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.
The seat of history: Hornby Castle Chair sells for £35,000 at Bonhams Oxford
24 February 2020The so-called Hornby Castle Chair, a 4ft 7in (1.38m) high oak open armchair c.1580-1600, sold for £35,000 plus premium at the latest Oak Interior sale at Bonhams in Oxford.
Miniature chair and huge ox add up to big prices
24 February 2020The Gentleman’s Library Sale at Bonhams on February 12-13 included a miniature William and Mary or Queen Anne walnut armchair standing 21in (53cm) high).
Vernacular furniture returning home from US provides textbook lots in Oxford saleroom
24 February 2020The Oak Interior sale at Bonhams in Oxford on February 19 included two substantial private collections consigned for sale from the US.
The web shop window: Asprey dressing case
24 February 2020Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.
Whiskey mirrors galore reflect high demand
17 February 2020The first specialist pub memorabilia sale of the year held by Co Cavan auction house Victor Mee (19% buyer’s premium) showed no drying up of demand in a lively market niche.
Nelson bust sails high to top sale
17 February 2020While furniture and books fully justified its title, The Oxford Library Sale at Mallams (22.5% buyer’s premium) was led by a surprise star: a rather lowly regarded gesso bust of the sort that would have been a minor decoration to such a room.
Modern design delights from husband-and-wife architects behind the new British Library
17 February 2020The recent auction of 20th century design at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) in Stansted Mountfitchet was underpinned by more than 60 consignments from the estate of MJ Long.
The web shop window: Victorian walnut davenport
17 February 2020Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.
And the award for ‘best antiques in a movie’ goes to…
10 February 2020Ever been distracted by the antiques in a movie or TV series and wondered if they were ‘right’ or where they came from?
Rugs and carpets move on up at latest staging of London fair
10 February 2020The latest staging of The London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair was marked by strong sales of carpets and fewer big-ticket sales, according to organiser and exhibitor Aaron Nejad.
Continuity reveals details of new Bingley Hall event
10 February 2020As announced in ATG No 2428, Continuity Fairs has taken over the Bingley Hall Antiques Fair, which had been held by IACF at the Staffordshire County Showground from mid-2018 to December 2019.
Portrait miniature marking naval battle bravery sold in Yorkshire
03 February 2020This early 19th century portrait miniature offered for sale at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) in Leyburn is widely believed to depict the Irish naval officer Sir Henry D’Esterre Darby (1749-1823). To the reverse is a crystal retaining a lock of hair.
Simple but sophisticated chest boasts ingenious woodworking technique.
03 February 2020Although outwardly simple objects, cedar ‘bent corner’ chests, still made today by the indigenous people of the Pacific North West, employ a number of sophisticated woodworking techniques.
Global selection offered at Exeter sale
03 February 2020With an Irish silver ‘seal salver’ gleaming at the first Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (23% buyer’s premium) sale of the year (ATG No 2427), Italy, China and Russia provided other highlights.
English Golden Age longcase clock fails to meet great expectations
03 February 2020Falling short of ambitious hopes but leading the day at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) first sale of 2020 was a fine English Golden Age longcase clock.
French cabinets head to an Eastern buyer
03 February 2020Among the gems spotted in 2092 mixed lots at Stroud Auctions’ (18% buyer’s premium) year-opener on January 8, the best-seller was the final lot.
Expanding dining table, candelabra and Chinese export cabinets lead a fine start in Salisbury
27 January 2020A trio of five-figure offerings got Salisbury auction house Woolley & Wallis (25% buyer’s premium) off to a great start for 2020.
Kangaroo chair is from Chandigarh project offered in Munich
27 January 2020In 1952, India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru commissioned the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier to design and construct the north Indian city of Chandigarh.
Striking Russian Empire chairs offered at Petersfield Antiques Fair
20 January 2020A pair of Russian Empire chairs, 1810-15, featuring striking decorative brass inlay is offered for £25,000 by Ellis Fine Art at the Petersfield Antiques Fair.
19th century portrait miniature, French boulle marquetry cabinets and artwork featuring Marlon Brando – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
17 January 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a pair of Napoleon III boulle marquetry cabinets that sold for five-times over estimate and a 19th century portrait miniature that made 13-times estimate.
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