J D Oriental Rugs

Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.

Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.

Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.

The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.

Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

In preparing for your next holiday party or dinner party, an antique or vintage dessert table might just be the perfect finishing touch.

Dessert tables are elegant pieces essential for hosting both formal and casual gatherings. Also known as tilt-top tables or loo tables (named for the card game), these eye-catching furnishings make it easy to host large parties so that guests are not confined to a single space for the night. The top of a tilt-top table is typically hinged to a pedestal in the structure’s center so that its surface can be turned from a horizontal to a vertical position and parked in the corner of a living room or dining room. This gives it an advantage over a traditional side table and allows it to take up less space when it’s not in use.

Dessert tables are deliberately built small or narrow so that they are easy to maneuver. These compact tables were especially prominent in the 18th century in the United States and England where they regularly accompanied social interactions like tea drinking. During the early 1920s, the sterling-silver full tea service and tray designed by Tiffany & Co. set atop your dessert table might include a hot-water kettle on a stand, a coffeepot, a teapot, a creamer with a small lip spout, a waste bowl and a bowl for sugar, which the British were stirring into tea by the 1720s and ’30s.

Older dessert tables often feature intricate carvings and motifs, making them enduringly popular through the decades. Many tilt-top tables likewise have elaborate veneers for a decoration that can be viewed when they are tilted down and stored against a wall.

Find antique and vintage tilt-top tables and dessert tables in various styles and finishes on 1stDibs.