Introduction to Antique Furniture
Antique furniture encompasses pieces that are at least 100 years old, representing distinct historical periods, craftsmanship techniques, and design aesthetics. Understanding furniture styles helps collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts accurately identify, date, and value pieces. This cheatsheet provides a comprehensive overview of major antique furniture styles from the 17th to early 20th centuries, highlighting distinctive characteristics, construction techniques, and value indicators.
Core Concepts in Antique Furniture
Key Terminology
- Patina: Natural aging of wood surface that develops over time
- Provenance: Documented history of ownership and origin
- Veneer: Thin decorative wood layer applied to a solid base
- Marquetry: Inlaid patterns using different woods or materials
- Joinery: Methods used to connect wooden components
- Commode: Chest of drawers
- Escritoire: Writing desk with drawers and compartments
- Chiffonier: Tall, narrow chest of drawers
Construction Methods & Craftsmanship
| Period | Primary Joinery | Wood Treatment | Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17th Century | Mortise and tenon, pegged | Hand-planed, minimal finish | Hand-forged iron/brass |
| 18th Century | Dovetail, mortise and tenon | Oil finishes, French polish | Cast brass, bronze |
| 19th Century | Machine-cut dovetails | Shellac, varnish | Machine-made brass |
| Early 20th Century | Dowels, screws | Lacquer, polyurethane | Mass-produced metal |
Major Antique Furniture Styles by Period
William & Mary (1690-1725)
- Key Characteristics:
- Straight, slender turned legs
- Trumpet-shaped legs with stretchers
- Minimal decoration, practical designs
- Flat surfaces with geometric moldings
- Common Woods: Oak, walnut, maple, pine
- Signature Pieces: Gate-leg tables, highboys, joint stools
- Identifying Features: Ball-and-ring turnings, Spanish scroll feet
Queen Anne (1725-1760)
- Key Characteristics:
- Graceful S-curved cabriole legs
- Pad or trifid feet
- Shell and scroll motifs
- Fiddle-backed chairs
- Common Woods: Walnut, maple, cherry
- Signature Pieces: Highboys, lowboys, tilt-top tea tables
- Identifying Features: Scalloped skirts, curved lines, lack of excessive ornamentation
Chippendale (1750-1790)
- Key Characteristics:
- Elaborate carvings and ornamentation
- Cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet
- Gothic, Chinese, and French Rococo influences
- Ornate chair backs with ribbon patterns
- Common Woods: Mahogany, walnut
- Signature Pieces: Ribbon-back chairs, secretary bookcases, camelback sofas
- Identifying Features: Pagoda-like pediments, fretwork, acanthus leaf carvings
Federal/Hepplewhite (1780-1810)
- Key Characteristics:
- Light, elegant proportions
- Shield-back and oval-back chairs
- Straight, tapered legs
- Symmetrical designs with classical motifs
- Common Woods: Mahogany, satinwood, maple
- Signature Pieces: Sideboards, card tables, shield-back chairs
- Identifying Features: String inlays, bell flowers, urns, feather motifs
Sheraton (1790-1810)
- Key Characteristics:
- Straight, square tapered legs
- Rectangular forms with light proportions
- Contrasting veneers and inlays
- Delicate, geometric designs
- Common Woods: Mahogany, satinwood, rosewood
- Signature Pieces: Drop-leaf tables, tambour desks, drop-front secretaries
- Identifying Features: Reeded legs, lyre motifs, rectangular chair backs
Empire (1800-1840)
- Key Characteristics:
- Massive, heavy proportions
- Classical Greek and Roman motifs
- Animal-paw feet and supports
- Columns and pilasters
- Common Woods: Mahogany, rosewood, maple
- Signature Pieces: Klismos chairs, pier tables, scroll-arm sofas
- Identifying Features: Gilt bronze mounts, black marble tops, acanthus leaf carvings
Victorian (1840-1900)
- Sub-Styles: Gothic Revival, Rococo Revival, Renaissance Revival, Eastlake
- Key Characteristics:
- Ornate, elaborate decoration
- Dark, heavy woods
- Curved and scrolled forms
- Eclectic mixture of historical references
- Common Woods: Walnut, rosewood, mahogany
- Signature Pieces: Parlor sets, fainting couches, étagères
- Identifying Features: Naturalistic carvings, button tufting, marble tops
Arts & Crafts/Mission (1890-1920)
- Key Characteristics:
- Simple, rectilinear forms
- Exposed joinery
- Minimal decoration
- Emphasis on natural wood grain
- Common Woods: Oak, especially quarter-sawn
- Signature Pieces: Morris chairs, settle benches, sideboard cabinets
- Identifying Features: Visible tenons, hammered copper hardware, vertical slats
Art Nouveau (1890-1910)
- Key Characteristics:
- Organic, flowing lines
- Natural motifs (flowers, vines, insects)
- Asymmetrical designs
- Curved surfaces and whiplash lines
- Common Woods: Walnut, fruitwoods, exotic woods
- Signature Pieces: Display cabinets, lady’s desks, hall trees
- Identifying Features: Stylized floral inlays, carved tendrils, sinuous forms
Art Deco (1920-1940)
- Key Characteristics:
- Geometric, streamlined forms
- Contrasting exotic woods
- Stepped and angular designs
- Bold colors and materials
- Common Woods: Macassar ebony, burl walnut, maple
- Signature Pieces: Cocktail cabinets, vanity tables, club chairs
- Identifying Features: Chevron patterns, sunburst motifs, chrome/glass combinations
Continental European Styles
French Furniture Styles
Louis XIV (1643-1715)
- Key Characteristics: Massive, symmetrical, formal
- Signature Elements: Marquetry, brass/tortoiseshell inlay (Boulle work)
- Notable Features: Straight legs, classical motifs, heavy proportions
Louis XV/Rococo (1715-1774)
