Clothing
+ Fashion
Jewelry +
Watches
Home +
Furniture
 Pottery 
+ Glass
Art +
 Photos 
Paper +
  Books  
Music +
Movies
Toys +
Games
Sports +
Outdoors
Ads +
  Signs  
Eras +
Themes

Victorian antique furniture refers to pieces made during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), and includes both mass produced pieces and those hand crafted in small shops by designers such as Herter Brothers, Allen and Brother, Merklen Brothers, John Henry Belter, Alexander Roux and R.J. Horner.

Although some designers like George Hunzinger put labels or stamps on all their furniture,...

There are many, and very different, Victorian furniture styles. In fact, famous Victorian designer Charles Eastlake himself hated Rococo, which is mid 1850s Victorian. Here are some of the main Victorian styles:

1) Gothic Revival (circa 1830-1860). Think churches and you have a good feel for this furniture style - design elements such as arches, quatrefoils, trefoils, spires, and crockets.

2) Rococo Revival (c. 1840-1865). High-style furniture of French influence marked by use of naturalistic flora (flowers, shells) and fruit as well as C-scrolls and S-scrolls, and highly sinewy curved lines.. Early pieces may have used mahogany, but common Rococo often used Walnut, while the top-end leveraged Rosewood.

3) Renaissance Revival (c. 1860-1890). Reverses the feminine elegance of Rococo around the time of the Civil War by espousing masculine arches, cartouches, animal and human figures, inlaid panels, burl panels, gilt incising, and ormulu mounts. Subgenres include Egyptian Revival, Modern Gothic, and Neo-Grec.

4) Eastlake and Aesthetic Movement (c. 1880-1900). Moving away from the showy complicated designs of prior eras, this furniture has stylized natural elements (flowers, leaves), rectangular forms and severe lines, shallow incisings and turnings. On finer pieces, marquetry, inlay and veneering can also be found.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all Victorian furniture Show & Tells

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 longtime antiquers and live… [more]

Victorian Furniture

"Why do writers on antique furniture leave off right where my interest begins," protests a man who has acquired an attractively si… [more]

American Cast-Iron Furniture

In the broadside political caricatures which were produced and circulated quite freely in America from the beginning of the Jackso… [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 the tours, and I vol… [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 some of this stuff co… [more]

▼ Expand this section

Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

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]

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]

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]

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]

The Scrap Album

The Scrap Album

Attention paper collectors: don't miss Malcolm Warrington's exquisitely designed tribute to Victorian scraps (stamp… [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]

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Malcolm Roebuck's tribute to the ornate silk picture bookmarks and postcards ('Stevengraphs') produced by Thomas St… [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]



