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.

img_10-4.jpg

Heal's garden seat was fashioned from Churchill’s yacht

14 August 2023

This Heal’s set of garden furniture added seasonal warmth to Great Western Auctions’ (24% buyer’s premium) Glasgow sale.

img_20-4.jpg

The web shop window: 'mystery' centre table at Lorfords

14 August 2023

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

img_43-1.jpg

Obituary: Drummond Shaw (1950-2023)

07 August 2023

Drummond Shaw, a former commodity broker in the City, became interested in salvage in the 1980s while restoring Flexford House, his 1840s family home on Surrey’s Hog’s Back, when he needed to buy the right type of kit.

Wellington chest

A Victorian Wellington chest is among five lots to watch

07 August 2023

With estimates from £300, here are five previews of items coming up for auction this week.

img_28-1.jpg

Braziliant Brecheret: a Modernist pioneer at auction

07 August 2023

Italian-born sculptor was a founding figure in the first wave of Modernism via São Paolo

img_29-1.jpg

Paris sale features plenty of post-war material by currently popular blue-chip names

07 August 2023

A recent Design sale at Sotheby’s (26/20/13.9/plus 1% overhead buyer’s premium) in Paris had stacks of post-war material by renowned names such as the Lalannes and Charlotte Perriand but the Art Deco period also featured.

img_25-3.jpg

The web shop window: woodwork from the original Liberty shop

07 August 2023

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Robert Kime's at home

Personal collection of dealer and decorator Robert Kime comes to Dreweatts auction

02 August 2023

Robert Kime, the collector, dealer and interior decorator who died last year, spent a lifetime building his own collection alongside his business.

img_33-4.jpg

The web shop window: 19th century French cocktail cabinet

24 July 2023

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

img_12-5.jpg

Buffa and Anzani rarity emerges

17 July 2023

Among the most popular lots in the Guinevere: 60 Years on the King’s Road sale was this rare Italian marquetery, vellum and bronze sideboard.

img_13-1.jpg

Lachenal carries on family design tradition

17 July 2023

London-based French antiques dealer Dorian Caffot de Fawes offers furniture, pictures and other objects from 1920-70.

img_13-4.jpg

Chermayeff console table was created for Waring & Gillows

17 July 2023

Jeroen Markies is a specialist in all things Art Deco, offering a range of furniture, sculpture, glass and lighting.

img_13-5.jpg

Harry and Lou Epstein in the mix at The Design Gallery

17 July 2023

The Epstein family produced some of Britain’s leading examples of Art Deco furniture.

Chinese clothing rack

Clothing stand racks up six figures at US auction

10 July 2023

Although the mid-week sales at US auction house Stair Galleries typically focus on affordable property, there are some exceptions.

img_16-1.jpg

Royal Worcester by renowned designer George Owen doubles up at auction

10 July 2023

Classic examples of distinctive porcelain take four-figure sums in Gloucestershire

img_16-5.jpg

Very desirable, very Moorish

10 July 2023

Furniture attributable to Gillows demonstrates demand for desirable pieces

img_13-2.jpg

Butterflies create a bit of a flutter in the saleroom

10 July 2023

The 40 trays of British butterflies in this handsome mahogany four-section cabinet by JJ Hill & Son of London were collected by Geoffrey Alfred Cole.

img_10-1.jpg

You shouldn’t lose your marbles – they could be worth thousands

03 July 2023

Vendor finds glass marbles are worth more than expected as they make surprise four-figure sums in Bury St Edmunds

img_28-1.jpg

Bidders get a second Getty chance thanks to Temple of Wings contents

03 July 2023

Three auctions follow on from the October series to offer items from the collectors’ Californian residence

Persian mirror

Pick of the week: Persian mirror emerges at Lincolnshire auction

26 June 2023

A 14th or 15th century Persian mirror that emerged at auction in Lincolnshire took a five-figure sum.

Categories

News