Furniture

About Antique Furniture

Antique and vintage furniture is the collecting area that's been least impacted by the online world. Because except at the high end, the market is still largely local due to shipping costs. That said, the market is huge and can be confusing - there are as many different types of furniture as there are tastes and styles and eras.

For a long time, collectors in the U.S. focused on traditional 19th Century furniture categories and styles, like Queen Anne, Chippendale; Federal Style, Colonial Revival, and the many styles that fall under the rubric of Victorian (Gothic Revival, Rococo Revival, Renaissance Revival, Eastlake). Much of this furniture has been heavily influenced by European (e.g. French) and British styles...

In recent decades, modern 20th century styles have gained prominence in the world of antique and vintage furniture, including Arts and Crafts (e.g. Mission Oak Style), Art Deco, and increasingly, Mid-Century Modern (e.g. Eames, Heywood Wakefield, Danish, etc.).

As with any collecting category, quality is key with antique and vintage furniture. Look for undamaged pieces which have been well cared for, with original finishes, hardware, and patina if possible. Try to understand the piece's history and provenance, and ascertain its maker and originality (mass-produced reproductions have been made of almost every style and piece).

Finally, as any furniture collector will tell you, buy only what you really like, because furniture styles go in and out, and values fluctuate up and down accordingly.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Victorian Furniture Collector John Werry

How did I get started collecting Victorian Furniture? Antiques is in my genes, my mother's family were longti… [more]

An Interview With American Furniture Collector Chuck LaChiusa

About 11 years ago, my wife and I went on some architectural tours. We joined the organization that sponsored… [more]

An Interview With Eames Collector and Mid Century Design Aficionado Steve Cabella

As a teenager, I collected everything from vintage bicycles to Coca-Cola to Victorian stuff. Once I realized… [more]

The Grace of Queen Anne Furniture

Whole books, and many of them, have been written about American furniture of various periods and special loca… [more]

The Sandersons and Salem Furniture

Part I: For at least thirty years students of American craftsmanship have realized that a large quantity o… [more]

Chester County Cabinetmakers

The scope covered by the work of Chester County, Pa., cabinetmakers was literally from the cradle to the coff… [more]

Birch, the Forgotten Wood of Cabinetmakers

Many qualities have gone into the making of the much discussed "American way" but one of the greatest seems t… [more]

George Washington and His Presidential Furniture

"Great rejoicing in New York on the arrival of General Washington. Previous to his coming, Uncle Walter's hou… [more]

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Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Buffalo Architecture and History

Buffalo Architecture and History

Chuck LaChiusa's wonderful guide to the architecture and history of Buffalo, NY, also happens to host an impressive… [read review or visit site]

Rare Victorian

Rare Victorian

John Werry's in-depth blog on rare Victorian Furniture, with detailed, informative and often humorous posts on doze… [read review or visit site]

Chipstone

Chipstone

This beautiful site showcases the collection of Stanley and Polly Stone of Fox Point, Wisconsin, consisting of earl… [read review or visit site]

EamesCollector.com

EamesCollector.com

Steven Cabella's personal homage to Charles and Ray Eames. This site is as clean and visually appealing as the Eame… [read review or visit site]

Kentucky Online Arts Resource

Kentucky Online Arts Resource

This huge online database from the Speed Art Museum is a rich trove of beautiful photos and reference information o… [read review or visit site]

Index of American Design

Index of American Design

The Index of American Design project (1935-1942) was an effort to catalog American decorative arts objects from the… [read review or visit site]

LACMA Arts and Crafts

LACMA Arts and Crafts

This microsite from the LA County Museum of Art provides a good overview of the Arts and Crafts movement in Europe … [read review or visit site]

Modernism

Modernism

An overview by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts of the design movements between 1880 and 1940 that comprised Moder… [read review or visit site]

Herman Miller Consortium Collection

Herman Miller Consortium Collection

This website showcases several hundred pieces of furniture, held by thirteen museums, that were designed for Herman… [read review or visit site]

