Charles Locke Eastlake
1836-1906

English architect and writer who popularized William Morris' ideas in his hugely successful "Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery and other Details"(1868). Eastlake advocated a return to simple, straight-line designs inspired by country work, executed in oak and various fruitwoods. He also advocated a single, cohesive style dominate the home rather than a hodgepodge of influences. In 1872 he published his book in the United States, where it became a decorating bible and planted the seeds of the Arts & Crafts Movement.

In Hints on Household Taste, Eastlake encouraged "honesty" in construction and finishing. He called for hand crafted, solid wood furniture with rectangular joinery. He condemned the practice of using stains and varnishes to disguise inexpensive woods, calling instead for oiled, naturally colored finishes.

"The present system of French-polishing, or literally varnishing furniture is destructive of all artistic effect in its appearance, because the surface of wood thus lacquered can never change its color, or acquire that rich hue which is one of the charms of old cabinet work."

Charles Locke Eastlake

The use of rugged woods like oak and the elimination of stuck-on decorations were characteristic of Eastlake furniture. Not surprisingly, Eastlake also inspired the manufacturers of machine-made furniture to explore the decorative possibilities of their machines; imitating his hand-work with such things as glued on moldings and machine-reproduced architectural detail. Eastlake disliked these imitations and publicly disavowed any association with their manufacture.