How to identify chippendale furniture

How can you tell if furniture is Chippendale?

An exquisitely carved cabriole leg — a serpentine-shaped leg in the Queen Anne style — represents the signature hallmark of Chippendale chair and table legs. But there are three different cabriole leg styles, each ending in a distinctive foot: the ball and claw, the lion’s paw and the simpler round club-type foot.

How much is Chippendale furniture worth?

The characteristic legs, feet, and dark wood appeal to many antique collectors and each piece has its own unique appeal. Determining the value of Chippendale -style furniture can be difficult. There are pieces that sell for thousands or even millions of dollars, while others go for under $1,000.

What style is Chippendale?

Chippendale furniture came to life from the perfect blend of gothic , rococo , and Chinese design influence. Gothic style was incorporated through elements such as pointed arches, s-shaped curves, and wooded lattice. Broad chair seats with interlacing ribbon backs were influenced by rococo design.

How do I find out the manufacturer of furniture?

A telltale sign of the furniture’s maker is a manufacturing tag, label or stamp bearing the name of the creator. Such a marking or label may have been placed inside a drawer on an old dresser, on the back of a chest of drawers, or on the underside of a chair or sofa seat.

What is Chippendale style furniture?

The descriptive term Chippendale is derived from a book of furniture designs, the first of its kind, that was published in 1754 in London and called The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director. The term Chippendale specifically refers to English furniture of the 1750s and ’60s made in a modified Rococo style .

How do you date furniture with screws?

Screws were not made completely by machine until 1848. So if you find a furniture item using screws that have completely rounded shafts, pointed ends, and perfectly finished heads with matching cuts (much like a screw you would purchase today), the piece likely dates to the mid-19th century or later.

How can you tell if furniture is antique?

Five Ways to Tell If Furniture Is Actually Antique Look for dovetailing. Dovetailing is a sign of quality craftsmanship in woodworking, used to hold together different parts of the same piece of furniture . Multiple types of wood is a good thing. Beware of furniture that’s made to look old. Do a thorough search for labels or stamps. Shut out symmetry.

What era is claw foot furniture?

In England, the ball-and- claw style of foot was used primarily during the Queen Anne period and faded in popularity as the Chippendale style came into vogue. In America, however, the ball-and- claw remained a popular decorative feature well into the 19th century.

What is Hepplewhite style?

As Hepplewhite furniture is characterized by contrasting veneers and inlays depicting seashells or bellflowers, pieces often contain more than one type of wood. For the base, mahogany was most often the wood of choice, but satinwood and maple were also popular.

What is a Chippendale pattern?

In architecture, Chinese Chippendale refers to a specific kind of railing or balustrade that was inspired by the “Chinese Chippendale ” designs of cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale . Prominent examples of the style exist on the wing terraces and uppermost balustrade at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

What does Chippendale mean?

(Entry 1 of 2) : of or relating to an 18th century English furniture style characterized by graceful outline and often ornate rococo ornamentation.

What is Georgian furniture style?

The Georgian furniture style lasted nearly 100 years (1714 to 1801). It was named for King George I, George II, and George III of England. Georgian furniture makers replaced walnut with mahogany as their wood of choice due to its durability.

How can you tell if furniture is Jacobean?

To help recognize Jacobean Furniture Design these are the eight basic characteristics: – Jacobean and Cromwellian (the first two parts of the larger Jacobean Period) furniture has straight lines. – The earlier furniture of the period was heavy and cumbersome. – The construction was framed.

Do couches have serial numbers?

A mass-produced sofa, even a pricey vintage piece, most likely bears a serial number somewhere on its body. Look for a number near the maker’s tag or stamp, then check this number on a company or collector’s website.

Is Duncan Phyfe furniture worth anything?

Values for Duncan Phyfe furniture An original wooden table by Duncan Phyfe would be worth in the $50,000 to $150,000 range on the antiques market, today. For instance, recently, an original carved mahogany dining table by Duncan Phyfe from circa 1815 measuring 30 inches in height sold for $132,000.