Victorian
What is and is not a Victorian can be confusing even amongst San Franciscans.
It is very simple, really...Queen Victoria was the longest reigning queen in history, from 1837 - 1901. Buildings built during this time period are Victorians, those that were not, are not.
More confusion is found in thinking that Victorian is a style. It is NOT a style, however, a time period in which a few distinct styles occurred here in San Francisco.
These categories are local in nature, recognizing that these terms may refer to different styles in other parts of the country and world. Primarily redwood "boxes" with predictable floor plans and fanciful facades, there are basically three types of Victorians of note in our City: Italianate, Eastlake (or Stick) and Queen Anne.
Victorian Italianate
Eastlake
This style gets its name from Sir Charles Eastlake, a prominent London furniture designer and author of Hints on Household Taste. The book, which was the widely read and accepted tome on taste and behavior, taught restraint in design. His philosophy was not understood in the US and fanciful ornamentation became associated with his name here on the West Coast. During this time period, ornamentation became increasingly more elaborate. Numerous wood mills south of Market Street provided an endless array of turned-wood ornaments which were applied freely. More was better. Very "boxy" angular feel, with a lot of applied vertical wood, which is the origin of the "stick" reference.
Victorian Queen Anne
Italianate
In their own day referred to as "London Roman", after the Italianate men's clubs along Pall Mall in London. Originally inspired by rural dwellings in Italy, San Francisco has a way of putting her own "spin" on things, thus the dramatic paint colors. Characterized by a flat roof line, heavy brackets, narrow windows and doorways.
Toward the end of this time period, this style also had bay windows.
Victorian Eastlake
Queen Anne
The name was taken from architect Norman Shaw's designs in England and has no relation to the eighteenth century British monarch. During this time period the technology of bending wood and glass in volume allowed the softer, rounded shapes of this style.
The Queen Anne is the quintessential San Francisco Victorian that everyone immediately imagines when hearing the reference. Rounded corner towers, enclosed porches, references to the classical past in ribbons, garlands, torches and beaded moldings are elements of this style.