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.

So Last Century   Past vintage fair at Beckenham Mansion.  Past .jpg

Vintage fair So Last Century returns with Bank Holiday weekend event

27 August 2020

So Last Century, the vintage event focused on homeware, furniture, lighting and posters, is to hold its first fair after lockdown on August 31 in Beckenham.

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Bottle vase supplies a £55,000 Chinese surprise

24 August 2020

Solid selling punctuated by a number of estimate-eclipsing bids made the July 17-18 sale a very welcome return to business for Tennants (20% buyer’s premium).

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Politician proves influential in the antiques world

24 August 2020

Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond (1944-2014) – the founder of the Norbrook pharmaceutical group in Northern Ireland – proved just as influential in the world of politics as he was in business.

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The Mouseman in his prime

24 August 2020

Classic Robert Thompson products from family collections underline current keen demand.

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Carving much mightier than a mouse

24 August 2020

The Robert Thompson firm produced shire horses, such as this example offered by Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne on July 23, from the 1960s-90s.

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Craftsman who fought ‘tyranny of the machine’

17 August 2020

Sworders’ September 8 sale of Arts & Crafts & Art Deco includes an unprecedented number of pieces by Stanley Webb Davies (1894-1978).

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Oak furniture rubs shoulders with Old Masters in Massachusetts single-owner selection

17 August 2020

George Way (1950-2019) developed an early fascination with oak furniture. He was especially interested in seat furniture and at the age of 16 he began a half-century quest to build up the largest privately owned collection of 17th century chairs in America, assembling over 100 Dutch and English examples.

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Chairs make it count in furniture array

10 August 2020

Eighteenth century seat furniture took the top honours in Artcurial’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) two-day sale of furniture and works of art in Paris.

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Glamour and high society mix in a Scottish country house sale

28 July 2020

Ingredients for a tantalising sale don’t come much better than high society, glamour, famous names and an illustrious family combined with a varied, single-owner country house collection.

Lalanne hippopotamus bathroom suite

Early summer sales in Paris awash with modern design highlights

23 July 2020

Among the high-season sales traditionally staged in Paris in the early summer is a selection of auctions devoted to modern design.

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Casket at Sevenoaks auction reflects rags to riches story

20 July 2020

This late Victorian silver-gilt and enamel ‘freedom casket’ sold at Ibbett Mosely (15% buyer’s premium) of Sevenoaks carries the name of John Aynsley II (1823-1907) and was awarded following his tenure as mayor of Longton from 1886-90.

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Fashionable furniture among highlights of virtual edition of Masterpiece

13 July 2020

A George IV rosewood table with an Italian specimen marble top, c.1820, was among the highlight sales at Masterpiece’s recent virtual edition, selling with an asking price of £75,000 to a private collector.

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Works of art with aristocratic connections feature at Christie’s new The Collector sale

11 July 2020

Christie’s has launched a new cross category auction as part of its Classic Week sales featuring many items with aristocratic connections.

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Putting Berlin on the Islamic globe

29 June 2020

The sky was (almost) the limit at the recent sale at Bassenge (28% buyer’s premium) in Berlin when an Islamic celestial globe came up for sale.

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Collector interview: Longcase launched my interest

22 June 2020

Devon artist’s first buy is still his most precious – but joined by tables, militaria and much more

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A colossal coat of arms offered at the Masterpiece online fair

15 June 2020

This 18th century monumental royal coat of arms by John Steell is offered by Wick Antiques in its second edition of 'Britain and the High Seas' at 'Masterpiece', held online this year.

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Purchases fit for royalty at Kensington Church Street's summer showcase

08 June 2020

After months of lockdown, one’s home may no longer be feeling like one’s castle. However, that situation is easily remedied thanks to the Kensington Church Street Art & Antiques Dealers Association’s Virtual Summer Showcase, which takes ‘fit for royalty’ as its theme.

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Freeform table flies past estimate to take €75,000

08 June 2020

A freeform table from the 1950s was the surprise winner at the design sale of Schops Turowski (23% buyer’s premium) in Krefeld on May 9.

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Personal items that belonged to Marie-Antoinette lead auction at Versailles

01 June 2020

Personal items that belonged to Marie-Antoinette were the highlights of Osenat’s (20.83/18% buyer’s premium) themed sale titled Royalty at Versailles.

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The Welsh stick chair: Turning the pages on a vernacular classic

01 June 2020

Welsh furniture and folk art dealers Tim and Betsan Bowen have released 'The Welsh Stick Chair – A Visual Record' as a resource for collectors and designers.

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