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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Light Ponti armchairs carry weighty auction value

29 April 2024

Among the starring lots at the Wright (26% buyer’s premium) Design sale on March 28 was a pair of Gio Ponti lacquered wood, upholstery and brass Triennale armchairs, dating to 1951.

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Seat coverings come with Scottish family connection

29 April 2024

Pictured here are two lots of seat furniture that impressed bidders in recent auctions in Gloucestershire and Cheshire.

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Davenport displays Irish touch

29 April 2024

Irish marquetry furniture is a very distinctive form of decorative technique associated in particular with Killarney.

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Ornate mirror has the Thomas Johnson look about it

29 April 2024

The furniture highlight of Cheffins’ (25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) latest Fine sale in Cambridge was the catalogue cover star.

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Furniture loaned to National Trust properties goes under the hammer

29 April 2024

Many items from a group on offer in west London had been displayed at National Trust sites

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Obituary: furniture restorer Michael Barrington

29 April 2024

Michael Barrington was the driving force behind the British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association (BAFRA) since he was elected its chairman in 1994 and then chief executive officer until 2014.

Sideboard designed by Francis Bacon

Short-lived Francis Bacon furniture finds modern-day fans

22 April 2024

One of the lesser-known episodes in the long and eventful life of Francis Bacon lasted little more than five years and was later dismissed by the artist as unimportant.

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Top stories this week including a sought-after mahogany table taking 13-times estimate in Dorset

21 April 2024

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of an Edwardian Japanesque Aesthetic table soaring over predictions at Duke’s.

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A breakfront cabinet by George Bullock is among seven lots to watch

15 April 2024

With estimates from £200, here are seven previews of items coming up at auction this week.

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Botanical group features in Battle auction action

15 April 2024

Twenty-six lots in the Science, Natural History and Curiosities sale at Burstow & Hewett (20% buyer’s premium) in Battle were previously owned by local botanist and entomologist George West.

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Five questions with Bob Aibel of Moderne

15 April 2024

Bob Aibel is founder of Moderne, one of the exhibitors at the Philadelphia Show

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Steaming ahead but in safety thanks to lanterns

15 April 2024

Although easily mistaken for railway or ship lamps, this pair of brass and iron lanterns were made for a road locomotive: the steam-driven traction engines that were some of the first powered vehicles to travel on Britain’s highways.

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Intelligence officer's Korean screen goes over 100 times above estimate in New Orleans

08 April 2024

This Korean 10-panel folding screen made in the late 19th century in the final years of the Joseon period (1392- 1910) was offered on the second day of the recent Unreserved Sale at the Neal Auction Company (25/15% buyer’s premium).

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Chair made for the Vanderbilts brings bidding battle at Bonhams Skinner

08 April 2024

This Herter Bros inlaid rosewood and upholstered slipper chair was part of a suite made for the Vanderbilt family c.1881-82.

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Godwin connection lifts table to 13 times top estimate

08 April 2024

The distinctive Anglo-Japanese tables designed by the architect GW Godwin in the later part of the 19th century are known as Smallhythe tables, after the example found in Smallhythe Place in Kent which was the home of the actress Ellen Terry.

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Bidders detect Grendey quality in pair of chairs

08 April 2024

Giles Grendey (1696-1780) was a well known English cabinetmaker with a workshop in Clerkenwell, a member of the Joiners company rising to Master.

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Sandford Orcas Manor: ‘A lovely sale to preside over’

08 April 2024

Country house contents, global interest and a packed room of bidders - what more could an auctioneer wish for?

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Two Jacques who combined organic materials with metal modernity

08 April 2024

Mid-century works by the French Modernist architects and interior designers Jacques Adnet (1900-84) and Jacques Quinet (1918-92) were in strong demand at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (31/25% buyer’s premium).

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Five questions: Mike Sparks of The Light House

08 April 2024

Mike Sparks of The Light House sells and restores period and antique lighting

Giltwood tables

Scottish country house giltwood side tables spark international bidding battle

02 April 2024

A pair of 18th century giltwood side tables from a Scottish country house made £220,000 at Lyon & Turnbull.

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