- Key Characteristics: Curved forms, asymmetrical designs
- Signature Elements: Cabriole legs, rocaille (shell) motifs, natural themes
- Notable Features: Bombé commodes, gilt bronze ormolu mounts
Louis XVI/Neoclassical (1774-1793)
- Key Characteristics: Straight lines, classical symmetry
- Signature Elements: Fluted columns, geometric patterns, mythological motifs
- Notable Features: Tapered legs, restrained decoration, inlaid marquetry
Empire (1804-1815)
- Key Characteristics: Bold, massive, Roman-inspired
- Signature Elements: Egyptian motifs, military symbols, mythological figures
- Notable Features: Swan necks, winged female figures, columns
English Country/Provincial Styles
Welsh Dressers
- Simple, functional design with shelving over drawers and cupboards
- Often pine or oak with minimal decoration
- Regional variations in proportions and details
Lancashire/Yorkshire Chairs
- Spindle backs, rush seats, turned legs
- Local wood variations (ash, elm, oak)
- Ladder-back and Windsor variations
Cotswold School
- Arts & Crafts influenced but with rural simplicity
- Exposed pegged joints, solid oak construction
- Minimal decoration, emphasis on craftsmanship
Authentication & Identification Tips
Analyzing Construction Methods
- Hand-cut Dovetails: Uneven spacing, irregular cuts indicate pre-1850
- Circular Saw Marks: Appeared after 1830
- Irregular Wood Surfaces: Hand-planed surfaces show subtle inconsistencies
- Wooden Drawer Runners: Common before metal slides (post-1900)
- Shrinkage Cracks: Normal in solid wood antiques, absent in new pieces
Hardware Assessment
| Period | Nails | Screws | Pulls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-1790 | Hand-forged, rosehead | Handmade, irregular threads | Cast, single-piece |
| 1790-1850 | Cut nails, square | Pointed tip, handmade threads | Cast, threaded posts |
| 1850-1900 | Machine-cut, uniform | Machine-made threads, flat tip | Stamped backplates |
| Post-1900 | Wire nails | Machine-perfect, Phillips head after 1930s | Mass-produced |
Wood Aging Characteristics
- Patina: Warm glow, color deepening through oxidation and wax buildup
- UV Darkening: Cherry darkens, walnut lightens with age and sun exposure
- Secondary Woods: Look for period-appropriate secondary woods in drawers and backs
- Growth Rings: Older furniture often features tighter growth rings (old-growth timber)
Valuation Factors & Market Considerations
Value-Enhancing Features
- Original Finish: Can increase value by 30-50%
- Documented Provenance: Significant history can triple value
- Maker’s Marks: Signed pieces by known makers command premium prices
- Regional Significance: Important examples of regional styles are highly collectible
- Untouched Condition: Minimal restoration or modification preserves value
Condition Assessment Guide
| Condition | Description | Value Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Mint | 100% original with minimal wear | Premium value (100%) |
| Excellent | Original finish, minor wear, all original parts | Strong value (80-90%) |
| Very Good | May have minor repairs, mostly original | Solid value (70-80%) |
| Good | Some restoration, replaced parts, retains character | Moderate value (50-70%) |
| Fair | Significant restoration, structural issues | Reduced value (30-50%) |
| Poor | Major damage, extensive restoration needed | Low value (10-30%) |
Common Issues & Solutions
- Split Wood: Minor splits common in antiques; stabilization preferred to replacement
- Veneer Damage: Professional restoration crucial; DIY repairs often decrease value
- Finish Wear: Patina preferred to refinishing; gentle cleaning over stripping
- Hardware Replacement: Original hardware significantly enhances value
- Structural Repairs: Conservative approach preserving original materials preferred
Common Reproduction Indicators
Red Flags for Reproductions
- Combination of Periods: Mixed style elements from different periods
- Wrong Construction: Joinery methods inconsistent with purported period
- Machine Marks: Modern tool marks on supposedly early pieces
- Artificially Aged Finish: Crackling patterns too uniform or excessive distressing
- Inappropriate Woods: Wood species not available or used during claimed period
Reputable Reproduction Makers
- Baker Furniture: High-quality Historic Charleston Collection
- Kittinger: Williamsburg reproductions, exceptional craftsmanship
- Stickley: Authentic Arts & Crafts reproductions
- Kindel: Fine Federal and Chippendale reproductions
- Maitland-Smith: Various period styles with high-end craftsmanship
Resources for Further Learning
Reference Books
- “Field Guide to American Antique Furniture” by Joseph T. Butler
- “The Encyclopedia of Furniture” by Joseph Aronson
- “American Furniture: The Federal Period” by Charles F. Montgomery
- “English Furniture from Gothic to Sheraton” by Herbert Cescinsky
- “Illustrated History of Furniture” by Frederick Litchfield
Organizations & Forums
- The Furniture History Society
- American Furniture Collectors
- The Antiques Roadshow
- Winterthur Museum
- The Victorian Society
Notable Collections & Museums
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (American Wing)
- Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris)
- Winterthur Museum (Delaware)
- Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia)
This comprehensive cheatsheet provides collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts with practical guidance for identifying, authenticating, and valuing antique furniture. Use it as a quick reference to navigate the complex landscape of historical styles, construction techniques, and market considerations.