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.

An 18th century carved oak chair

Plea for help to trace stolen 18th century oak chair from parish church

19 June 2025

An 18th century carved oak chair has been stolen from a Buckinghamshire church.

Bullock desk

Two Bullock desks sell at auction on same day

16 June 2025

Serendipity had it that two Regency pollard oak and ebony inlaid desks attributed to George Bullock (c.1762-1818) came for sale within a matter of hours on June 12.

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‘We meet great people and we have a great team around us’

16 June 2025

The latest family generation to run Galerie Steinitz talks to ATG about the business and a landmark auction

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Oscar Wilde's bed and desk are among five sales to watch

16 June 2025

With estimates from £800, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Ruhlmann chandelier caught the attention at a French fishing club

16 June 2025

A chandelier that Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann (1879-1933) made for a French fishing club hammered for $90,000 (£67,240) at Wright (27% buyer’s premium) in Chicago.

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May Morris embroidery auctioned in Chicago covers the wishes of a diehard Anglophile

16 June 2025

When a c.1890 May Morris for Morris & Co embroidery came up for sale at Toomey & Co (27% buyer’s premium), the timing was less than perfect for the midwestern lady who was destined to become its new owner.

Château de Versailles.

Prison terms and fines handed down in Versailles fake furniture scandal

11 June 2025

Two furniture experts have been fined and sentenced following a long-running French fake furniture scandal.

George Bullock desk

You wait ages for a George Bullock desk to come along, and then…

11 June 2025

Serendipity has it that two Regency pollard oak and ebony inlaid desks attributed to George Bullock (c.1762-1818) come for sale on the same day this week.

Dressing table

Eagle-eyed bidders spot an Art Deco delight at Italian auction

09 June 2025

A hitherto unrecorded Art Deco masterwork by Armand-Albert Rateau (1882-1938) caught the eye at an Italian sale.

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Petworth art and antiques fair's feel good factor

09 June 2025

Traders give positive feedback for an event that consistently gets the summer season off to a good start

Room for a collector

Art and antiques dealers from Treasure House Fair are part of latest WOW!house installation

05 June 2025

Ten art and antiques dealers have loaned art and objects to this year’s WOW!house in Chelsea.

Architectural tea caddy

Rediscovered tea caddy in form of a Georgian house sells at Sheffield auction

04 June 2025

The fashion for tea caddies and other boxes in the form of houses or other decorative buildings emerged in the last quarter of the 18th century and continued into the 19th century.

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Research revealed how Louis XIV mirror reflected the Armand look

02 June 2025

A finely crafted Louis XIV period mirror frame attributed to the skilled royal cabinetmaker Jean Armand was one of the star performers in the Classics sale held in Paris by Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium).

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Touch of Finland taken to Manhattan comes to auction

02 June 2025

In 1948, Finnish designer Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) undertook one of the most ambitious projects of his career.

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Gerrit Jensen is the suggestion as marquetry strong box maker

26 May 2025

Like many English joiners of his time, not a great deal is known about the private life of Gerrit Jensen.

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Popular Battersea fair performing well against economic headwinds

26 May 2025

There’s no denying that we live in uncertain times. The impact of recent financial turmoil has hit dealers and collectors alike.

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Table drums up auction interest again

26 May 2025

A well-documented George III eight-drawer drum library table attributed to Gillows hammered for $75,000 (£56,300) at Andrew Jones (25% buyer’s premium) in Los Angeles.

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Clouds lift TEFAF NY thanks to a French design classic

26 May 2025

Guy De Rougemont’s 'Nuage' (Cloud) coffee table was among the striking examples of modern design sold at the latest 'TEFAF New York' held from May 9-13 (with an invitation-only preview on May 8).

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Extra Tavitian temptations as further works with country house taste comes to Stair

26 May 2025

Series of three sales at Stair followed four ‘tough act to follow’ auctions held at Sotheby’s also in the US

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Bone models story fleshed out: by prisoners of war or craftsmen?

26 May 2025

Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen

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