Although named for the last Stuart monarch of England, antique Queen Anne furniture, with its curvy cabriole legs and pad feet, has its origins in the earlier reign of King William III, which began in 1689 and ended with his death in 1702. Later evolving during Anne’s rule from 1702–14, the style would continue to influence design in the decades after her death.
Sometimes called late Baroque or early Georgian, Queen Anne chairs, bedroom furniture and tables are subdued yet ornate and characterized by a graceful blend of influences ranging from Asian design to classical motifs. Furnishings of this era — with their curvilinear supports and novel emphasis on comfort and versatility — are marked by a shift away from the more opulent and angular William and Mary style.
Chairs designed in the Queen Anne style are more functional and lightweight than their predecessors. They often feature a vase or fiddle-shaped splat, which refers to the central vertical back element, in order to support the spine and plush cushions. Craftsmen of the era predominantly worked in walnut, maple and pine. Any embellishments they introduced in their furnishings were frequently minimal and refined and expressed by way of modest flourishes such as shells or scrolls. Some pieces were more lavish with “japanned” finishes, or varnished interpretations of East Asian lacquer art. Almost every piece of furniture, whether a tea table or desk, included S-shaped, animalistic cabriole legs that end in a paw or claw-and-ball form.
These qualities made Queen Anne furniture popular throughout Europe and North America. Boston and Philadelphia became hubs for the production of this style of furniture, spurred by the arrival of British artisans who fostered a market for well-heeled colonists. While the showier Chippendale style later surpassed it in popularity, Queen Anne’s simple elegance still draws an enduring appreciation.
Find a collection of antique Queen Anne dining tables, seating, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.
Snuffbox with English Queen Anne style Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal snuff box in gilded 925/1000 silver with English Queen Anne style borders and sides with fired enamels painted like lapis lazuli stone. On the lid, a very fine fire-enamell...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Snuff Box Octagonal English Queen Anne style Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal snuff box in sterling silver 925/1000 gold plated with borders in the English Queen Anne style and sides with translucent fired enamels on ...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique William IV Sterling Silver Table Snuff Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique William IV English sterling silver table snuff box; an addition to our collectable silverware collection. This exceptional antique William IV sterling silver snuff box has a rectangular, rounded form. The body of the box is embellished with impressive chased floral motifs accented with scrolling stem and foliate ornamentation, all on a matte background. The decoration to the body incorporates a chased single leaf design to each corner, emanating from the rounded lower portion. The upper rim of the body and swept sides of the cover are encompassed with a continuous band of engine turned decoration. The underside of the box features a further panel of engine turned decoration. This exceptional example of antique silverware is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover embellished with an engine turned bordered rectangular vacant cartouche to the upper plateau. The cover is further embellished with an exceptional cast and applied domed, incurved border to the upper portion, matching the ornamentation to that of the body and continuing to an impressive floral thumbpiece to the anterior edge. This antique sterling silver snuff box opens to reveal the original gilded interior. Condition This antique sterling silver snuff box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. The chased and applied ornamentation is all very sharp and the engine turned decoration is all very crisp. Full hallmarks struck to the interior of the box are all very clear. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this antique silverware. Dimensions Length 9.8cm/3.9" Width 6.5cm/2.6" Height 4.3cm/1.7" Weight 8.2 troy ounces/253g Maker: Joseph Willmore...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$239Sale Price|65% Off
H 3.35 in Dm 2.56 in
Smooth oval silver snuffbox with enamel flag and hinged lid
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Smooth oval silver snuff box with enamel flag and hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: English. Brand: Birmingham. Weight: 78.14 grams. Dimensions: 8.5x6.5cm. Content: 925...
Silver
Antique English Art Deco Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
George VI sterling silver box. Made by Robert Pringle & Sons in London in 1939. Rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged and tabbed; top has engine-turned wave ornament and rect...
Sterling Silver
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.25 in W 8.13 in D 3.5 in
English Modern Sterling Silver Box with Saudi Arabia Association
Located in New York, NY
Elizabeth II sterling silver box. Made by Peter Nicholas & Co Ltd in London in 1989. Rectangular with corner bracket supports and hinged open scroll end handles. Cover hinged and fla...
Sterling Silver
$3,637
H 7.09 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
'Queen Anne' Design Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Biscuit Box by Barnards
By Barnards
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1889 by Barnards, this attractive Victorian, antique, sterling silver biscuit box, has swirled and sunken half fluting, in the Queen Anne style. It has a flus...
Sterling Silver
$5,250
H 0.47 in W 1.77 in D 3.07 in
Art Deco Louis Kuppenheim Attributed Sterling Silver Enamel Japonisme Snuff Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique German Art Deco period silver & enamel snuff box. Attributed to the workshops of Louis Kuppenheim in Pforzheim, Germany. In sterling silver. With a red enamel grou...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Smart Antique English Sterling Silver Cigar Case / Box
Located in Bath, GB
A very handsome top-quality four finger cigar case or box made from a heavy gauge of solid English sterling silver weighing 151 grams / 4.86 Troy Ounces. The case is in near mint co...
Sterling Silver
George III Sterling Silver-Mounted Etched Mother-of-pearl Snuff Box
Located in New York, NY
Georgian (George III) Period, sterling silver-mounted etched mother-of-pearl octagonal snuff box with hinged lid, London, year-hallmarked for 1803. The iridescent mother-of-pearl lid...
Sterling Silver
English Sterling Silver Vanity or Bathroom Jar Box
Located in New York, NY
An antique English sterling silver and cut-glass vanity, dresser, or bath/powder room jar box, Victorian period, circa late-19th century, England. The sterling silver top/lid has a r...
Sterling Silver
20th Century Antique Queen Anne Style English Sterling Silver Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver box made in the George I style, an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional antique George V sterling silver box has a plain circular form in the George I style. The surface of the box is plain and encircled with applied molded decoration. This impressive George I style box is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover ornamented with a plain circular elevated panel to the center. The hinge is ornamented with a shaped undulating design in conjunction with the cover and the body. The box secures closed with a hallmarked hinged catch to the anterior edge, reflecting the same design to that of the posterior. This impressive example of antique silverware is an exceptional replica of an early Georgian...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sold|$809
H 1 in W 2.25 in D 1.5 in
Antique English Sterling Silver & Agate Snuff Box by Hilliard & Thomason - 1902
Located in Bath, GB
A spectacular example of a solid silver snuff box inset with two agate stone panels to top and bottom, both in beautiful undamaged condition with a bright polished patina. The box h...
Agate, Sterling Silver
English Art Deco Sterling Silver Box
By John Rose
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco sterling silver box. Made by John Rose Birmingham in 1969. Rectangular with plain straight sides. Cover hinged with tapering tab. Cov...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.99 in W 2.56 in D 2.17 in L 0.99 in
Snuffbox with miniature of Venice, English Queen Anne style, 925 silver Salimben
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with English Queen Anne style borders and sides with translucent fired enamel on hand engraving similar to wood grain. On t...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
George III Style Brass Container with Lid
Located in Sheffield, MA
George III style with Moorish mid-eastern or Indian influence, large decorative octagonal bronze tea caddie box with a hinged lid. The box has perforated holes design at the base, oc...
Brass