Antiquity Of English Furniture

What makes antique furniture so valuable? We all have heard the phrase that old is gold. The first obvious fact in deciding the antiquity of anything is its age. The longer an item of furniture has been in existence, more is its value. For example furniture that belongs to the 17th or 18th century is considered antique in the current period. Yet, just because something is very old, it does not mean that it is precious. The value also lies in the condition it is in. If old furniture is still in good condition with a good appearance, then it has a use value and an exchange value. English antique furniture belongs to different eras named after the monarchs of the country during each period. William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Elizabethan and Victorian are some of the popular eras, antique furniture come from.

The Queen Anne style furniture that developed during the reign of Queen Anne of England is often called late Baroque. The cabriole legs of furniture that belong to this period were influenced by the French Rococo style and by designs of the French cabinet maker Andre-Charles Boulle. These were simple yet elegant furniture, which were smaller, lighter and curvier than their predecessors. The pad feet replaced intricate ornamentation. Vasiform splats horseshoe shape, carved shell and scrolled motifs were featured on the furniture. The designs were extended from the William and Mary period. English antique mirrors found in this period are simple yet elegant, which sometimes feature scrolling on the glass.

The golden age of furniture comes into existence during the Georgian period. Mahogany became a popular wood in the manufacture of furniture, replacing walnut. Most of the furniture were grand and made for the rich and were detailed heavily. They were more ornate and heavier versions of the Queen Anne period. They had intricate carvings and used the cabriole leg. English antique mirrors found in this period represented detailed carvings and different shapes. The famous Chippendale furniture by Thomas Chippendale belongs to the Georgian era and he was influenced by French, Chinese and Gothic styles. Chippendale furniture featured the ball and claw foot and broken pediment scroll tops. Victorian period saw mass production of furniture and the designs included heavy gothic styles with dark finish, elaborate carvings and ornamentation. Whichever the era that antique furniture belongs to, they all carry elements of rare value which can never be reproduced in the current times.