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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Mouseman: small character carvings prove to be a cut above

07 October 2024

Small-scale Mouseman carvings were typically made in Kilburn for promotional purposes – attracting custom at the Yorkshire Show or similar trade events. Rarities continue to bring muscular sums in the salerooms.

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Czech out industrial style with the H269

07 October 2024

With its exaggerated, curved armrests, ample cushioning and cantilevered frame, the H269 bentwood chair is perhaps the best known of all Czech industrial furniture designs.

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Sixty-two reasons to visit a 16th fair edition

07 October 2024

The international design fair PAD London is returning to Berkeley Square from October 8-13.

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Voysey rose to the occasion for textiles

07 October 2024

In 1897 Charles Francis Annesley Voysey agreed a contract with Alexander Morton and Co to provide designs for a minimum of 10 textile designs each year for five years.

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Munich fair set to wow with help of wine coolers

07 October 2024

From October 17-20, the 15th edition of the prestigious fair Munich Highlights is opening its doors in the Residenz, the one-time city palace of the Bavarian royal family.

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Hawker aluminium furniture gives a lift to Bucks auction

07 October 2024

A recent sale at Claydon Auctioneers (21.5% buyer’s premium) in Buckinghamshire included a suite of aluminium bedroom furniture by the HG Hawker Engineering Company.

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Contents of Kensington Church Street gallery offered at Dreweatts auction

02 October 2024

In 2000, Raymond Horneman chose Kensington Church Street as the location for an antiques and interior decorating business. Times have changed and the business is moving on.

barniz de Pasto escritorio

Cabinet showing 17th century ‘globalisation’ in action makes over 90 times estimate

02 October 2024

Due to the fact that they represent a meeting of three continents and cultures, barniz de Pasto (Pasto varnish) boxes have recently been described by Jorge F Rivas Perez, curator of Latin American Art at the Denver Art Museum, as ‘some of the first works of a globalised world’.

Teak window panel

Window panel from Getty collection reaches six figures at Stair Galleries

01 October 2024

A final treasure from the Ann and Gordon Getty collection excelled at the latest sale at Stair Galleries in Hudson, New York.

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Obituary: Furniture dealer David Pettifer (1930-2024)

30 September 2024

The antique furniture world has lost one of its great characters and senior statesmen in David Pettifer who died on 30th August aged 94.

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Posnet was recent Norfolk detector find

30 September 2024

This medieval (probably 14th century) small bronze cauldron or posnet is a recent detecting find, dug late last year in a field in Norfolk.

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Furniture & interiors: Market shifts towards the regions

30 September 2024

Much of the market for ‘country house’ antiques is now in the hands of UK’s regional auctioneers. Here we review two recent bellwether sales.

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Harewood furniture for sale at Christie’s

30 September 2024

In October Christie’s conducts a timed online sales series titled Collections.

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Appealing faces of Victorian furniture

30 September 2024

Chairs and sofas by Howard & Sons are a pricey niche market these days, largely immune to the varying fortunes of the wider market for Victorian and Edwardian furniture.

Peter & Willow As Woodward & Willow, Circa 1990S Combined

Dealers reform their classic duo

27 September 2024

It's not just stars of Britpop who are reuniting. Two former business partners are making a one-off comeback for an appearance at a London fair.

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Retiring dealer puts career collection up for auction

24 September 2024

Newcastle-based saleroom Anderson & Garland is holding an auction of the Graham Smith Antiques collection following his decision to retire from the industry.

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Georgian card table deal sealed at £5000

16 September 2024

This 18th century mahogany card table was part of a collection of furniture from Earnshill House in Somerset offered by Busby (25% buyer’s premium) in Bridport, Dorset.

carved giltwood horse

Rare fairground memorabilia gallops ahead at London auction

11 September 2024

On entering an Edwardian fairground, the sheer size and scale of the ornately carved ‘bioscope’ show front would stop an observer in their tracks.

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Pergay’s steel furniture proved to be a big hit

09 September 2024

When the Romanian-born French designer Maria Pergay (1930-2023) was asked why she chose to make furniture out of steel, she responded that it was because she had a score to settle with Stalin. “You know his name means steel? So the more I hit it, the happier I am.”

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Salvo launches latest pocket guides

09 September 2024

Dealer association Salvo promoted its revised Pocket Guide at a ‘Secondhand September’ drinks party on September 5.

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