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Antiques - Antique Furniture
Here in Want Ad Digest's Antiques subcategory of Antiques and Collectibles, we are going to concentrate on used antique furniture for sale you may come across in our classified ads. The other main subcategories of our Antiques and Collectibles category Books/Magazines, China/Glass/Silver, and Collectibles, which include nostalgic items for hobbies, such as baseball card collecting.
Antique furniture can be divided into six different eras from the late 17th century to the mid 19th century. We'll touch upon each time frame of antique furniture that you are likely to find here in our Antiques classifieds; if you don't find what you're looking for right away, do check back, because we have new items listed all the time.
It should be mentioned that, much like with classical and antique cars, antique furniture time periods are defined differently by various people. Furthermore, they overlap one another. However, we shall provide for you here a basic guide to American classical furniture for sale spanning from 1690 to 1845.
First, we have William and Mary style antique furniture which derives from the period of 1690 to 1725. William and Mary refer to William III and Mary II who reigned over England, Ireland, and Scotland from 1689 until their deaths. With William being Dutch, and Mary being English, both country's styles can be seen in William and Mary style furniture for sale.
William and Mary furniture is distinguished by its "feet" at the bottom of table legs, chair legs, etc. These "feet" may be in the form of a hoof or a claw as well as a foot. Many people think of claw foot bathtubs when they think of footed furniture. Wood and maple are the primary woods used in William and Mary furniture.
Queen Anne style furniture is next in line, which covers the time frame of 1725 to 1750. Queen Anne furniture is known for being the first to incorporate the cabriole, which is a curved furniture leg with the knee curving outward, and the ankle curving inward. The "feet" on Queen Anne furniture differs from William and Mary in that they are more padded and less ball-like. Walnut is the primary wood used to construct Queen Anne style furniture for sale. Shell carvings are a popular decorative item with this type of antique furniture.
Perhaps the most well known of antique furniture, next up we have Chippendale furniture for sale, from the 1750 to 1780 time period. Named after Thomas Chippendale, a cabinetmaker, Chippendale furniture for sale is known for its elaborate carvings. The number one wood used for this type of antique furniture for sale is mahogany. Gothic undertones are often exuded in Chippendale style furniture.
Federal style furniture is next, deriving from 1790 to 1815. The name "Federal" refers to the end of the American Revolution in 1783, recognizing the independence of the country. Darker woods were popular during this time, such as cherry and walnut. Although there are English influences, Federal style furniture for sale is known to be very "American" with its smooth straight lines and tapered legs. Also, Federal style furniture is known for utilizing different veneers on the same piece.
Classical style antique furniture comes next along the time line, primarily between the years of 1815 and 1825. The word "classical" connotes Greek, Roman, and Egyptian styles, whether we are talking about furniture or art. Hence, classical style furniture for sale often includes ancient designs or carvings. Using these ancient styles was known as "reviving" classical designs, and so often this period is called the "classical revival."
Empire style furniture for sale, from 1825 to 1845, primarily derives from France. Rope-twist carvings were popular during this era, as were motifs in the pieces, such as with stars or astrology. Darker woods like rosewood were used to make Empire style furniture.
Antique furniture is an excellent investment for anyone. It goes great with nearly any décor, it can become a beloved item to pass down generations in the family, and most importantly, antique furniture is sturdy and reliable; in fact, many maintain that older furniture is even more reliable and durable than today's modern pieces.
Below, check out further resources on antique furniture for sale:
How to Identify Antique Wooden Furniture
Antique Furniture Glossary of Terms
