Older Furniture Styles

Most old wooden furniture you will encounter, most likely, will be either traditional English or American Colonial styles. Let's review the special characteristics of both popular types.

Basic English Furniture Styles

The following criteria will help you determine if your old furniture is an English-made antique.

Queen Anne
Early 18th century
Woods used: Walnut, also, cherry, mahogany, maple and oak.
Description: Graceful curves, curved (cabriole) leg, with no rungs or stretchers; minimal decoration, very simple; scallop-shell mount.

Georgian Chippendale
Late 18th century
Woods used: Mahogany
Description: Elaboration of Queen Anne; ornate carvings, either delicate or bold; many themes, including rococo, English, Chinese, Greek classic; intricate chair backs.

Georgian Adam
Late 18th century
Woods used: Mahogany
Description: Straight, slender lines; heavy Greek classic influence; fluted columns; delicate low-relief carvings, especially draped garlands.

Georgian Hepplewhite
Late 18th century
Woods used: Mahogany; satinwood inlay/veneer
Desscription: Based on Adam; straight tapered legs; shield- oval-, or heart-shaped chair backs; less decoration; delicate carvings.

Georgian Sheraton
Late 18th century
Woods used: Mahogany
Description: Similar to Hepplewhite and other Georgian styles; straighter, more upright lines; Greek classic influence; lyre-shaped chair backs; inlays and thick veneers.

Regency
Early 19th century
Woods used: Mahogany
Description: Simple, bold curves; smaller scale; more functional, more intimate; colors used.

Victorian
Late 19th century
Woods used: Mahogany, walnut, rosewood
Description: heavy, massive, substantial; dark finish; clumsy dessign; ornate carvings and decorations; marble tops used.

Basic American Furniture Styles

The following criteria will help you determine if your old furniture is an American-made antique.

Early Colonial   
17th century   
Woods used: Pine; birch, maple, walnut   
Description: Hybrid of English styles; square lines; solid construction; heavy decoration and carving.

Late Colonial
18th century
Woods used: Pine; mahogany
Description: Imported wood; interpretations of Queen Anne and Georgian styles; formal. Windsor chair.

Federal
Early 19th century
Woods used: Mahogany, cherry
Description: Interpretations of Georgian styles; Duncan Phyfe variations of Sheraton style; some French influence; heavier versions of English styles. Boston rocker, Hitchcock chair.

Pennsylvania Dutch
Late 17th to mid-19th century
Woods used: Maple, pine, walnut, fruitwoods
Description: Solid, plain; Germanic style; colorful painted Germanic decorations.

Shaker
Late 18th to mid-19th century
Woods used: Pine; maple
Description: Severely functional; no decoration; superior craftsmanship; excellent design.

Chair and table legs exhibit many of the fea tures that distinguish furniture styles.
©2006 Publications International
Chair and table legs exhibit many of the features that distinguish furniture styles; the leg is usually a good indicator of type. Early Georgian furniture is based on Queen Anne; later styles show classic influence.
There comes a time, however, when a decision needs to be made whether an antique is worth saving. Let's take a look at some of those situations in the next section.