Work of Charles and Ray Eames

Work of Charles and Ray Eames

This Library of Congress microsite is an overview of the postwar modern design work of Charles (1907-78) and Ray (1… [read review or visit site]

George Hunzinger Furniture

George Hunzinger Furniture

Scott Geyer's blog on the innovative Victorian furniture designs of George Jacob Hunzinger, who began manufacturing… [read review or visit site]


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Original 1930's Leather French Art Deco Club Chairs$4,550 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 11 watchers
Antique Quartersawn Oak Winged Griffin China Cabinet$4,350 Ends Tuesday 12 bids 25 watchers
Eames Rosewood Lounge Chair & Ottoman By Herman Miller$2,650 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 46 watchers
Antique Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk Turn Of The Century$2,550 Ends Monday 5 bids 29 watchers
Rj Horner Carved Quartersawn Oak Lion Head Desk$2,550 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 15 watchers
Authentic Florence Knoll Sofa *has Never Been Sat On*$2,325 Ends Sunday 15 bids 32 watchers
Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair Rosewood / Black$2,275 Ends Monday 9 bids 54 watchers
P Jeppesen Grete Jalk Lounge Chair Danish Modern Nice$2,020 Ends in 22 hours 7 bids 51 watchers
Danish Modern Teak Tambour Door Credenza Sideboard $1,520 Ends Monday 13 bids 12 watchers
Curved Glass China Or Curio Display Cabinet$1,300 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 5 watchers
Antique Oak Rj Horner Sideboard Rare Victorian Carved $1,250 Ends Sunday 1 bid 13 watchers
Large Antique Dutch Mahogany Sideboard Server Buffet$1,200 Ends Thursday 1 bid 2 watchers
Huge Antique Dining Draw Leaf Table~partner's Desk~old$1,195 Ends Sunday 1 bid 13 watchers
Very Rare Tiger Oak Shaving Stand$1,000.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 17 watchers
Danish Modern Mid Century Sofa Couch Daybed Eames Mint!$950.00 Ends Monday 5 bids 43 watchers
Vintage Saarinen Grasshopper Chair Ottoman, Eames Buy it Now$916.00 Ends in 6 hours 4 bids 45 watchers
Vintage Kittinger Mahogany Flip Top Game Table$900.00 Ends in 4 hours 3 bids 26 watchers
Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Credenza Sideboard Eames$900.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 36 watchers
Authentic Florence Knoll 3-seat Chromed Bench Eames Era$900.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 16 watchers
Antique French Xvi Mahogany Crystal Curio China Cabinet$899.99 Ends in 6 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Arne Jacobsen Swan Settee Mid Century Danish Eames Era$898.00 Ends Sunday 12 bids 64 watchers
B&b Italia "mart" Chair. Design Antonio Citterio. $800.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 39 watchers
Antique Steamer Trunk Vintage Domed Top Chest With Tray$725.00 Ends Saturday 2 bids 2 watchers
Mid Century Danish Modern Teak End Table Stand Eames $685.00 Ends Sunday 13 bids 38 watchers
Quality C1820 George Iii Flame Mahogany Writing Slope.$682.63 Ends Sunday 27 bids 48 watchers
Chinoiserie Oriental Green Gilt Bergere Armchair Chair$604.57 Ends Sunday 1 bid 2 watchers
Hinks / Messenger Victorian Antique Banquet Oil Lamp$601.16 Ends Saturday 9 bids 41 watchers
1830's Antique Carved Mahogany Empire Chest / Dresser$600.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 3 watchers
Antique Phyfe Solid Mahogany Shield Back Dining Chairs$599.99 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
Regency Design Walnut Elm Gilt Ebonised Console Table$571.35 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Knoll Eero Saarinen Womb Chair Blue Mid Century Modern $555.00 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 83 watchers
Antique Pair Of French Louis Xv Nightstands # 05230$515.00 Ends in 3 hours 3 bids 2 watchers
"a.h.andrews" Tickler Map/file Cabinet-1880- Fabulous!!$510.00 Ends Sunday 4 bids 26 watchers
Primitive Painted Cabinet Cupboard Folk Art And Crafts$508.00 Ends Sunday 19 bids 58 watchers
Herman Miller Charles Eames Shell Arm Chair Rocker Vgc$504.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 21 watchers
8 Fritz Hansen Series 7 Side Chairs By Arne Jacobsen Nr$500.00 Ends Sunday 7 bids 28 watchers
Mid Century Danish Modern Walnut Credenza Cabinet Eames$500.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 42 watchers
Mid-century Baughman Walnut/chrome End Tables Danish$500.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 8 watchers
6 Mid-century Danish Modern Teak & Fabric Dining Chairs$500.00 Ends Saturday 2 bids 5 watchers
Two Reproduction Victorian Chairs. $500.00 Ends in 4 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Mahogany Dining Table W/ 6 Matching Chairs $500.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 3 watchers
L&jg Stickley 3 Drawer Library Table$500.00 Ends Tuesday 16 bids 59 watchers
Baker Far East Chinoiserie Hollywood Regency Table-nr!$499.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 22 watchers
Antique Empire Dresser Bureau Flame Mahogany Chest$499.99 Ends in 9 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
Antique French Louis Xv Xvi Down Slipper Boudoir Chairs$499.99 Ends in 7 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
One Paul Mccobb 6 (six) Drawer Dresser Planners Group $499.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 21 watchers
Superb Large Victorian Cranberry Duplex Oil Lamp Shade$489.05 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 16 watchers
Vintage George Nelson Herman Miller Chest Of Drawers$475.00 Ends in 6 hours 1 bid 22 watchers
Mid Century Teak Danish Modern Eames Era Lounge Set$455.00 Ends Saturday 4 bids 28 watchers
Mid Century Modern Club Lounge Chair Wormley Dunbar Era$440.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 11 watchers
Two Grete Jalk Danish Mid-century Modern Teak Tables$425.00 Ends in 3 hours 1 bid 10 watchers
Antique Mahogany Ladys Vanity Dressing Table W/ Mirror$404.99 Ends Sunday 2 bids 3 watchers
Vintage Mid-century 40's Dcw Herman Miller Eames Chair$400.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids 65 watchers
2 Matching Antique Twin Spool Beds Striped Tiger Oak Nr$400.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 9 watchers
Tudor Style Bedroom Suite$400.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 1 watcher

