Victorian Style furniture is a type of decorative furniture that experienced a period of popularity in the latter half of the 19th century during the Victorian era. Its name comes from the time period named after England’s Queen Victoria who ruled from 1837 to 1901.
Characterized by intricate detailing, Eastlake and Rococo influences, and the use of luxurious fabrics, Victorian style furniture has a unique and timeless appeal. It is often characterized by dark, highly polished wood, with velvet, damask, or leather upholstered pieces, intricate carvings, and brass, bronze, or gold accents.
Common pieces of Victorian furniture include writing desks, chairs, sofas, chaise lounges, dressing tables, and beds, among many others. The furniture often features ornate carved designs, such as flowers, dolphins, or dragons.
It is generally made of mahogany, walnut, or oak, and is often adorned with marble tops for the piece’s surface. Today, antique Victorian style furniture is highly sought after and can be found in some of the world’s finest and most esteemed museums and galleries.
How can you tell if furniture is Victorian?
Victorian furniture is highly distinctive and can often be identified by a few key characteristics. Common features of Victorian furniture include cabriole legs, scrolling or fluted arms, pierced carving, or intricate inlays.
Victorian furniture often features dark woods such as mahogany, as well as rosewood and walnut. Upholstery materials may often be velvet or other heavy, rich fabrics such as brocade. Intricate details and ornamentation like carved rosettes, sunbursts and foliate motifs were also additional characteristics of Victorian furniture.
It is also important to note that certain styles within the Victorian period may be more decorated than others. The Rococo Revival period, for example, is associated with heavily ornamental furniture.
Finally, pieces from the Arts and Crafts period may often have a more utilitarian feel than other Victorian furniture.
What were Victorian sofas called?
Victorian sofas were referred to as davenports or divans. Davenports tended to be more formal with their design, utilizing lots of leather, tufting and rich adornments. Divans, on the other hand, were much more comfortable, often boasting a down cushion or upholstery.
Several of the designs that originated in the Victorian age have also been adapted for modern day use.
What is the difference between Georgian and Victorian furniture?
The primary difference between Georgian and Victorian furniture styles is the time period they originated in. Georgian furniture originated in Britain during the reigns of George I through IV (1714 – 1837), when furniture styles were usually heavily ornamented, had large carvings, and often incorporated neoclassical elements like swags and rams’ heads.
Victorian furniture, on the other hand, originated during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), and is more generally characterized by darker, more somber colors, intricate carvings, and often less ornamental pieces than those of the Georgian period.
Victorian furniture also paid homage to its art movements of the time, such as Gothic Revival and Neo-Renaissance.
What are 3 characteristics of Victorian design?
The Victorian era is known for its ornate, opulent design, characterized by lush fabrics and intricate finishes. Here are three hallmarks of Victorian design:
First, the use of rich, luxurious materials such as velvet, heavy brocades, and richly-dyed velvets is characteristic of Victorian decorations. These rich fabrics were often used to cover furniture, walls and window treatments.
The intricate details of Victorian design also can be seen in structures made of metal, such as cast iron, highly ornate mirrors, and stained glass windows that incorporated aspects of Gothic and Renaissance designs.
Second, the use of symmetrical layouts and the arrangement of furniture in regimented patterns is characteristic of Victorian design. Furniture was generally arranged in pairs—such as two chairs with a sofa in between—with the largest piece placed in the center.
Third, vivid color palettes were used in decorating. Deep, rich woods were popular, as were jewel-toned hues such as sapphire, ruby and emerald. Painted patterns, intricate wallpapers, and bold accent pillows completed the look.
How can I tell if a piece of furniture is valuable?
With some more reliable than others. First, check to see if the piece is an antique. Antique furniture usually has a more intricate detailing and sturdier construction, and can often be identified by its manufacturer’s stamp or signature.
If it doesn’t have a stamp, examine the piece carefully – look for joints that are dovetailed or pegged and foot styles that have been common over the last few centuries. Also, consider the type of material that the furniture is made out of.
For example, furniture that is made out of walnut, ebony and other quality woods are likely to be worth more than pieces made from lower-grade wood derivatives.
In addition to examining the details of the furniture, look for brand names or maker’s marks. Furniture from well-known brands such as Chippendale, Gustav Stickley, or Hepplewhite, is often quite valuable.
