The staircase became a central feature of the entrance or living hall. They provided a gallery from which the hostess could be seen when a guest arrived, and an intermediary landing on which the actual greeting could take place. Most 19th-century staircases are of solid wood, either painted, if the wood is of inferior quality, or, ideally, polished. Stair Carved Balusters are often turned, like 17th- and 18th-century prototypes, and newel posts can be richly carved.
Art Nouveau 1888-1905 Staircase Stair Parts
Stair Parts ref: SPF421 |
Stair Parts ref: SPF422 |
In Britain and the United States. wood remained the favorite material. In most houses changes are found only in the design. Piercing of carved balusters with simple shapes was adopted by many manufacturers. Sometimes, in the Arts and Crafts manner, plain carved square-section balusters were placed so close together that they formed a kind of screen, the lower part of which could be filled in to form a rectangle of solid wooden panelling. The plain newel post could be extended right to the ceiling.
Edwardian 1901-1914 Staircase Stair Parts
Stair Parts ref: SPF423 |
Stair Parts ref: SPF424 |
Stair Parts ref: SPF425 |
The main departure from Victorian designs was the wish for a proper stair hall in even comparatively modest houses. The space thus gained was seen as appropriate for entertaining, and could double up as a dining room. A screen could be placed across the comer to obscure the front door. In larger houses an effort was made to accommodate the stairs in a generous entrance hall.
In the average house the actual joinery details of the staircase stair parts differed little from those of the late Victorian period. "Georgian" and "Adam" ornamentation might be found in the grander carved balustrade, but many houses, influenced by Arts and Crafts styles,
In middle-class houses it was now commonplace for housewives to do their own dusting, and this had some subtle design implications. Stair rods, which had hitherto been almost always brass and needed polishing once a week, were now made in oak and were virtually maintenance-free. The deep-cut mouldings of the Victorian staircase were softened to make cleaning easier.
American Beaux Arts 1870-1920 Staircase Stair Parts
Stair Parts ref: SPF426 |
Stair Parts ref: SPF427 |
The staircase stair parts was a dominant feature, establishing the tone of a Beaux Arts interior even if it was placed on one side rather than centrally. At the outset of the era, the most popular type was a version of Italian Renaissance design in wood. Three turned carved balusters spindles rested on each tread. The newel posts were huge, often square, with turned sections and carved panels; they could be capped with finials
The Tudor or Jacobean Revival staircases, also wooden, had thicker carved spindles balusters. In some Tudor and early French Renaissance Revival examples, the handrail was supported by wooden arches that stood on the string board. But the most elaborate wooden balustrades (Italianate, Tudor or early French Renaissance) are those with sections of pierced and carved decoration framed by square posts.
Stair Parts ref: SPF428 |
Stair Parts ref: SPF429 |
Georgian and Colonial Revival staircases are more delicate, with turned, columnar or vase-shaped balusters, and spiral-turned or fluted newel posts. The handrail often ends in a spiral around the post. Often the stairs and balusters would be painted white, while the handrail was stained or painted brown.