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.
Maltese bidders write on cue
01 May 2023Maltese furniture rarely makes it to the international auction market, so it was something of a sensation when a finely decorated, mid-18th century writing cabinet came up for sale at Metz (28% buyer’s premium) in Heidelberg.
Royal memorabilia to be spotted at the Petworth fair
01 May 2023Sarah Colegrave Fine Art, a regular at the Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair, will bring a chair from the investiture of the Price of Wales in 1969.
You’ve got the lion look
01 May 2023The design of a sofa and two corresponding chairs on offer at Hargesheimer (28% buyer’s premium) in Düsseldorf could never be described as restrained.
Royal collectables: Seats of power – the market for 'coronation furniture'
01 May 2023Our in-depth special feature on royal memorabilia kicks off with a look at the market for ‘Coronation Furniture’ produced for the big day since 1902.
A £65,000 price reflects considerable appeal of stumpwork mirror frame
01 May 2023A small collection of 17th century stumpwork offered at Lindsay Burns in Perth was topped by this japanned and needlework mirror frame.
Mallett makes a comeback at Gurr Johns
24 April 2023Historic dealership Mallett has been relaunched with furniture specialist Rufus Bird to lead the firm.
Reverse appeal reflects export mirror’s condition
17 April 2023This 18th century Chinese export reverse-painted mirror in a period gilt frame took a five-figure sum at auction.
South American funerary urn stands-out as private collections galore come to Essex auction
17 April 2023Among the highlights of Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Fine Interiors sale was a remarkable anthropomorphic funerary urn from Ecuador.
Dealers go to auction as the trade adapts to a new business landscape
17 April 2023A spate of businesses taking stock and personal collections to the saleroom reflects wider changes in the market
Arts & Crafts: Known to be useful and believed to be beautiful
10 April 2023ATG considers the impact of the Arts & Crafts movement
US sales show market mood for English country house furniture
10 April 2023English furniture highlights from the Fred and Kay Krehbiel Collection sold by Hindman, the estate of Alan and Dianne Kay sold by Freeman’s and the Hyde Park Antiques sale at Sotheby’s, underlined strengths and weaknesses of English country house taste
Heavyweight bids for feather picture
10 April 2023Feather ‘mosaic’ pictures made in Mexico for Christian conquerors are among the most remarkable objects from 16th century Mesoamerica.
The web shop window: An Edo period gilt-lacquer cabinet
10 April 2023Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.
Christie’s relaunches decorative arts sales series
28 March 2023Christie’s has relaunched its biannual auction series of decorative arts sales to run concurrently online in three cities: London, New York and Paris.
The web shop window: an Uzbek dowry embroidery
27 March 2023Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.
A grand design: George I architect’s desk in demand
20 March 2023This exceptional George I walnut and feather-banded architect’s desk was hammered down at seven times its low estimate.
A Charles II stumpwork casket is among five lots to watch
20 March 2023With estimates from £400, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Maltese cabinet makes du Boulay top price
20 March 2023This mid-18th century Maltese walnut and marquetry bureau cabinet was the top lot of the du Boulay Collection at Duke’s.
Mouseman Elephants clock price pushed up
13 March 2023Carving once available in low four figures now sells for five in North Yorkshire saleroom
A Gillows side cabinet is among five lots to watch
13 March 2023With estimates from £400, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week
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