Definition
An Eastlake House is a type of late 19th-century architecture known for its intricate hand-carved decorations and details inspired by furniture design, specifically popularized by Charles Eastlake, a British architect and writer. Unlike the flatter ornamentation of simpler designs of the period, the details in an Eastlake House often appear three-dimensional with moldings and trims crafted using chisels, gouges, and lathes. This gives these homes a more sculptural appearance when compared to the more contemporaneous architectural styles like Queen Anne or Carpenter Gothic.
Examples
Example 1: The Leland Stanford Mansion
Located in Sacramento, California, the Leland Stanford Mansion stands as a prime example of Eastlake styling combined with various other Victorian architectural elements. The home features intricately carved wooden brackets and decorative elements echoing the Eastlake style’s furniture-inspired details.
Example 2: The Hoyne House
The Herman W. Hoyne House in Chicago is another notable example, showcasing exterior wood trims and intricate spindle work that characterize the Eastlake aesthetic. This residence exemplifies how Eastlake ornamentation adds visible texture and dimension to Victorian homes.
Example 3: Jamestown Mansion
This 1885 house in Rhode Island boasts elaborately ornamented porches with balustrades decorated with characteristic Eastlake details, like carved posts and ornamental brackets, demonstrating prefabrication techniques used to create prestigious Victorian homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes Eastlake houses from other Victorian architecture styles?
Answer: Eastlake houses are distinguished by their three-dimensional, hand-crafted wood ornamentation that closely resembles furniture parts like legs and knobs. These decorations are made using tools such as chisels, gouges, and lathes, which sets them apart from the flatter and often machine-produced trim seen in other Victorian styles like Queen Anne or Carpenter Gothic.
Who was Charles Eastlake?
Answer: Charles Locke Eastlake (1836-1906) was a British architect, writer, and furniture designer. He authored “Hints on Household Taste,” a book that greatly influenced the decorative arts in the mid-to-late 19th century, and the design principles expounded within greatly contributed to what’s recognized as Eastlake-style architecture and ornamentation in the United States.
Why are Eastlake houses often compared to Queen Anne styles?
Answer: Both Eastlake and Queen Anne houses produced during the Victorian era often exhibit elaborate and ornate decorative elements. However, the main difference lies in the scale and execution; Eastlake designs tend to have more crisp, furniture-like woodwork that appears more hand-crafted, while Queen Anne can include more varied, loosely designed ornamentation and mixed materials.
Related Terms
Victorian Architecture
Victorian Architecture refers to a broad envelope of building styles that emerged predominantly during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), including Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Eastlake among others.
Queen Anne Style
Queen Anne Style is a type of Victorian architecture noted for its asymmetrical facades, eclectic and often whimsical canopies, towers, and extensive use of patterned woodwork and mixed-texture applications such as bricks, fish-scale shingles, and architectural elements.
Carpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic is a North American architectural style reflecting the influence of Gothic Revival emphasized by decorative wood accents replicating medieval characteristics, typically rendered by local carpenters.
High Victorian Gothic
High Victorian Gothic refers to an elaborate Gothic Revival style that emerged in the mid-19th century, focusing on rich decoration, bold polychromy, and complicated form typically rendered in ecclesiastical and institutional buildings.
Online Resources
- Old House Online: Eastlake Style
- The Victorian Web: Charles Eastlake
- National Park Service: Victorian Eastlake
References
- Eastlake, Charles. Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery, and Other Details. New York: Dover Publications.
Suggested Books for Further Study
- Massey, James C., and Shirley Maxwell. Victorian Architecture: A Visual Encyclopaedia. New York: Button.
- Gifford, Elisabeth. The Victorian House. London: HarperCollins.
- Sweet, Fay. Eastlake: The Carpet Knights to Modern Design. Marlborough: Crowood Press.
