| JAMES I | 1603 - 1625 | JACOBEAN |
| CHARLES I | 1625 – 1649 | CAROLEAN |
| COMMONWEALTH | 1649 – 1660 | CROMWELLIAN / COMMONWEALTH |
| CHARLES II | 1660 – 1685 | RESTORATION |
| JAMES II | 1685 – 1689 | RESTORATION |
| WILLIAM & MARY | 1689 – 1694 | WILLIAM & MARY |
| WILLIAM III | 1694 – 1702 | WILLIAM III / WILLIAM & MARY |
| ANNE | 1702 – 1714 | QUEEN ANNE |
| GEORGE I | 1714 – 1727 | GEORGE I – EARLY GEORGIAN |
| GEORGE II | 1727 – 1760 | EARLY GEORGIAN |
| GEORGE III | 1760 – 1811 | LATER GEORGIAN |
| GEORGE III | 1811 – 1820 | REGENCY |
| GEORGE IV | 1820 – 1830 | REGENCY |
| WILLIAM IV | 1830 – 1837 | LATE REGENCY/ WILLIAM IV |
| 1837 – 1901 | EARLY VICTORIAN UP TO 1860 LATE VICTORIAN 1860 – 1901 |
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| EDWARD VII | 1901 – 1910 | EDWARDIAN |
English Furniture
English furniture, from medieval times to the 17th century, was generally made of native oak, though elm and beech, were also used occasionally. In the 17th century the Puritan austerity of plain, unadorned furniture, produced a reaction in favour of more decorative woods and more flamboyant styles. With the Restoration of Charles II, walnut came into its own and exotic woods were imported. Walnut was at the height of its popularity in the William and Mary period and at its best in Queen Anne's reign when it achieved an elegant simplicity of line, rarely surpassed since.
In the early Georgian period mahogany was being used, but sparingly as it was expensive. With the repeal in 1724 of the heavy duties on its import from the West Indies and
Other exotic woods were imported in the late 18th century, among them satinwood. This close-grained wood, of varying tones of yellow, was often used for veneers, and was a favourite of Thomas Sheraton, who designed some of his finest pieces in it.
In the early 19th century furniture became heavier as the revived Classicism of the Regency became popular and darker woods came into fashion, particularly rosewood.
As the Victorian era progressed, the elegance of 18th century line and ornament disappeared and furniture became larger, darker and more ponderous.