Eastlake

Charles Locke Eastlake was a 19th century English architect and designer.

His seminal and influential book Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery and Other Details led to the ‘Eastlake Movement’ in the United States where this style furniture was mass produced for the middle-class. It even became a style in architecture, most notably in San Francisco, where dozens of Eastlake-inspired ‘painted ladies’ are still enjoyed by tourists.

Because the furniture made in this style was quite sturdy, even after 140 years it remains fairly common; there are almost endless versions. Some pieces are quite coarse but most are competent. Some, like the graceful table shown above that I found at a garage sale ($25!) are very fine. The top of this example was stained (and had split), but those flaws were easily repaired and it now graces the bay window of Flippist World Headquarters. Made of walnut with burl veneer accents it made for an elegant addition to my domicile: