Dealers -> Periods-Styles -> Victorian
Though its peak popularity was during the late 19th century in America, Victorian furniture still holds quite an appeal for many people today. This style of furniture is distinguishable by the time period in which it was created and the methods that were used. The name is given to furniture made during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1836 to 1901, though that time period actually gave way to different styles of furniture that all fell under the umbrella of “Victorian.”
Early Victorian furniture pieces were done in the Rococo style, which copied this period in France. This style is recognizable by the many intricate carvings in the wood. Extensive scrollwork, flowers and animals decorated the furniture—sometimes every inch of it. Scroll feet were very popular in these Rococo revival pieces, as were cabriole legs, which were legs shaped almost like an ‘S.’ Rococo pieces were ornate in a way not commonly seen in American furniture, but these pieces became very popular in American homes.
The newly created mechanical tools that allowed these ornate scrolls and carvings were responsible for much of the intricacy of early Victorian furniture, as was craftsmen’s new ability to used laminated wood. During lamination, one-inch thick stripes of rosewood were glued together to make wood that was 6 to 18 layers thick. Solid wood wasn’t the best medium for detailed engravings and carvings, but the lamination procedure lent itself well to the rococo style.
This Victorian furniture also marked the first time furniture was sold in America in sets, with matching pieces, and the first time furniture was mass produced. Though rococo style is probably the most recognizable style of furniture from this era, gothic style was popular too, with its more medieval look. Most gothic revival Victorian pieces were produced from about 1840 to 1865. Renaissance revival style reigned from about 1860 to 1875, with highly polished and parquet patterned furniture, often featuring brass findings and ornaments to give it a distinctive style.
Victorian furniture was popular in every room of the home, from the bedroom to the dining room, and still enjoys popularity today with antique lovers and interior decorators. Antique pieces can range in price from the reasonable to the expensive, depending on the rarity of the style and the condition of the furniture. If you find an antique piece for sale, be sure to ask whether or not is has been refinished or reupholstered as you’ll want to purchase furniture as close to its original condition as possible to make a good investment.
If it’s the beauty of Victorian furniture you’re after more than the value, then these things matter less. You might even want to look into reproductions. Either way, be sure that the joints are sturdy and the item is in overall decent condition. A refinished and reupholstered piece of this furniture can look gorgeous in your home, so if you don’t mind doing that yourself or having it done, a piece in less than perfect condition might be a great purchase for you.
Originally posted 2008-12-06 14:00:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Antique Chairs Antiques -> Furniture -> Chairs In the market for a collectible that will not only be useful but also beautify your home? Antique chairs are the perfect solution. These are a very popular type of collectible and no matter what type of furniture you’re interested in, chances are you’ll be...... - Antique Doors Antiques -> Architectural and Garden -> Doors Antique doors have much to offer the private collector and many of these, depending on the materials used, and the designer may actually be worth quite a lot of money. Whether you are looking for a collectible that you can put to good......
-
Antique Bird Cages Dealers -> Antiques -> Decorative-Arts Years ago, before the introduction of plastics and resins, even animals’ indoor homes like antique bird cages were considered beautiful pieces of furniture. Of course, some were plain and utilitarian, but many more were actually created in the popular furniture styles of the times. Bird...... - Art Deco Furniture Antiques -> Periods and Styles -> Art Deco Art deco furniture antiques are highly sought after and are often very unique pieces. If you love this time period, or if you are simply looking for furniture that transcends the every day mundane design, art deco furniture is the perfect choice.......
-
Sideboard Dealers -> Furniture -> Cabinets-Armoires-Cupboards A sideboard is a piece of furniture used to display China or to set food out while dining. The sideboards we’re familiar with first appeared in the 1700s, but became more popular in the 1800s when more people had dining rooms to eat in, and......
Related Websites -
Furniture Shopping Secrets: How to Tell Superior from Shoddy This is a guest post from Karawynn Long, who writes about personal finance at Pocketmint. Karawynn is a semi-regular contributor for Get Rich Slowly. She has been blogging since before “blogging” was a word. Here at the Koke-Long house we’re in the market for some furniture. Our living room is...... - The Right Kind of Hardware Since its inception in the year 1972, Croft architectural hardware has been catering to both private and public enterprises towards their requirements for doors and window fittings. They are now a well established name in the industry well known for its superbly crafted and engineered products at a highly competitive......
-
Repairing Leather Furniture Furniture made of leather is generally more expensive than furniture made from other fabrics like cotton, acrylic, wool, or microfiber. However, furniture experts consider leather to be the best all-around upholstery fabric. This is because leather is extremely tough, softens and develops character with age, and is easy to clean. ...... -
Remodel with Furniture Arrangement There's a growing trend in interior design in which furniture arrangement is the biggest change in a room, while making it look as if it's been remodeled. It's certainly a budget arrangement, because it doesn't cost anything to move furniture around. A poorly arranged room can go from blah to...... -
How to Pick the Right Air Conditioning System for Your Home Thankfully, today we have many options when it comes to cooling our homes. If you are wondering if it is time to upgrade to a new kind of cooling system, you’re going to have a lot of options. However, they may not all be as effective for your particular needs.......