Other Great Reference Sites: Furniture

Top eBay Auctions

See all 36 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Best Quality, Solid Walnut American Victorian Dining Room TableAntique Victorian CabinetAmerican Victorian Walnut Round Dining Table W/4 Boards Circa 1870 In NhAntique Victorian Eastlake Carved 6 Drawer Chest.walnut,needs RestoredAntique 19c Victorian Eastlake Style Rolltop Cylinder Bookcase "no Reserve"Mahogany Antique Footstool Victorian Rare Stool 19e Stick & Ball Oak Victorian Plant Stand Holder Fretwork Bust Display Pedestal Cast Iron Portrait! Victorian Tiger Oak Stairway Newel Post Column Refinished!!Antique Victorian Pine Blanket Box Norfolk Trunk ~ Chest Coffee Table Dated 1847Nice Old Antique Victorian Piano Stool Wood & Claw Feet Bottom Portion FurnitureVintage Victorian Neeldpoint Embroidery Wool Ottoman Stool Hunters Boar DogsBig Powder Blue! Walnut Victorian Shabby Furniture Pediment Chic Window Valance!Antique Victorian Wooden Lap Desk Box W/ Secret Drawer / Key Included 8 Large Walnut Victorian Drawer PullsBeautiful Miniature Antique Victorian Cabinet/bookcase, Astral Glazing, C18801800s Tiger Oak Gothic Panels Victorian Church Wainscot Library Carved Pediment3-nice Victorian Walnut CarvingsNo Reserve Antique Victorian Childs Doll Salesman Sample Fainting Couch RecamierVintage Wicker Victorian Style Arm Chair Stick & Ball DesignAntique Walnut Child’s Rocking Chair Victorian Bentwood Seat & Back Fine 1800s-rare- 1800's -masonic Knights Templar- Victorian Leather Uniform Trunk/chestOak Victorian Claw FeetVictorian Pine Blanket Box / Chest / Coffee Table.circa 1870 & Just 99p Start !Rising Sun! Pinwheels! Tiger Oak Carved Victorian Trim Ornate Furniture Pediment#1 Spoon Carved 1890 Eastlake Panels Tiger Oak Walnut Victorian Gothic Pediments#2 Eastlake Spoon Carved Architectural Panels Tiger Oak Walnut Victorian PartsOak Victorian Claw Feet3 Lot Antique 1800s Victorian Cast Iron Hooks Wall Mirror Hall Tree Coat / Hat!Antique Walnut Shelf Carved Wooden Deer Head Antlers Black Forest Buck VictorianAntique Victorian Style Pair Carved Wood Cabinet Bureau Draw Pulls Handles Rare Victorian Walnut Towel Rack Pat. 1875 Folding LegsOriginal Vintage Cast Brass Victorian Drawer Pulls Or Handles Matching Set Of 5Original Vintage Cast Brass Victorian Drawer Pulls Or Handles Matching Set Of 5Victorian Rosewood And Floral Beadwork Foot Stool, Circa 1860Attractive Little Antique Victorian Inlaid Wine TableMagnificent Antique Victorian Rocker *estate Find" Excellent Condition
»» Get our weekly Victorian Furniture email



Right now on eBay



Recent News: Victorian Furniture

Source: Google News

ICFF - Always full of Surprises
Home Textiles Today (blog), May 22nd

The lampooning was done with Victorian furniture frames lacquered white and covered in neo colored upholstery as well as white silhouettes of a grandfather clocks recessed into a shocking pink case. The name of the collection, Inside Out, says it all...Read more

Queen Elizabeth II: How Her Majesty lost her heart slow dancing to a show tune ...
Daily Mail, May 21st

Lilibet's grandmother also gave me some useful things — Victorian furniture and some flower prints. When Queen Mary gave a present, she did it thoroughly. First the pictures were delivered; next came a man to hang them; and finally the old Queen...Read more

How the queen lost her heart slow dancing to a show tune from Oklahoma!
Daily Mail, May 21st

Lilibet's grandmother also gave me some useful things — Victorian furniture and some flower prints. When Queen Mary gave a present, she did it thoroughly. First the pictures were delivered; next came a man to hang them; and finally the old Queen...Read more

Schultz Auctioneers 1
Antiques and Arts Weekly, May 18th

Cabinet, Chippendale Mirrors, Victorian furniture, early Grandfathers clock, many pieces of Kittinger furniture including Executive desk, plus much more. SILVER & JEWELRY: misc. Antique jewelry, 2-18k gold pocket watches, gold medals, many pieces of...Read more

Photo Flash: Bill Connington, Gayton Scott et al. in THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Broadway World, May 18th

The actors and audience sat on period Victorian furniture. The spectators surrounded the performers on three sides, and were invited into the world of the play in an intimate way. There was an audience talk-back after the performance, and one audience...Read more

Joe Rosson: Value of chair drops with popularity of Victorian oak pieces
Knoxville News Sentinel, May 16th

I did not recognize immediately that the "Robert Mitchell Furniture Company" was the later manifestation of the renowned Mitchell and Rammelsburg firm that is widely known for its fine Victorian furniture. Robert Mitchell was an Irish immigrant who...Read more

Set sail on the Disney Fantasy -- without kids
msnbc.com, May 4th

Ooh La La on the Disney Fantasy is inspired by an elegant French boudoir adorned with velvet-tufted walls, Victorian furniture and Louis XIV-style chaise lounges. For adult guests only, the lounge is part of Europa, a nighttime entertainment district...Read more

Q & A | Bryan Batt, New Orleans
Kansas City Star, May 2nd

You can do the same thing with Victorian furniture, painting it a bright color and using an interesting mod fabric so it works for today. Q. What design advice do you give people? A. There's a bunch. People are so afraid of a blank room...Read more