wood grain.