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.
Swallow director Richard Burgoin loves the buzz of salvage
18 April 2017“Seeing the vans arrive and all the wonderful things being unloaded and then built into something beautiful on their stands is a real buzz: we can’t wait.” These are the words of Richard Burgoin, director of Arthur Swallow Fairs, when talking about his ‘summer of salvage’.
Furniture rarities raise market morale
18 April 2017Three high-quality sales from the north to the south gave a cheerful air to spring. The catalogue at Tennants in North Yorkshire pretty much covered the range but in Sussex and Buckinghamshire the emphasis was on furniture.
A selection of furniture from the contents auction of The Old Castle at Studley
15 April 2017Hansons’ Spring Fine Art Auction included a collection of contents from The Old Castle at Studley, the Grade II* listed property near Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire. The entire contents from this Tudor manor house was sold over a number of different specialist sales. At the March 30-April 1 Spring sale, 14 lots from Studley were offered by the Derbyshire saleroom, selling for a total of £7000. The manor house itself recently sold for £1.7m.
Chinese sleepers awake at Crewkerne and Cambridge auctions
11 April 2017Auction house Lawrences of Crewkerne is no stranger to stand-out objects from China after a remarkable vase sold at 150-times its estimate in January.
Tempting estimates help to bring bidders to Clevedon
10 April 2017A record sale total, the trade in buying mood and traditional furniture selling well – all further evidence that 2017 so far is proving rather less catastrophic than some had forecast.
Commodes channel auction interest in Guernsey
10 April 2017Decorative furniture from the 19th century was in keen demand at Guernsey auctioneers Martel Maides (17.5% buyer’s premium) on March 15-16 including a pair of satinwood demi lune commodes.
Sir Gordon Russell is the cheaper Cotswold School choice
10 April 2017With the major names of the pioneers beyond the purses of most admirers of Cotswolds School furniture, works by Sir Gordon Russell are steady sellers and 16 pieces offered at Mallams (20% buyer’s premium) all found buyers on March 16.
Basement clear out planned at Kent's Design Gallery
10 April 2017In Kent, the Design Gallery’s largest-ever furniture warehouse sale, including a basement clear-out, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23.
Culture Minister steps in to prevent the export of ornate Chesterfield House railings
08 April 2017The race is on to find a buyer to keep a set of English gilt bronze cast iron railings in the UK.
Confused about a term? Take it on the Chinnery
05 April 2017At the end of an article penned for the Regional History Society titled Furniture Terminology in Post-Medieval Middle Class Inventories, the late Victor Chinnery wrote that any full glossary on the subject should include, not just furniture, but also pottery, glass, metalwork and architectural fittings.
5 Questions: Justin Evershed-Martin
05 April 2017Justin Evershed-Martin is the former director of Mallett who has launched a business specialising in 20th century decorative art and furniture. This week he exhibits at the Decorative Art Antiques and Textiles Fair in Battersea with a selection of privately sourced pieces all priced under £8000 (see right).
Beadwork and embroideries
05 April 2017Through surviving examples of Charles II beadwork, it is possible to catch a glimpse of the splendid colours of Stuart England.
Let there be all kinds of light - German hammer highlights
05 April 2017From minimalist lamp to starry chandelier
Museum purchase
05 April 2017This William and Mary walnut marquetry cabinet, right, was recently bought by an international museum for a mid six- figure sum.
Two private collections of rushlights at Bonhams
05 April 2017Folksy 18th and 19th century vernacular lighting retains a strong following.
Elizabethan furniture shines in Met’s California dispersal
05 April 2017Two pieces of early oak furniture deaccessioned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York far outstripped modest expectations when offered for sale in California last month. The two tersely catalogued lots – both bequeathed to the museum in 1964 – appeared at Clars in Oakland on March 18. They sold to New York buyers.
Finding out if small is beautiful
05 April 2017Exceptional items star as Bonhams’ oak sales face the challenge of reduced space and lots
‘Amazingly positive’ after six-figure sale at BADA fair
01 April 2017An imposing sight on the stand of London furniture dealer Godson & Coles, this early 18th century japanned bureau cabinet sold for a six-figure sum at the BADA 2017 fair.
Evolution of the spring Battersea Decorative fair
01 April 2017The next Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair runs from April 4-9 in London’s Battersea Park. The second of three fairs to take place in the Battersea Evolution Marquee, it follows a successful January edition.
- Gardiner Houlgate
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- 21 Oct 2024 - 10:00 AM
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- 22 Oct 2024 - 10:00 AM
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- 22 Oct 2024 - 10:00 AM
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- 22 Oct 2024 - 10:00 AM
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- 23 Oct 2024 - 09:00 AM
- Fellows
- The Joseph Bonnar Collection
- 23 Oct 2024 - 10:00 AM
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