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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Buyer shells out for Georgian armchair

14 February 2022

This early Georgian walnut open armchair was one of the highlights of the sale of Old Master paintings, English and Continental furniture, silver and decorative arts held by Doyle (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) in New York on January 26.

Items from the estate of Prof Bernard Nevill.

Collection from set of Withnail and I comes to auction in Sussex

12 February 2022

Items from the estate of Prof Bernard Nevill, including furniture and works of art from the film set of 'Withnail and I', will be offered at Bellmans this month.

Moule patent earth closet

Victorian ‘composting’ toilet invented by rural vicar stars in our pick of five auction highlights sold this week

11 February 2022

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a rare mahogany and cast iron ‘earth closet’ from 1873 designed to ‘return waste to the soil’.

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If we’re not burning coal any more, what about furniture use?

07 February 2022

Among the more unusual recent lots at Woolley & Wallis (25% buyer’s premium) was an early Victorian table carved from parrot coal.

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The web shop window: 1930s dining table set

07 February 2022

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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Father and son's Cotswolds School furniture collection makes for white-glove auction

07 February 2022

A new auction record for Edward Barnsley was among the many highlights of the Minoprio collection of Cotswold School furniture sold by Lyon & Turnbull (25% buyer’s premium).

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The £5 junk shop find which proved to be a £12,500 Vienna Secession chair

07 February 2022

This fine example of Vienna Secession furniture was bought last year in a junk shop on the south coast for just £5.

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London exhibition shines spotlight on Finnish designer Paavo Tynell through detailed room sets

07 February 2022

The earliest work in Modernity’s exhibition on Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) is a 1930s ceiling lamp (model 1926).

Hubert de Givenchy

Hubert de Givenchy collection comes to Christie’s

02 February 2022

The collection of Hubert de Givenchy (1927-2018), featuring more than 1200 lots of French and European furniture and works of art, will be offered at Christie's in Paris in June.

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Dealer Houlston marks election to BADA with collection of former chairman Jonathan Horne

31 January 2022

This family group of four polychromed limewood kneeling figures, made in England c.1610-30, is to go on offer with Cotswolds dealership Houlston.

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Exotic Christopher Dresser chairs influenced by Egypt motifs

31 January 2022

Although catalogued by Smiths of Newent (20% buyer’s premium) as a chair from the early 19th century Empire period, this ebonised mahogany, gilt and polychrome side chair is more probably from the mid-Victorian period.

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Rocking horses: the mane attraction

31 January 2022

Two of the main manufacturers of rocking horses – and competitors – featured in two salerooms recently.

George III mahogany serving table

Mahogany table sold by Winchester Cathedral stars in our pick of six auction highlights

28 January 2022

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a George III mahogany serving table that made over 40-times estimate at Bellmans in West Sussex.

Gas lamp

Historic gas lamps win temporary reprieve after campaign led by antiques dealers

27 January 2022

Two antiques dealers and their supporters campaigning for Westminster Council to stop removing historic gas lamps have won a temporary reprieve.

Sloane Street Auctions

Art dealer launches auctions to be staged in Chelsea

24 January 2022

Fine art dealer Daniel Hunt has launched an auction business opposite his former dealership in Sloane Street.

Lion statue

Arundel Lion ready to roar again in a new home

24 January 2022

The so-called Arundel Lions were once a well-known landmark in Sheffield.

Edward Barnsley cupboard

Cotswold family connections in demand at auction

17 January 2022

Lyon & Turnbull’s single-owner sale titled The Minoprio Collection: British Design in the Arts & Crafts Tradition included some very strong prices for mid-century Cotswolds School furnishings.

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Taken up a Peggy or two in Warrington

17 January 2022

New Cheshire shop allows couple to expand their offerings, especially vintage fashion

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Eastern furniture proves no sleepy market as huanghuali bed makes £140,000

17 January 2022

The market for Chinese furniture has come on leaps and bounds in 20 years.

George II caddy-topped chest of drawers

Just read the label: dealer sells Giles Grendey chest

10 January 2022

A rare George II caddy-topped chest bearing trade labels for London cabinet maker Giles Grendey (c.1693-1780) has been sold to a London collector after its discovery by dealer Alexander George Fine Antiques.

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