The furniture forms under the 'William and Mary' heading belong to which period?

• A. American Colonial
• B. Georgian
• C. American Baroque
• D. Federal

Answer: (C)

William and Mary forms reflect a Baroque-influenced period in American furniture, with bold ornament, heavy massing, and curvilinear shapes. This style arrives in the American colonies through English Baroque tastes of the late 17th and early 18th centuries and is carried forward as American Baroque—an adaptation that preserves the ornate, dramatic vocabulary of Baroque while localizing it for colonial conditions. That combination—ornate carving, dramatic curves, ample walnut wood, and strong, sculptural silhouettes—fits the William and Mary heading best.

In contrast, American Colonial is a broader, often plainer category that covers earlier, simpler forms; Georgian represents a later, more restrained evolution from Baroque toward neoclassicism; Federal is even more neoclassical, with cleaner lines and classical motifs. The ornate Baroque character of the William and Mary period is why American Baroque is the best fit.