When you hear the term “Federal Style,” chances are your thoughts run to architecture more than anything else.
But even though Federal-style buildings and homes get most of the airtime, the style inspired by the visuals of the early American republic extended to interiors, furnishings, and even the decorative arts like porcelain, wallpapers, china sets and glassware, fabrics and more.
You can read a little more about Federal Style on the This Old House blog, the Archways and Ceilings blog, and good old Wikipedia. The short take is that Thomas Jefferson set the tone for Federal Style by drawing on older, classic European styles — notably Palladian — while adding distinctively American twists.
There’s an elegance to Federal Style but we won’t call it regal — that’s for kings, and in America there are No More Kings!
But with its archways and columns, curves, ellipses, detailed panels, and the liberal use of eagles in friezes and elsewhere, Federal Style can be called stately — as in, of the State.
When Dolley Madison became First Lady she drew on the sophistication and simplicity of Federal Style when she decorated the White House, really establishing that this was THE decorating style for the presidential mansion (itself a Federal Style building) forever more.
A Touch of History
I live in Virginia, and my hobby is traveling the state to see its various historic houses, many of which are either from the period or, even when they’re later examples, still utilize at least some Federal-era motifs or incorporate the style in some furnishings. Federal style abounds in Virginia and certainly in many historic East Coast/Colonial homes and interiors.
Whether you have an historic Federal style home, or not, opportunities abound to sprinkle in a little Federal style to give a room, nook, or piece of furnishing a little bit of that presidential and gubernatorial oomph!
Among our vintage fabrics we have several that make a nod to Federal Style, especially in the use of eagles. Earlier eagle fabrics definitely had the strong look of a state-type seal. Later versions, particularly during the Civil War and after, added flowers and more swags that set more of a homey tone amidst the dignity of the iconic American eagle.
Toiles depicting historic scenes (such as our vintage Schumacher fabric “Newport Toile”) were popular in the period as a way of telling stories, cementing reputations, and establishing the new nation on its own terms, with its own history, lore, and importance.
Neoclassical style fabrics also incorporate easily into Federal Style, too, as they harmonize well, especially when the florals, swags, and flourishes are more minimalistic — a touch of elegance without overstating it.
The gallery below features some of our current vintage fabric offerings that either are Federal Style, or pair well with it. Like most vintage fabrics, except rarely, there isn’t typically a lot of yardage. But there’s enough here in many of these piece to allow you to make a nod to Federal style on a side chair, dining chair seats, a stool, or a few pillows. Even if yours is an overall more eclectic decorating style, in the right place, these pieces will fit right in. Enjoy!
— Lindsay Curren, Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics
