Use these details to date a 19th century sofa: Rosettes, finials, incised lines and elaborate feet may all help to identify antique sofas. The main purpose is to use it for seating during the day and as a bed at night. The arms are also lower than the back. One such furniture suite includes a Duncan Phyfe sofa, two armchairs, ten side chairs, and two footstools. Coats of heat-hardened spirit varnishes and, later, cheap oil-based varnishes were types of japanning applied to furniture from the 1660s onwards. Torus Like an astragal moulding, only thicker, this form of moulding is often used at the end of columns, frequently entwined with foliage. Also, it’s easy to find a chaise longue mixed with another sofa style, like the mid-century inspired chaise in the image below. We have more useful articles in our archives! You can use it casually like a chaise to add a whole lot of style to your home. This sturdy yet playful chair will spark your imagination. This gorgeous sofa was popularized by King Louis XV in the first half of the 1700s. Towards the end of the eighteenth century sideboards replaced buffets in the dining-room, although the buffet enjoyed renewed popularity during the nineteenth-century Gothic revival. Lounge around with these gentle companions and stay relaxed throughout the day. Pietre dure Form of decorative work using a variety of semiprecious stones perfected in Italy c.1600; if only a single type of stone is used, it is correctly called pietra dura. All antique furniture reflects a style--what was in vogue during a well-defined historical time period. Of course, there is a good reason for that. Much use of contrasting encaustic colour. Drawers open on one side, with sham-fronted ones on the other. The antique furniture pieces reflect the style and features of the time they were made; this can be called the antique's "period" (Eduardian, Tudor, Colonial, etc.). We carry large American, Victorian, Renaissance, Gothic, Arts and Crafts pieces such as sideboards, bookcases, hall trees, tables, armoires and the like. Base often contains drawers. Multiple types of wood is a good thing. Antique couches come in some broad categories, and you will have a good chance of finding the right style to suit your home’s ambiance. There is also a newer version of this sofa, called the humpback, which may have only one or two humps. Gold or silver foil was applied to the mirror back and engraved with a needle before placing black or another contracting colour behind the foil. They are found in mahogany furniture from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods. Scotia Semicircular concave moulding. Its high arms provide support to sink into the couch and rest. Grotesque Fanciful decoration comprising a combination of foliage, urns, animals, mythical creature, etc. Filigree Lace-lie ornament made from delicately curled and twisted gold or silver wire. 2. The beautiful craftsmanship of the exposed wooden frame, with legs that curve outwards and down are its main distinguishing features. Found on sixteenth-and seventeenth-century Spanish and Portuguese furniture, it later spread to Northern Europe. These types of sofa were popular in French aristocratic homes in the 19th century. Caquetoire/euse Armchair of sixteenth-century French design, with a high narrow back and a trapezoidal seat. Pier-glass Tall, narrow mirror with a frame originally placed between windows to enhance light coming into a room. OOgee A continuous double curve in the shape of an ‘S’, referred to by Hogarth as ‘the line of beauty’; used for mouldings. Even in 21st century America, he is often called the most famous American cabinetmaker. What styles of antique sofas and chaises are available? Capital Head or crowning feature of a column or pilaster. The name is derived from the tuxedo suits, as this sofa is considered the furniture equivalent of the classic suit. Often upholstered with Berlin woodwork.R. Prie-dieu A late-eighteenth-century, but commonly nineteenth-century low-seated armless chair with a high back and wide top-rail on which to rest a prayer book. This sofa style is designed for comfort. A tufted back and seat cushions, clean lines and hairpin-style slanted legs are the main characteristics of the mid-century sofa. Rebate joint Formed by cutting a groove, wedge or, most commonly, rectangular section along the edge of one piece of wood and fitting it with another, matching piece of wood; can be glued or nailed. Sabre leg Shaped like a saber, either round-or square-sectioned, and gently tapering to the ground. A symbol of fertility and abundance popular during the Baroque/Rococo periods. Chinoiserie General term for European adaptation of Oriental designs popular during late seventeenth century, Rococo and Regency periods. A quatrefoil has four leaves, a cinquefoil five. Antique Victorian Sofa Fine Quality Large Scroll Arm Four Seater Settee Pink Cha 9 photo. This article is an exploration of this quintessential piece of furniture. First used in ancient Egypt, and then in Classical Greece and Rome, but not again until the seventeenth century in the Netherlands. Volute An ornamental form of spiral scroll adopted from Ionic capitals in Greek architecture. Often shaped or carved. Check out this summer beach house in cool blue. They are found in mahogany furniture from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods. Consists of a series of equally spaced square or rectangular tooth-like blocks. Tole Tinware which has been decorated by means of japanning: known in America as toleware. Don’t be confused! These objects are usually kept in a house or other building to make it suitable or comfortable for living or working in. A sofa! Bun foot Round, turned and sometimes ‘squashed’ foot commonly used on William and Mary case furniture. Source of Duncan Phyfe Furniture Appeal In the same way, perhaps there’ll be a little discussion over its shape, but that’s about it. Coquillage From of decorative shell motif which became popular during the Baroque and Rococo periods. The highboy, often made with a matching lowboy, enjoyed widespread popularity in eighteenth-century America. Stile Upright supporting post on a piece of furniture. VVargueno or bargueno Spanish writing and storage desk dating from the sixteenth century, and consisting of a square or rectangular top, the flap-front of which conceals drawers. Used since sixteenth century. Popular on early Philadelphia chairs. The term originally referred to the scarf worn by a knight across his helmet. It was designed for women to rest in the middle of the day when the sun was at the meridian, from which its name is derived. Antique sofas and chaises come in a variety of styles that can complement any sort of decor. Chamfer A canted surface produced by beveling off an angle. Also refers to heavily carved or glided sconces or wall-brackets with mirrored backplates to reflect the candlelight. Everything you buy for your home—furniture, rugs, lighting, artwork—can be plotted on a timeline based on when it was manufactured, and affixed with a generational label like “contemporary,” “antique,” “vintage,” or “retro.” An item’s age is a key facet of its value, along with its condition, quality, and relative rarity. Case Furniture which proved storage space, as opposed to seat furniture. The reason for this design is to create a softer, more cushioned sofa with large cushions that aren’t taut within the frame of the sofa. From the tiniest of apartments to the grandest of mansions, there is one item of furniture that can be found in them all. Lunette Semicircular or half-moon shape making up a piece of furniture, often filled with carved decoration, Lunettes carved in this way originated in the seventeenth century and enjoyed renewed popularity during the nineteenth-century Jacobean revival.MMarquetry A type of ornamental veneer comprising shaped pieces of wood or other substances which form a mosaic, or kind of jigsaw-puzzle, in floral, landscape, arabesque or other patterns; if a geometric pattern, called parquetry. Popular Neoclassical form in Europe and America.L. Backstool Form of stool with a back developed in the late sixteenth century. Male caryatids are less common and are called telamones. It is easy to identify a chesterfield style sofa. It is the opposite of fluting. These flowing lines are called arabesques, and they are seen in furniture and many other decor items. Furniture includes objects such as tables, chairs, beds, desks, dressers, and cupboards. This form o reproducing the effect of Oriental lacquer reached the height of its popularity in mid-eighteenth-century France. May have slides above the drawers to provide more writing space. Shapes of furniture from this style tend to be more rectangular. A German variation was known as a kas. Mitre Joint Corner joint used from the seventeenth century onwards. Baluster Turned, vase-shaped vertical post. These two person sofas are fabulous for so many reasons. Occasionally the cylinder is of tambour form, i.e. Inlay Form of decoration which involves cutting small pieces of ivory, precious metals, mother-of-pearl or wood which are then fitted into carved-out recesses of the same shape on a solid piece of furniture to create a picture or geometric design. Aren’t they adorable! They are then glued and/or nailed together. Case furniture, that is furniture used for storage, came in all sorts of forms. Commonly found on eighteenth-century bookcases and cabinets. What is thought to be an antique dresser may be something else. From decorating your dining room, to finding the finishing piece to your library, here are 13 iconic designer chairs you should know about. Gilding Ornamental coating of goldleaf or gold dust, used alone or along with other forms of ornament, such as enameling, to cover a piece of furniture. It will look stunning by a window so you can enjoy the garden views in style. This is a list of furniture types. Maybe this piece of trivia is the reason why the chesterfield sofa is considered the perfect item for a man cave. Bantam work Incised lacquer work named after Bantam, a province of Dutch Java, and commonly found on Dutch and English furniture. Tester Wooden canopy which projects over the top of the bed, known as a half-tester if supported only by headboard and footposts. Paw foot Leg terminal in the shape of an animal’s paw. Bureau Desk popular in late seventeenth-century England and France distinguished by its sloping fall-front. Carcase The main body or understructure of a piece of furniture, over which a layer of veneer or other covering is applied. Of classical origin, it was commonly used on eighteenth-century furniture. The trendy armoire was originally a large mobile cupboard or wardrobe featuring doors and shelves for clothes storage. Their small size means they can fit into almost any space and are so much more comfortable than two single chairs. Source: Sotheyby's Consice Encyclopeida of Furniture Edited by Christopher Payne, Privacy Policy Spend a bit of time looking at antique furniture and you'll likely notice many flowing elements that look like confetti. Valuable woods such as mahogany, rosewood, walnut and satinwood were used to cover a cheaper carcase, often at the same time concealing construction detail. Once again, it was Thomas Chippendale’s furniture company that was responsible for making the camelback a popular choice in furniture for aristocratic families in 18th century England. Shell carving is basically carving in the wood to look like a shell. Canapé Type of eighteenth-century French sofa. Lawson-style Sofa. It became a popular furniture decoration from the sixteenth century onwards, especially during the Neoclassical period. Popular in the late seventeenth and first half of the eighteenth centuries. It may or may not have arms, but with a high back and long space to lay down, it’s designed for personal comfort. Antique Victorian Federal Empire Sofa Box Sofa 35101 6 photo. Antique Furniture. Vernis Martin A sophisticated japanning technique developed by the Martin brother s in France c.1730. Bracket foot A foot extending from each side of a corner to a centre point at the base. Very fashionable from the late seventeenth century. Derived from Greek architecture, the caryatid has been popular since the Renaissance and enjoyed particular favour in the Rococo and Neoclassical periods. An acanthus is a leafy carved ornament in the top of the columns of the Corinthian. Also used below the drawers or doors, or between the legs of commodes. Knowing how to identify each main part and its variations can help you describe the sofa you want to a salesperson or designer. Cross-member Horizontal, supporting rail. Cock-beading Moulding dating from the early eighteenth century. Palmette Fan-shaped pattern derived from the shape of a palm-tree frond. In sixteenth-and seventeenth-century England, buffet was synonymous with court cupboard. Also known as a roll-top desk. Free-standing or incorporated in a sideboard. This gray and white diamond patterned quilt is the perfect throw around your sofa. Canted A beveled or chamfered surface; used to refer to furniture legs inclining outwards. It is also called a fainting couch, which describes its design so well. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest home tours and giveaways. The back and arms are the same height, and tufted. Much used in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, it enjoyed a revival in Victorian England. Its signature design element is a back comprised of pillows separate from the frame.. FFauteuil French form of open-armed chair with upholstered back and seat. But … Finial Projecting ornament which can take many forms, including those of a ball, flame, flower, acorn, pineapple or vase. Pallasart Web Design, Ad Greenroom at the primetime EMMY® Awards, RUGS - Perennials Luxury Performance Tibetan Knot. this home tour of a Barcelona apartment that keeps things eclectic but casual, Amazon actually has a good selection so don’t forget to check it out, 13 Iconic Designer Chairs You Should Know, these low slung sofas are your sort of thing, 7 Ways to Use Low-Slung Furniture in Your Home Decor. Geographic origin: England. In America, used to describe a bedroom chest-of-drawers. Canterbury Mid-eighteenth-century low supper trolley more commonly known in its late-eighteenth-and nineteenth-century form; a stand with vertical compartments to hold sheet music. Curl mahogany Wood cut from the fork in branches of a mahogany tree. The defining characteristics of this type of sofa are the tight back cushions, lose seating cushions and the rolled arms, hence the name. Cabriole sofas with their bowed legs are also considered a characteristic of Thomas Chippendale’s furniture. By the mid-sixteenth century it had developed into a single chair. Rocaille Rococo form of decoration characteristic of the genre pittoresque using abstract shell-and rockwork in its design.S. Not yet found what you’re looking for? There has been a debate over what an antique is for years. February 21, 2017, Features & Interviews, Shopping & Gift Guides. 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