Get Some Education About Period Furniture Over Here!

About antique furniture,reproduction furniture,period furniture styles

“Do you think that with my present income, I shall ever be able to afford period furniture? So why should I bother to know anything about it?”

Good question! But if you should learn to differentiate between various styles and craftsmanship, will it not help you even during your small shopping sprees? You will have enough knowledge at your fingertips to aid you in picking out the genuine and the fake; the good and the bad.

Now, “period” refers to an amount of time, and “antique” refers to something that is really old. So when we talk about period antique furniture here, we are referring to something that belonged to times past. This could be starting from the mid to late 1600s right up to the first part of the 19th century.

And why do we value these furniture pieces so highly? Well, you could conduct a global search, but it is doubtful whether you would come across such accomplished artisans as existed in those times! Period furniture was hand-crafted in the finest cabinet shops with loving care and patience. Some makers even affixed their signatures on their creations! According to Lyn Sack Wall (an expert on antique furniture), a masterpiece is that which possesses “a beauty and quality that transcends the bounds of the era or even the field of art it represents.”

One such family which specialized in this art was the Goddard Townsend family, based in Newport (Rhode Island). Their signed creations still inspire awe in the onlookers. Ask the high-end Sotheby auction house which deals only with expensive ware, and you will know the truth! For instance, a mahogany secretary bookcase designed by Christopher Townsend as far back as 1740 fetched $8.25 million!

Of course, the prices at any auction cannot be relied upon, considering that they change within a matter of minutes! Hence, the purchasers of period furniture generally place their bids via phone, relying heavily on anonymity. Their purses do the speaking for them!

 

While the Colonial Period (1620 to 1780) was renowned for Queen Anne, Chippendale and Jacobean style furniture, the Federal Period (1780 to 1820) dealt with Classical, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. Cabinetmakers imitate these designs even today.

American craftsmanship of yesteryears can be seen in different museums across the country such as—De DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum (Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Museum of Fine Art (Houston, Texas), Detroit Institute of Art (Michigan), and so on. A surprising fact is that period furniture was popular among the upper middle class in those times; the wealthier members preferred to import their furnishings from Europe!

Your cognition will only get enhanced when you take a look at the actual pieces. Someday, you just might inherit or purchase a bit of antique furniture, who knows? You will be grateful for your knowledge at that time!

Latest New Additions and Updates

Antique Furniture Antique and Vintage Furniture e-commerce website, selling furnishings & collectibles. Category:   Antique Angel Collectibles > Delaware Antique Sellers > Connecticut Antiques Wholesale Dealers > Connecticut

Random Links

Andrew's Coin & Jewelry 885 Southeast 6th Avenue Delray Beach, FL United States 33483 Phone: (561)278-7778 Fax: (561)278-7093 Category:   Coin & Stamp Dealers > Florida F E N Enterprise 1324 Route 376 Wappingers Falls, NY United States 12590 Phone: (845)462-5959 Fax: Category:   Classic Antique Car Dealers > New York Southern Charm 111 An County Road 1405 Palestine, TX United States 75801 Phone: (903)727-8671 Fax: Category:   Vintage Clothing Shops > Texas