Check for these stamps or signatures on the bottom or back of the piece, as well as on the hardware or casters.
Finally, it can be helpful to research the furniture before making a purchase. Use websites and reputable antique dealers to learn more about the designer and the type of furniture they typically produced.
An in-depth search can also uncover more information about the history and value of the piece you are considering. With a bit of research, you can determine the true value of your piece of furniture.
What qualifies furniture as vintage?
For a piece of furniture to be considered vintage, it usually must be at least 20 to 30 years old and was manufactured during the main period of its production. It should remain in good condition and have the classic characteristics of its style.
Additionally, the furniture item must have been made by a reputable designer, manufacturer, or craftsperson. Additionally, it should be able to be used again in its current condition, rather than being kept as a collectible item.
Vintage furniture tends to have certain features and characteristics, such as hand-carving, colorful inlay and marquetry, as well as having an attractive patina. It can also have features exclusive to a certain type of furniture, such as four-poster beds or chaise lounges.
Vintage pieces may also have higher-quality materials than those made today. This includes unique materials or combinations and hand-crafted items.
What is an old fashioned name for a couch?
An old-fashioned term for a couch is a “settee. ” This type of furniture is typically a smaller, more traditional style than the average-sized couch; it typically has a straight or bowed back with arms and is designed for two to three people.
A settee might be upholstered in fabrics ranging from plush velvet to simple cotton, and is often ornately carved or painted. The word “settee” is believed to have originated in France in the late 1500s, with the term “setle,” meaning “to sit.
” The settee is considered a classic piece of furniture due to its timeless style and comfort.
Did Victorians have sofas?
Yes, Victorians did indeed have sofas. During the Victorian era, furniture began to take on a more comfortable shape, influenced by a desire for a sense of luxury. Sofas from this period were often made from dark woods and had carved detailing, along with intricate upholstery fabric or leather in shades of muted earth tones.
Velvet, in particular, was a popular material for the upholstery of Victorian style sofas due to its luxurious look and feel. It was also common for furniture-makers of the time to include fringe and tassels on sofas, as well as colored or embellished throw pillows.
This look was popular not only as a personal statement, but also to help hide the imperfections of aging hand-crafted furniture.
What furniture did the Victorians have?
The Victorian era was a time of grand and ornate furniture, and the Victorians had a wide variety of pieces available to them. Victorian furniture often featured luxurious fabrics, intricate designs, and elaborate carvings.
Among the many furniture pieces were settees, armchairs, chaise lounges, bouchons, sideboards and cabinets, tables, chairs, beds, sofas and loveseats, and cabinets and wardrobes. Many of these pieces were made of mahogany, walnut, rosewood, and inlaid woods, as well as wicker and bamboo.
The Victorians adored overdressing furniture with bells, belts, buckles, and bows, tufting, ruches and fringes, castors, chenille, and cotton fabrics, which were often in bright colors. Mirrors were also commonly used to create an additional level of decoration.
What did they call couches in the 1800s?
In the 1800s, the term “couch” was most commonly used to refer to a piece of padded furniture for seating more than one person. These couches were typically upholstered with wood frames, and their cushions were stuffed with materials such as horsehair, feathers, wool, and straw.
They often had two or three arms as well as a back, and were often decorated with tassels and fringe. These couches were also sometimes called “settees,” which was more specifically used to refer to smaller, usually two-person couches, often with curved arms and legs.
Additionally, in the mid-1800s, the term “sofa” was emerging as a popular name for the piece of furniture, often used to distinguish the more formal style of the settee from the more decorative and elaborate styles of the couch.
What are different names for sofa?
A sofa can have many different names, depending on where you are in the world. Some of the most popular names for a sofa include couch, settee, divan, chesterfield, loveseat, davenport, divano, canape, daybed, futon, and banquette.
Each of these names reflects a different style of sofa or different cultural heritage, with the names originating in countries such as England, France, India, and China. Settee, daybed and divano originate from French; divan and canape come from Arabic; chesterfield and banquette are English designs; and davenport, loveseat, and futon are American designs.
Whether you call it a sofa or a couch, a settee or a daybed, these pieces of furniture are all comfortable items used to relax and entertain.