By the time the Adams Brothers arrived on the scene in the middle of the 18th Century, furniture styles had reached the point where ornamentation and gaudiness could go no further. An example of this gaudiness is well illustrated in the picture below.
Into this setting stepped the Adams Brothers who had roots in architecture, and had studied the Roman culture while attending schools in Italy concentrating on the classic architecture of ancient Rome.
An example of the Neo-Classical style is shown below and looks as if it was built in ancient Greece or Rome.
With Robert acting as the primary force, the brothers employed the services of Chippendale and Hepplewhite to interpret and manufacture their designs.
Their neo-classic interests sometimes forced the need for their designs to be altered, especially with regards to the structural soundness of their pieces.
Because their designing style did not immediately catch on, we find little or no presence of their style in American Colonial furniture. At the height of their popularity, England was engaged in the Revolutionary War with the 13 colonies in America. By the time the War had ended and relations were re-established with America, the designs of Chippendale and Hepplewhite were taking hold not only in Europe, but in America as well.
Among the distinguishing characteristics of their designs was the use of satinwood as the material of choice. Extremely expensive and available only from the West Indies, their pieces were limited to the wealthy who could afford them.
