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.
Politician proves influential in the antiques world
24 August 2020Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond (1944-2014) – the founder of the Norbrook pharmaceutical group in Northern Ireland – proved just as influential in the world of politics as he was in business.
Bottle vase supplies a £55,000 Chinese surprise
24 August 2020Solid selling punctuated by a number of estimate-eclipsing bids made the July 17-18 sale a very welcome return to business for Tennants (20% buyer’s premium).
Craftsman who fought ‘tyranny of the machine’
17 August 2020Sworders’ September 8 sale of Arts & Crafts & Art Deco includes an unprecedented number of pieces by Stanley Webb Davies (1894-1978).
Oak furniture rubs shoulders with Old Masters in Massachusetts single-owner selection
17 August 2020George Way (1950-2019) developed an early fascination with oak furniture. He was especially interested in seat furniture and at the age of 16 he began a half-century quest to build up the largest privately owned collection of 17th century chairs in America, assembling over 100 Dutch and English examples.
Chairs make it count in furniture array
10 August 2020Eighteenth century seat furniture took the top honours in Artcurial’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) two-day sale of furniture and works of art in Paris.
Glamour and high society mix in a Scottish country house sale
28 July 2020Ingredients for a tantalising sale don’t come much better than high society, glamour, famous names and an illustrious family combined with a varied, single-owner country house collection.
Early summer sales in Paris awash with modern design highlights
23 July 2020Among the high-season sales traditionally staged in Paris in the early summer is a selection of auctions devoted to modern design.
Casket at Sevenoaks auction reflects rags to riches story
20 July 2020This late Victorian silver-gilt and enamel ‘freedom casket’ sold at Ibbett Mosely (15% buyer’s premium) of Sevenoaks carries the name of John Aynsley II (1823-1907) and was awarded following his tenure as mayor of Longton from 1886-90.
Fashionable furniture among highlights of virtual edition of Masterpiece
13 July 2020A George IV rosewood table with an Italian specimen marble top, c.1820, was among the highlight sales at Masterpiece’s recent virtual edition, selling with an asking price of £75,000 to a private collector.
Works of art with aristocratic connections feature at Christie’s new The Collector sale
11 July 2020Christie’s has launched a new cross category auction as part of its Classic Week sales featuring many items with aristocratic connections.
Putting Berlin on the Islamic globe
29 June 2020The sky was (almost) the limit at the recent sale at Bassenge (28% buyer’s premium) in Berlin when an Islamic celestial globe came up for sale.
Collector interview: Longcase launched my interest
22 June 2020Devon artist’s first buy is still his most precious – but joined by tables, militaria and much more
A colossal coat of arms offered at the Masterpiece online fair
15 June 2020This 18th century monumental royal coat of arms by John Steell is offered by Wick Antiques in its second edition of 'Britain and the High Seas' at 'Masterpiece', held online this year.
Freeform table flies past estimate to take €75,000
08 June 2020A freeform table from the 1950s was the surprise winner at the design sale of Schops Turowski (23% buyer’s premium) in Krefeld on May 9.
Purchases fit for royalty at Kensington Church Street's summer showcase
08 June 2020After months of lockdown, one’s home may no longer be feeling like one’s castle. However, that situation is easily remedied thanks to the Kensington Church Street Art & Antiques Dealers Association’s Virtual Summer Showcase, which takes ‘fit for royalty’ as its theme.
The Welsh stick chair: Turning the pages on a vernacular classic
01 June 2020Welsh furniture and folk art dealers Tim and Betsan Bowen have released 'The Welsh Stick Chair – A Visual Record' as a resource for collectors and designers.
Personal items that belonged to Marie-Antoinette lead auction at Versailles
01 June 2020Personal items that belonged to Marie-Antoinette were the highlights of Osenat’s (20.83/18% buyer’s premium) themed sale titled Royalty at Versailles.
Furniture, silver and ceramics headline ‘The Collector’ sale at Christie’s
28 May 2020Christie’s series of sales titled ‘The Collector’, which take place in Paris, London and New York, are events which focus on traditional fields such as furniture, silver and ceramics. The latest London sale in this category is currently taking place as an online event running until June 1.
Huge ornamental screen sells at salvage dealer's retirement auction
18 May 2020The team at antiques dealership Robert Mills Architectural spent decades salvaging items from closed-down churches, banks, mansions and pubs.
From Roman fragments to jigsaws: dealers sell for charity
11 May 2020Dealers might not be on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis but many are trying to do their bit through charity sales. Here is a quick look at some of the businesses pledging proceeds to good causes.
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