Antique American Chairs Styles
The style began in france and england but eventually migrated to america where it evolved into two other furniture styles naturalistic and renaissance revival.
Antique american chairs styles. Technically an antique is a piece of furniture with special value because of its age particularly those pieces embellished with fine artistry. Listed below are some popular types of antique chairs that originated in europe and the united states during the past 300 years. American empire style furniture which overlaps with the federal furniture style takes inspiration from the neoclassical and the french empire style that was popular during the reign of napoleon. American woodworking styles have been through a number of periods and each was heavily influenced by the available materials of the region as well as the pieces being built by english and french craftsmen.
Just remember if you like it the style is right. A good number of those listed and defined below are ancestors of chair styles still being made today. Before you start looking for stylish antique chairs for sale on ebay learn a little about them. Antique chairs made between 1900 and 1950 may be perfect for your home or office.
Antique chair styles reflect the sensibilities of the periods in which they were manufactured. English style 1640 1700 medieval in appearance with straight lines rigid designs sturdy construction ornate carvings and a dark finish. Modelled after european furniture styles 1640 1700 particularly from england france the netherlands scandinavia and spain. Furniture styles from 1900 to 1950.
Significant furniture design periods. There are 12 predominant periods of american furniture styles although many have sub genres which may have been popular but short lived. Claw and ball feet are often found at the end of a cabriole leg on chippendale chairs while tapered federal legs and feet are found on queen anne style chairs. This sub category of the victorian era is probably the most feminine influenced style.
Rudimentary utilitarian furniture made from local woods. A good place to start when identifying furniture is often to figure out what period it s from. Elizabethan 1520 1620 early american style 1640 1700. Make offer antique american federal mahogany dining chairs circa 1790 swc pair of walnut queen anne side chairs with shell philadelphia c 1740 60 24 000 00.
On american antique chairs the ball and claw foot often consisted of an eagle s claw holding the ball. Other chair feet include the drake or trifid foot a three toed flared foot. When identifying antique chairs it s important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs.