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.

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Furnished in the grand manner: Corby Castle brought grandeur to Cumbria

27 February 2026

Extensive contents of Cumbrian castle take three days to sell in North Yorkshire auction

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Stanley Webb Davies dressing table is among five lots to watch

23 February 2026

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

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Dresser to impress: chairs take £56,000

20 February 2026

This pair of Aesthetic Movement ebonised and gilt salon chairs designed by Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) sold for £56,000 at Gildings in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, on February 17.

Elizabethan Lambert table

Elizabethan table stands out in Fitzsimmons sale

13 February 2026

Paul Fitzsimmons of Marhamchurch Antiques in Bovey Tracey, Devon, is one of the foremost early English oak specialists in the UK, with over 30 years of experience in the trade.

Bonheur-du-jour

Kansas museum buys rare 18th century writing desk by Parisian cabinetmaker

13 February 2026

A bonheur-du-jour secrétaire by celebrated cabinetmaker Roger Vandercruse Lacroix (1728-99) has been purchased by a museum in Kansas from French dealer Galerie Léage for a six-figure sum.

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Antique props once seen on screen, now starring in the saleroom

13 February 2026

Latest sale of props from renowned company features several surprises such as Spanish revivalist chairs

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Customer leaves it to last minute for rug purchase as LARTA celebrates a strong event

13 February 2026

Sales at this year’s edition of The London Antique Rug and Textile Art Fair (LARTA) continued, literally, until the doors were shutting on the final day.

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New antiques dealers believe The Decorative Fair at Battersea ‘is the perfect mix’

13 February 2026

Each edition of The Decorative Fair brings new faces and this season Sheldrake Collection, founded by friends Alice Dickie and Chloe Shann, was one of them.

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Plenty to bite into at The Winter Decorative Fair in Battersea

13 February 2026

From huge sharks to chocolate pots, The Decorative Fair offered a tempting range to suit all tastes

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Winter in Chester fuels warm feeling

13 February 2026

The February Cheshire Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair marks the event’s first winter outing at Chester Racecourse since 2023.

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Massier parrots and palms planter cultivate bids at auction

06 February 2026

Delphin Massier, the creator of a large cachepot on stand sold by Dannenberg (28% buyer’s premium) in Berlin, was a member of the dynasty of ceramic artists who worked in Vallauris from the 18th century onwards.

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Duleep Singh makes a difference once again

06 February 2026

A handsome 19th century kingwood and ormolu decanter box offered by Hutchinson Scott (25% buyer’s premium) in Skipton, North Yorkshire was of particular note for its armorial and an inscription to the lock reading Maharaja Duleep Singh.

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Bugatti, Hoffman and Dunand deliver serious quality

06 February 2026

Opened in 2024, Sceners Gallery of Paris uses a distinctive vocabulary to promote top examples of historic and contemporary design.

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Maybe not in Greenland, but American visitors are very welcome in Battersea

23 January 2026

American decorators and buyers were in abundance on the first day of the winter edition of The Decorative Fair in Battersea Park this week.

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Regal TV star spotted by eagle-eyed dealer

23 January 2026

A François Linke bureau plat that appeared on Netflix’s The Crown is now on offer at Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables.

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Georgian candle wall lights survive to go electric on sale day

23 January 2026

The highlight of the latest Country House sale held by Duggleby Stephenson (25% buyer’s premium) of York was the part contents of the Kirkham Hall estate in North Yorkshire.

Regency mahogany ‘whatnot’

Art and antiques dealers and collectors among donors of nearly £60m of art and antiques for nation’s museums

19 January 2026

The nation’s museums have benefitted from more than 30 art and objects via tax saving schemes.

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Arts & Crafts oak chair designed by Archibald Knox is among five lots to watch

19 January 2026

With estimates from £40, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Arts & Crafts sideboard is among five lots to watch

12 January 2026

With estimates from £400, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Sumatran ship banner sails in to London rug and textile fair

09 January 2026

It is rare to find a well-preserved example of a 19th century 'palepai'.

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