Antique Furniture Shop For Antique Victorian Style Furniture 

Antique Victorian style furniture dates from 1837 to 1901 and was named for British monarch, Queen Victoria, who ruled England during that period.

As the middle class in Britain became increasingly affluent, their wealth prompted a huge demand for, and increase of, furniture making. Although, at the time furniture makers were using machines to make the decoration elements on these pieces, there actually was no mass production of the furniture itself until much later in the Victorian era.

The elements of design that had previously been popular became unfashionable and furniture having simple classical lines was given away to charity or relegated to the attic. The new antique Victorian style furniture was far more grandiose having high gloss finishes, curved lines, flamboyant and sometimes ostentatious decoration, and then later in the period some very weighty and overly ornately carved pieces were produced. Quite frequently, the design elements and motifs of different periods were even combined in one piece.                                                                                                          

The most popular woods used at the time were rosewood, oak and mahogany and iron was used, as well. The majority of antique Victorian style furniture was hand made with dovetailed joints, turned bun feet, pin hinges and turned handles. 

Some elements of William IV and the Regency style can be found in early Victorian pieces, such as curved backs and reeded elements of decoration. Mid-Victorian furniture contained more curves and had much higher gloss.

Also, upholstery, turned knobs, scrolled backs and molding with a bit of carved decoration was a main consideration in design. Later, the furniture took on a more feminine and delicate look, with comfort a big consideration. Later, in the late 1880′s, reproductions of Sheraton, Tudor and Chippendale were in high demand. Copies of Sheraton and Chippendale were high quality and produced by well known furniture makers. 

During the late Victorian period the furniture designs became heavy with a lot of carved decoration. Medieval and gothic carvings were popular, along with mahogany and dark oak pieces that were very large and extravagant. Sideboards, some with gothic or with heavily carved pediments were very popular and seating was still made for comfort. Dining tables had winding mechanisms for extention leaves and turned legs and simple pieces of furniture were usually embelished with decorative carvings.

The emergence of The Art Nouveau Movement, during the later part of the Victorian period, contined to influence furniture fashion well into the Edwardian period. However, Antique Victorian Style Furniture is a dominant force in all of the various styles and periods of antique furniture and is extremely popular even today.

If you are interested in antique Victorian style furniture, as well as in viewing a large selection of other styles and periods of antique furniture, please visit my antique furniture shop.

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