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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Hoffmann centrepieces head back to Austria for restoration

26 May 2025

Ohio auction specialist Bridget McWilliams was on site at a Cleveland estate when a pair of tarnished metal centrepieces with fanciful curlicued handles caught her eye.

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Storeroom becomes showroom in Swindon

26 May 2025

Firm specialising in Mid-century items can now offer two floors of furniture and interiors browsing

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Previews: issue 2695

26 May 2025

Our selection of lots from five upcoming auctions

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Top stories this week including a furniture sleeper as table takes remarkable six-figure result

18 May 2025

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of a Kentian table from a home in Connecticut being bid to a sensational sum at a recent auction

Mahogany Chairs

Dreweatts to offer attic contents of Powderham Castle and Brocklesby Park

14 May 2025

The attic contents of two historic private country estates is set to be offered at Dreweatts in Newbury.

Old Trafford bench

Manchester United bench makes 33 times estimate

13 May 2025

An Old Trafford supporters’ bench removed during Old Trafford’s 1992 renovations made 33 times its estimate at Graham Budd's latest auction.

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Kentian table takes remarkable six-figure result

12 May 2025

A sleepy Kentian table from a home in Connecticut was awoken by a sensational sum in late April.

Indian Bureau Cabinet Pow 2693

Pick of the Week: Indian-English bureau flies at auction

12 May 2025

Standing 3ft (91cm) high, this miniature rosewood and ivory bureau cabinet illustrates the successful fusion of Indian decoration to English form achieved by artisans working in the port of Vizagapatam in the 18th century.

Paul Atkinson antiques dealer

Five highlights from dealer Paul Atkinson’s collection at Sworders

12 May 2025

The ‘retirement’ sale of dealer Paul Atkinson’s collection at Essex saleroom Sworders this week will be held exactly 50 years since he opened his first antiques shop in Derbyshire.

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Take a couch journey to Battersea

05 May 2025

Piece of furniture mentioned in reference books is just of the potential purchases at Dec Fair

Hilary Mantel's desk

Dealer offers Hilary Mantel’s desk used to write Wolf Hall trilogy

28 April 2025

Among the attractions at this year’s ‘Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair’ on May 15-18 is the desk upon which Hilary Mantel wrote her celebrated ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy.

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Pick of the Week: Watching Georgian life in a goldfish bowl

28 April 2025

Stands and side tables were a prominent feature in many large Georgian houses and were used for a variety of quite specific purposes. However, it is extremely rare to find a piece of furniture designed specifically to take a goldfish bowl.

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Foliot’s chair keenly contested

28 April 2025

A traditional ensemble of art and antiques that had come from a property in the department of Ille et Vilaine attracted no shortage of attention when it went under the hammer at Ivoire Nantes (24% buyer’s premium) earlier this year.

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Dealer interviews: Mid-century market musing

28 April 2025

From elegant furniture by Scandinavian designers to stand-out lamps and decorative pieces… the lines, materials and simplicity that characterise interiors items from the mid-century modern period appeal to a wide range of buyers.

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‘Nomadic’ dealer’s items set for new home

28 April 2025

Sworders’ run of single-owner sales continues with a two-day auction on May 13-14 titled Paul Atkinson, The Nomadic Collector.

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Seating stands out in south London

28 April 2025

Chairs were in particular demand at the Dulwich biannual Mid-century event

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Dunand deco design fires the imagination

28 April 2025

Jean Dunand was an Art Deco period craftsman known above all for his skill in the technique of lacquer and a good example of his craftsmanship was the star turn in a sale of decorative arts held by Tajan (26/21/14% buyer’s premium).

Charles Rennie Mackintosh cutlery

Strong demand for Charles Rennie Mackintosh works as cutlery suite makes five times estimate

23 April 2025

The latest Design Since 1860 sale at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh was dominated by the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928).

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George III mahogany commode is among five lots to watch

22 April 2025

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

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Chandigarh furniture designed by Jeanneret features in Cambridge and London auctions

21 April 2025

In 1950, the Swiss artist, architect and designer Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) joined his cousin Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (who assumed the pseudonym Le Corbusier) to create a new capital of Punjab.

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