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Recent News: Furniture

Source: Google News

Collecting the trappings of royalty
Thanh Nien Daily, November 7th

There are many people who collect ancient pottery or antique furniture, but few like Phuc Nguyen restrict themselves to the prized belongings of Vietnam's...Read more

1173 3 Ave. W., Dickinson ND 58601
AG Week, November 6th

Many more Indian artifacts and antique furniture too numerous to mention. Auctioneer's Note: Mark your calendars for this extravagant aucion,...Read more

Comings and Goings: Leonards Moving on Post Road East
Westport Now, November 6th

Leonards Antique Furniture store, 1026 Post Road East, will move across the street to 1045 Post Road East before year's end. The new location was previously...Read more

Tim's Music builds tempo
Sacramento Business Journal, November 6th

Another Sacramento retailer that has seen its business pick up during the past year — actually the past two years — is River City Furniture Auction...Read more

Braden's auction disappoints seller
Knoxville News Sentinel, November 6th

By Josh Flory KNOXVILLE -- The auction of a former furniture store on Western Avenue drew plenty of interest on Friday, but the winning bid fell short of...Read more

'Project Runway' episode 12: Irina, Carol Hannah and Althea are "in"
Newsday, November 5th

The challenge is to draw fashion inspiration from the J. Paul Getty Center -- the fabulous art, the antique furniture, the architecture and grounds...Read more

A growing PayPal could soon overshadow parent eBay
The Associated Press, November 4th

SAN FRANCISCO — Most people know eBay Inc. for its online marketplace, where deals abound on everything from gadgets to antique furniture...Read more

Yellowstone Club Furniture Auction To Be Held
Luxist (blog), October 28th

CrossHarbor decided to liquidate the furniture collection. A total of 13 tractor-trailer loads of furniture are being shipped to Atlanta for the sale...Read more

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