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.

Sandford Orcas

Historic family collection from Tudor manor house comes to auction in Dorset

23 February 2024

The contents of Sandford Orcas Manor, a Tudor manor house occupied by just two families over the past 470 years, is coming to auction next month.

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Fascinating backstory of Mouseman furniture owned by same family since new comes to light

19 February 2024

Mouseman furniture is a hugely popular if not exactly uncommon sight at auction but it is not so often you see a group with a backstory as comprehensive as that coming up at a Buckinghamshire saleroom.

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Five questions with furniture dealer Toby Taylor

19 February 2024

Toby Taylor launched Taylors Direct in the Cotswolds around three year s ago.

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Chareau furniture includes chair style selected by famous clients

19 February 2024

An ensemble of modernist rosewood furniture by the designer and architect Pierre Chareau (1883-1950) is to be offered by Valoir Pousse-Cornet auction house.

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Lalique style leads selection of design classics at Chiswick Auctions

19 February 2024

Lalique, the epitome of inter-war glamour, took centre stage at the Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) Design sale.

Gas lamp

Antiques dealers victorious in first step of saving London’s historic gas lamps

16 February 2024

Two dealers have declared a victory in their quest to save historic gas lamps in Westminster.

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Classic Ashbee piano comes with fine provenance

12 February 2024

Heading Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) January 16 Design sale in Stansted Mountfitchet was a recently rediscovered version of one of the best-known Guild of Handicraft designs.

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LARTA exhibitors report strong sales and new buyers

12 February 2024

Nestled above The Decorative Fair, the London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair (LARTA) had a successful run with new and returning exhibitors reporting strong sales to trade and private buyers.

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‘Patience and taste personified’: more lots from the outstanding Ann and Gordon Getty collection

12 February 2024

New York auctioneer remembers Ann and Gordon Getty as the latest lots come to market

2630 NE Hanson Bellerophon Sofa

Bony slept here: Souvenirs from Napoleon's surrender come to auction

09 February 2024

A cache of memorabilia from the descendants of Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland – the officer Napoleon surrendered to aboard HMS Bellerophon on July 15, 1815 – is coming to auction.

Withers TSR Figures

Silver under the floorboards and vinaigrettes in the cooker

08 February 2024

The extraordinary collection of the Bath dealer-collector George Withers (1946-2023) comes for sale across three days and two salerooms later this month.

18th century Anton Walter forte piano

Piano Auctions to sell in Holland after Brexit

05 February 2024

The impact of Brexit on UK overseas trade has led one auction house to open a saleroom in the Netherlands.

Set of six George III giltwood side chairs

Pick of the week: Chippendale’s Brocket Hall suite

05 February 2024

A set of six George III giltwood side chairs made by Thomas Chippendale for Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire sold at Dreweatts on January 31.

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Auction house hails ‘incredibly busy and buoyant’ start to the new year

05 February 2024

North Yorkshire saleroom starts 2024 with 2600 lots offered over two weeks in four auctions

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Getting ahead as the year begins

05 February 2024

Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) got off to an early New Year start with a Country House auction.

Churchill Forbes Collection (4)

Churchill's personal writing desk sold in New York

01 February 2024

Winston Churchill’s desk which he used to write his Second World War memoirs has been sold by Peter Harrington Rare Books at The Winter Show in New York (January 19-28).

Wood and antler chandelier

Last hurrah for the Ann and Gordon Getty collection

31 January 2024

Finding antiques with the wow factor was Ann Getty’s forte and she did it with great dedication, some good advice and an outstanding bank balance.

Jessus on crucifix

Appeal for statues stolen from Salford church

31 January 2024

A group of statues from a church in Salford have been stolen.

Dining table

Interior designers target traditional antiques at Battersea's Decorative Fair

29 January 2024

Traditional antiques are very much still in demand, according to reports from dealers at Battersea’s winter Decorative Fair.

TSR January 26 Turpin Hats

White-gloves and a trilby hat for Dick Turpin sale

26 January 2024

Sworders enjoyed a white-glove sale and a £406,000 total for the personal collection of Maurice Turpin (1928-2005).

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