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.
Spotlight on the design process
04 November 2019Ceramics, furniture, glass and figure highlights from a range of sales under same banner.
Go for a close shave at Olympia
28 October 2019Chinese barber’s bowl is a stand-out item at event now running in a revamped format.
Take the chair in Harrogate
28 October 2019The final instalment of the three annual Pavilions of Harrogate Decorative Antiques & Fine Art Fair includes this small naive hedge or country chair, c.1820, from Ireland’s County Antrim.
Spate of south London cattle and horse trough thefts rises to four
22 October 2019Local community groups across south London are calling on the antiques trade to be alert to Victorian animal troughs that have been stolen from four sites this autumn.
Conan Doyle’s desk solution
21 October 2019Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859- 1930), author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, was so keen to work during his extensive travels that in 1925 he commissioned a case-maker to create a trunk that transformed into a writing desk.
Dorset country house auction takes over £1m
14 October 2019Last week’s on-the-premises sale at Athelhampton House in Dorset was a near sell-out with a hammer price of close to £1.2m.
'Witch' mirrors enchant buyers at Duke's auction
14 October 2019Catalogued as ‘witch’ mirrors, this c.1970 pair certainly charmed bidders at Dorchester auction house Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium). The key was the signature Line Vautrin, ROI for the Parisienne designer and decorative artist Line Vautrin (1913-97).
Rare circular Georgian cistern emerges at Summers Place
14 October 2019Always popular items, a Georgian lead cistern offered at Summers Place Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) was also rare in being circular. Usually they are rectangular, having stood against a wall connected to downpipes.
Strong private buying helps to fuel high hammer total and selling rate in Nottingham
14 October 2019Nottingham auction house Mellors & Kirk (20% buyer’s premium) added to the cautiously feel-good mood created by some highly successful autumn sales in the provinces when strong private buying brought impressive results across the board.
Fine examples of Mughal craftsmanship appear at auction
14 October 2019Made in Gujarat or Sindh in the 18th century, a sandalwood table cabinet profusely inlaid with ivory flowers and tendrils throughout was a fine example of Mughal craftsmanship and led the way at a recent sale at Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).
Judy's upcoming furniture fleas in London
14 October 2019Judy Berger of Judy’s Vintage Fairs runs three regular vintage furniture fleas held in Leeds and London.
Discover a range of vintage in Manchester and the Midlands
14 October 2019Under the Discover Vintage banner, Keeley Rosendale’s vintage home shows in Manchester and the Midlands continue to demonstrate the popularity of well-priced Mid-century furniture.
Alan Peters record set in saleroom
07 October 2019Underlining the market move from antique furniture to 20th century craftsman design, a 1982-83 chest of drawers set a record for a work by Alan Peters at the Modern British Living sale at Mallams (22.5% buyer’s premium) in Cheltenham.
10 top lots on offer at Duke’s auction of contents from Athelhampton House
03 October 2019“Good old-fashioned country house auctions are a rarity these days and it is a privilege to organise one against such an historic backdrop.” So says Guy Schwinge of Dorchester auction house Duke’s, referring to the upcoming sale of the contents from Athelhampton House in Dorset.
Conan Doyle-designed portable desk for sale from furniture maker Timothy Oulton
30 September 2019Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was so keen to be able to work while he travelled that in 1925 he commissioned a case maker to create the bespoke trunk that could turn into a writing desk.
Régence table brings £52,000 bid at Lots Road Auctions
30 September 2019A Régence period giltwood table attracted interest from across the trade, taking £52,000 (estimate £5000- 8000) at Lots Road Auctions (22% buyer’s premium).
Carpet and chandeliers shine as elegant Shropshire hall boosts autumn auction
30 September 2019Boosted by the contents of a fine country home, the autumn sale at Cheffins (22.5% buyer’s premium) enjoyed moments of floor-to-ceiling success.
Call for antiques trade to help find stolen south London cattle troughs
25 September 2019A south London community is calling for the antiques trade to look out for a stolen cattle trough.
Contents of home of Suffragette and artist comes to auction in Ireland
24 September 2019Items that once belonged to Suffragette and artist Norah Lyle-Smyth (1874-1963) will be offered at an auction in the former See House or ‘Bishop’s Palace’ in Kilmore, County Cavan.
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