Furniture

Every piece of furniture has a practical purpose regardless of how simple or grand it is, even if some pieces were built more for display than function. Today, furniture remains one of the largest areas of the antiques market and items are categorised by type and period.

The term brown furniture refers to traditional pieces made from dark woods such as mahogany, while pieces made from native woods like oak and walnut are sometimes referred to as vernacular furniture.

Famous historical makers include Chippendale, Gillows, William Vile and John Cobb. More recent market trends have seen modern vintage pieces appearing in specialist design and ‘Interior’ auctions.

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Mineral cabinet chips in

15 May 2023

This mahogany 12-drawer cabinet of minerals, rocks and fossils carries the printed trade label reading Arranged and Sold by J Tennant, Mineralogist by Appointment to Her Majesty, 149 Strand London.

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Blanchard spread his wings to be the leading manufacturer of terracotta in Britain

15 May 2023

This rare pair of late 19th century terracotta eagles, each standing 2ft 2in (64cm) high have indistinct marks for Blanchard Terracotta London.

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Renowned candlestick back in the limelight at Stowmarket sale

08 May 2023

Estimated at £15,000-20,000, this 8½in (22cm) Elizabeth I or James I pewter bell-based candlestick sold to a private UK collector bidding online for £25,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) as part of the Chapman collection at Bishop & Miller in Stowmarket on April 27.

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Detective work sheds some light on a £75,000 chandelier

08 May 2023

Investigation by saleroom specialist pays off as Castle Howard connection helps a chandelier to impress

Getty's Temple of Wings

Christie’s to offer second auction series of the Ann and Gordon Getty collection

05 May 2023

A second tranche of the Ann and Gordon Getty collection is coming to Christie’s in June.

Grays coronation display

Art and antiques trade celebrates Charles III's coronation

03 May 2023

The art and antiques trade are celebrating the coronation of Charles III and Camilla as King and Queen ahead of the big day at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

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Royal memorabilia to be spotted at the Petworth fair

01 May 2023

Sarah Colegrave Fine Art, a regular at the Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair, will bring a chair from the investiture of the Price of Wales in 1969.

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Royal collectables: Seats of power – the market for 'coronation furniture'

01 May 2023

Our in-depth special feature on royal memorabilia kicks off with a look at the market for ‘Coronation Furniture’ produced for the big day since 1902.

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A £65,000 price reflects considerable appeal of stumpwork mirror frame

01 May 2023

A small collection of 17th century stumpwork offered at Lindsay Burns in Perth was topped by this japanned and needlework mirror frame.

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You’ve got the lion look

01 May 2023

The design of a sofa and two corresponding chairs on offer at Hargesheimer (28% buyer’s premium) in Düsseldorf could never be described as restrained.

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Maltese bidders write on cue

01 May 2023

Maltese furniture rarely makes it to the international auction market, so it was something of a sensation when a finely decorated, mid-18th century writing cabinet came up for sale at Metz (28% buyer’s premium) in Heidelberg.

Rufus Bird

Mallett makes a comeback at Gurr Johns

24 April 2023

Historic dealership Mallett has been relaunched with furniture specialist Rufus Bird to lead the firm.

Reverse painted mirror

Reverse appeal reflects export mirror’s condition

17 April 2023

This 18th century Chinese export reverse-painted mirror in a period gilt frame took a five-figure sum at auction.

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Dealers go to auction as the trade adapts to a new business landscape

17 April 2023

A spate of businesses taking stock and personal collections to the saleroom reflects wider changes in the market

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South American funerary urn stands-out as private collections galore come to Essex auction

17 April 2023

Among the highlights of Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Fine Interiors sale was a remarkable anthropomorphic funerary urn from Ecuador.

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Arts & Crafts: Known to be useful and believed to be beautiful

10 April 2023

ATG considers the impact of the Arts & Crafts movement

Serving table

US sales show market mood for English country house furniture

10 April 2023

English furniture highlights from the Fred and Kay Krehbiel Collection sold by Hindman, the estate of Alan and Dianne Kay sold by Freeman’s and the Hyde Park Antiques sale at Sotheby’s, underlined strengths and weaknesses of English country house taste

Cabinet

The web shop window: An Edo period gilt-lacquer cabinet

10 April 2023

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

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Heavyweight bids for feather picture

10 April 2023

Feather ‘mosaic’ pictures made in Mexico for Christian conquerors are among the most remarkable objects from 16th century Mesoamerica.

Christie’s decorative arts sale

Christie’s relaunches decorative arts sales series

28 March 2023

Christie’s has relaunched its biannual auction series of decorative arts sales to run concurrently online in three cities: London, New York and Paris.

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