NEW YORK — While heavily carved furniture is not in vogue today, carved embellishments on American furniture of the 18th and 19th centuries elevated mundane household fittings to fine art. Their motifs can range from simple carved cabriole legs and relatively plain ornamentation to enthusiastic carving on nearly every inch of the available wood surface. Commonly seen imagery ranges from seashells and foliate scrolling to patriotic motifs characteristic of the American Empire era. Other forms of carving become progressively more intricate and include mythological, figural and animal elements in relief.
