The 1700s are often referred to as the “Golden Age” of English furniture making. In fact, even today, many antique furniture markets throughout the U.S. feature pieces made during this crucial century in design history. These pieces — often constructed from what was then a newly available wood, mahogany — frequently serve as family heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation. When maintained in good condition, they also retain high value and generally bring an excellent return for your financial investment.
Famous Furniture Makers of the 1700s
Three furniture makers largely dominate the world of 1700s furniture: Thomas Chippendale, Thomas Sheraton and George Hepplewhite. Among the three, Chippendale is the most famous, and pieces made in the style that bears his name still typically command premium prices on the antique market. Thomas Sheraton mostly designed cabinets and chairs, although he also influenced the work of many of his contemporaries, as well as modern furniture makers. No original examples of Hepplewhite’s work still exist. However, pieces made in the style he created often appear in today’s antique markets.
Famous Styles
Several popular 18th century styles preceded the arrival of Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. Most of these styles originated in England, which was colonial America’s home country until the 1770s. Examples that are well-known today include:
William and Mary – The William and Mary style, originally produced from roughly 1690 to 1725, takes its name from a king and queen who jointly ruled England at the very end of the 1600s. It is also known as Early Baroque. Notable features of William and Mary furniture include a generally refined appearance, straight or inwardly curved chair arms, caned or upholstered chair seats, elaborately turned legs that end in a foot or ball, and Asian-inspired lacquered finishes. The style also gave us the highboy, a tall chest of drawers set on legs. Most of the actual makers of William and Mary furniture labored anonymously. However, a Dutchman named Gerrit Johnson helped create the style.
Queen Anne – The Queen Anne style, originally produced from roughly 1700 to 1755, also takes its name from one of the era’s English monarchs. It can be seen as a less flashy refinement of the William and Mary style, with features that include slightly flared chair arms, “fiddle-back” chair backs, pieces made with C-scrolls, pieces made with S-scrolls, upholstered chair seats and “bat wing” drawer pulls. In America, most Queen Anne furniture came from makers headquartered in Boston and Philadelphia.
Georgian – Also named for English monarchs (George I, George II and George III), the Georgian style was originally produced between roughly 1714 and the early 1800s. In relation to Queen Anne furniture, furniture made in this style has more ornate or elaborate features. Examples of these features include relatively heavy proportions, detailed carvings, boldly turned legs (often ending in ball-and-claw feet), and gilded surfaces covered in gold paint or gold leaf.
Chippendale – The Chippendale style was produced in the second half of the 18th century from approximately 1750 to 1790. It takes its name from English furniture designer and cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, although he didn’t create the style all by himself. There are three distinct branches of Chippendale furniture, known as Gothic, Chinese and Rococo. American examples of Chippendale furniture commonly have more elaborate versions of the features found on Queen Anne furniture. Most American Chippendale makers were based in Philadelphia or New England.
Hepplewhite – The Hepplewhite style, produced between approximately 1765 and 1800, is commonly referred to as a neoclassical style. Its features include tapered legs, generally light construction methods, and inlays and veneers created in contrasting patterns. In America, Hepplewhite pieces were reproduced largely in Virginia, New England, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and New York.
Sheraton – The Sheraton style was originally produced between roughly 1780 and 1820. It has features that largely overlap the Hepplewhite style, including delicate overall construction and the use of contrasting veneers. In addition, the Sheraton style features neoclassical design themes or motifs.
Two well-known styles of the 1700s have their origins in America, not England:
Colonial – The Colonial style was produced from approximately 1700 to 1780. Essentially, it represented a hybrid of the features found in the Queen Anne, Chippendale, and William and Mary styles. However, compared to those European products, Colonial pieces were generally more conservative and lacked ornate or elaborate characteristics.
Pennsylvania Dutch – The Pennsylvania Dutch style originated in roughly 1720 and remained in production until the early 1800s. It was designed mainly for functional use, and lacked the vast majority of the ornate touches found on much of the century’s European furniture. Still, creators of Pennsylvania Dutch pieces often finished their work with bright paintings in folk motifs.
The Importance of Restoring and Maintaining Your 1700s Furniture
Condition is a main factor in the value of antique furniture. While a restored or well-maintained piece can command top dollar in the marketplace, pieces with serious condition issues may lose much of their worth over time. You can preserve your investment, enhance your home’s aesthetic environment and safeguard your family’s heirloom pieces by seeking established experts for any needed restoration work. An expert restorer of 1700s furniture can accurately assess the condition of your treasured pieces, make recommendations for effective maintenance, and perform lasting repair work that brings back your furniture’s visual appeal and structural integrity.
