Today in History…

July 17 2009, 5:34pm

On April 21, 1688 William III and Mary Stuart were proclaimed king and queen of England. Their reign represented a period of transition in the decorative arts, with Dutch and French tastes influencing the gradually developed style. “Elaborate turnings, carvings in high relief, severe curves, large unified shapes, and contrasts of color were typical elements”1 of this period in the decorative arts.