English Period: Middle Renaissance: English Restoration

The Middle Renaissance, otherwise known as the English Restoration period, started in 1660 and ended in 1750. During this period, there were several important people that made design thrive. Charles II and James II helped aid the Restoration, Stuart, or Carolean Period. William and Mary sparked the age of the walnut. Queen Anne set out for furniture, and George I and the portion of George II's reign started the Early Georgian or Early Chippendale period.

Sir Christopher Wren was an important figure during this time. Due to the Great fire of 1666,  it had burned a large section of London. Sir Christopher Wren, because of that, set new standards of design. This was called the Baroque urban design. It was greatly influenced by the French. He developed a new standard for housing. This included wall thickness, floor heights, and materials. This also started the zoning and construction regulations that have carried on to today. He was also the most renowned English architect of all time. His masterpiece is the St. Paul's Cathedral. This included 52 churches that have influenced other church designs as well. Their main focus of worship leaned towards Protestant rather than Catholic.

William and Mary was the age of the walnut. Their furniture consisted of straight turned legs or cup turned legs. The bottom included a low horizontal X-stretcher that was common in a lot of their furniture. Veneers were perfected, and there was also marquetry and lacquer work. Some of their furniture includes the William and Mary highboy and lowboy. They also created the settee. Some of the fabrics that they used within their design was velvet, brocade, chintz, leather, and needlepoint.

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Extra Credit | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m71G-PjdIpQ
Secret rooms of St. Paul's Cathedral