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.

Huanghuali armchairs

Chinese huanghuali armchairs owned by Chairman Mao's adviser sell at 15-times top estimate

05 November 2025

A pair of Chinese huanghuali armchairs, formerly owned by a US Treasury official who became an economic adviser to Chairman Mao, were hammered down at £600,000.

René Lalique car mascots

LAPADA fair celebrates Art Deco anniversary

03 November 2025

Art Deco was one of the main themes of LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair this year, with the design movement celebrating 100 years.

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Bed first made c.1580 hailed as ‘most original for years’

03 November 2025

Woolley & Wallis (27% buyer’s premium) considered the Elizabethan bed offered on October 1 to be to ‘by far the most original to be offered at auction in recent years’.

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Candelabra custom-built for the Vanderbilts

03 November 2025

A ‘monumental’ pair of 15-light silver candelabra made by Tiffany & Co for a member of the Vanderbilt family hammered for $230,000 (£171,565) at John Moran Auctioneers (27% buyer’s premium) in Monrovia, California.

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Chinese export Bantam work cabinet weighs in at auction

03 November 2025

Cabinet was among Chinese exports headed for Europe shipped through the Dutch trading port in Java

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One day in American salerooms, two lots of coveted European chairs

03 November 2025

Two sales held just over 1000 miles apart on the same day included coveted examples of European post-war furniture.

LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair

The LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair opening day

29 October 2025

The LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair opened on Tuesday night (last night).

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Battersea Decorative fair: Strong collar to pound exchange rate

27 October 2025

How better to start a review of sales at the dog-friendly Decorative Fair than a quick canine picture selection?

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Obituary: Antiques dealer James Francis Brett (1943-2025)

27 October 2025

James Brett was an antiques dealer of international repute specialising in the finest English and European antique furniture, sculpture and metal work.

‘He rapidly became one of my best customers and closest friends’

27 October 2025

One day in early 1975 a dealer from Norwich came into my shop in Harrogate for the first time and, although he did not buy on that occasion, that introduction would lead to a 50-year friendship that has been ended by the death of James Brett from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Brenda Nassarian working on decoupage

I never imagined where decoupage would take us

27 October 2025

Brenda Nassarian recounts her career in the antiques trade.

James Brett: ‘Legend of the trade’

27 October 2025

It’s no exaggeration to describe James as a legend of the antiques trade.

Coat of arms

Rediscovered Cardinal Wolsey coat of arms on display in London ahead of sale 

24 October 2025

An oak and polychrome carving of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey's coat of arms has been rediscovered following research by St James’ art dealer Simon Dickinson.

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Casket once owned by a cardinal stars in wide-ranging Swiss auction

20 October 2025

Example made in Gujarat or Goa goes to a Portuguese buyer

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Dealer's show focuses on the library’s changing role through time

20 October 2025

“Whoever made this thought of everything.”

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Obituary: furniture dealer William Buckley (1946-2025)

18 October 2025

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of William "Bill" Buckley, a respected antiques dealer who built his reputation on integrity and an eye for quality furniture.

Octagonal bench

National Gallery benches take seven times estimate at auction

16 October 2025

A group of benches consigned by The National Gallery took more than seven times their top estimate at auction.

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High for a Mouseman recliner

13 October 2025

A classic early 1930s Mouseman recliner came for sale at a recent event held at Clevedon Auctions (22% buyer’s premium) near Bristol.

LAPADA

‘The crucial thing is for exhibitors to do well. They have to make sales’

13 October 2025

Any association fair has the unenviable task of attempting to be all things to all members, of attracting bigger name galleries while remaining accessible to sole operators, of maintaining the quality aesthetic that visitors expect while keeping stand costs affordable.

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Sèvres bottle coolers sell to French bidder at 20 times the top estimate

13 October 2025

A pair of 7in (17cm) Sèvres porcelain bottle coolers (seau à bouteille) sold for £6000 as part of Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) recent Country House Sale.

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