The Differences Between Georgian & Queen Anne Style Furniture
It’s time for you and your partner to move home. You have both been given promotions at work and things are looking up.
Your new property is larger, and you both have an eye for style and tradition. Here is your big chance to start afresh regarding furnishings.
Both avid watchers of shows wherein collectors travel to different places in search of antiques, you have always fancied obtaining a few pieces of old furniture.
Some of the classic costume dramas on TV have also ignited your imagination. You would want this appreciation for the timeless elegance of the long-gone days to resonate in your new home, so you’ve decided to start your search online.
As beginners, you are not quite sure where to start; what period you like, and how can you possibly tell them apart. It is time to do some research and speak to experts in this field. After discussions following fun studying you may have decided that Victorian furniture isn’t quite for you. You are down to looking for either George or Queen Anne style.
Furniture styles from different periods can vary greatly, but rest assured that with a reputable antique furniture dealer, you won’t have a problem looking for antiques for sale in Georgian and Queen Anne styles.
| Note: Both styles of furniture were popular during their respective periods, but Georgian furniture has remained popular even into the 21st century. Queen Anne furniture, on the other hand, has fallen out of favor in recent years. While both styles have their fans, Georgian furniture is currently more popular than Queen Anne furniture. |
What Are The Differences In The Two Styles?
Queen Anne reigned from 1702 to 1714, with her time as monarch being described as late baroque, with the furniture reflecting this.
Compared to its predecessors, the furniture style is more comfortable yet smaller and lighter. Commonly found examples feature curving shapes, the cabriole leg with pad feet, as well as practical secretary desk-bookcase pieces, wing-back chairs, and cushioned seats. There is an emphasis on lines and form rather than being ornamental.
Georgian furniture covers the period from 1714 to 1820 when three British monarchs George I, II, and III were on the throne.
The furniture of the time saw mahogany succeed walnut as the material of choice, with chairs shortened and still featuring the earlier cabriole legs, except that it ended in a more elaborate ball-and-claw foot.
Straight forms with intricate low-relief ornamentation were the usual design of the time as the early Georgian period, reflecting a continuation of Queen Anne, but heavier and richer, like gliding and lavish upholstery.
Tables and chairs were fitted with brass castors and legs sporting a scallop shell. The famous designers of the day were Thomas Chipperfield, George Hepplewhite, and Thomas Sheraton, whose influences are still spoken about today.
What Items Might Fit Best Into Your Home?
- A Queen Anne-style desk or bureau in walnut will brighten up any living room or hallway, adding immediate elegance. A set of chests of drawers or a dressing table may be what you are looking for to enhance your bedroom. Perhaps a visit to a museum exhibiting antique furniture may invigorate your imagination.
- Bookcases began to appear around the beginning of the Georgian period, so perhaps this nod to history might be the perfect way to display your collection of tomes.
- It may be that you decide on a mixture of the two eras to suit your preferences, as pieces become available on the market.
Whatever you decide, invest in quality and a style that will never go out of fashion. Make your new house into a home with Georgian or Queen Anne-style furniture.
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