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.

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Seeking to ride the interiors wave at the Battersea Fair

13 September 2021

Decorative Fair returns to Battersea after long absence as demand soars for home furnishings

Armchair

Dealer duo offer works at Sotheby's as they downsize

06 September 2021

“The initial appeal of an object is always visual, and that is where the journey begins; research follows, and one is taken across the culture and geographical area which are both influencing forces on any work of art.”

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USA: the land of opportunity for traditional European art and antiques

06 September 2021

As the Silent Generation passes and Baby Boomers choose to divest, large deposits of once fashionable art and antiques are heading for auction in the US.

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Meet the Henley upcycling specialist with an eight-week waiting list

06 September 2021

Henley-on-Thames interior designer Sharon Ingoldby, aka The Restoration Queen, is working flat out on upcycling projects.

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Suffolk saleroom Bishop & Miller targets the oak market

30 August 2021

Suffolk auction house Bishop & Miller is launching a series of designated oak furniture and works of art sales with the input of former Bonhams specialist David Houlston.

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Monart glass makes a mark on home turf

30 August 2021

Collection of distinctive pre-war glass produced in Perth impresses at local saleroom

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Cambridgeshire dealer spots clock and table sleepers at auctions

30 August 2021

A rare early 18th century folding table and a William III clock were spotted at recent auctions by a Cambridgeshire dealer.

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Two pieces of furniture at Sussex auction with very different features... and prices

30 August 2021

The second day of Bellmans’ (22% buyer’s premium) sale on August 3-5 included a Chinese hardwood table that catapulted way above its £1000-1500 estimate.

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Auction reveals personal side of Al Capone

30 August 2021

Nearly 200 items of Al Capone memorabilia are coming to the market for the first time after being consigned to a California auction by his granddaughters.

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5 Questions: Warwickshire dealer Oli Barling

23 August 2021

Oli Barling began as a collector and is now a dealer from his base in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and trades as Boula. He focuses on 18th to 20th century decorative antiques, rustic furnishings, curios and folk art from the UK and across Europe.

Pleyel grand piano

Piano restorer David Winston’s ‘unique’ collection comes to auction at Dreweatts

18 August 2021

Newbury saleroom Dreweatts is to offer an impressive private collection of rare pianos in the autumn.

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Bids tabled for £60,000 Prague pietra dura casket

16 August 2021

Eight phone bidders competed for this splendid ebony and pietra dura table casket offered at a recent auction at Claydon Auctioneers in Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire.

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Art Deco delights at Tunbridge Wells' Corn Exchange

16 August 2021

After just three weeks of trading in July at their newly opened showroom in the Grade II-listed Corn Exchange in Tunbridge Wells, dealers Chrissie and John Masters of the Design Gallery have made brisk sales to new customers for their Art Deco pieces.

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Antique furniture: Quality counts if condition is poor

09 August 2021

The dictum that class is permanent was borne out in a Newbury saleroom by prices for damaged pieces

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The web shop window: William and Mary escritoire

09 August 2021

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Richard Whittle of Whittle Antik

5 Questions: Oxfordshire dealer Richard Whittle

09 August 2021

Richard Whittle founded Whittle Antik in Oxfordshire earlier this year and offers a range of objects from 18th century oak to naïve folk art, Mid-century furniture, taxidermy and Contemporary art.

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Carpet weaves Genovese families link

09 August 2021

An unusual feature of a large fragment of an Ushak carpet which was sold by Rippon Boswell (24% buyer’s premium) in Wiesbaden on May 29 was the alliance coat of arms of two powerful Genovese aristocratic families, the Doria and the Centurione, in the top corner.

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French candelabra shine out at summer auction in Yorkshire

26 July 2021

Leading the Summer Fine Sale at Tennants in Leyburn was this pair of French ormolu-mounted, white marble and porphyry candelabra.

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Cotswolds fair returns to school venue after a long enforced break

26 July 2021

After more than 18 months, 'The Cotswolds Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair' is ready to open its doors again.

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Al Thani's 18th century day bed rises way above estimate at Sotheby's sale

26 July 2021

Ornate piece of c.1780 furniture from sheikh’s collection heads a sell-out auction

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