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.
Federal Giltwood Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form signed Willard on the reverse glass. Boston State house on lower panel. Brass eagle finial. Not currently working but can be.
Metal
Federal Giltwood Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form with white enamel dial and reverse painted waist and pendulum door. With key and pendulum.
Brass
American Federal Banjo Wall Clock
Located in Queens, NY
American Federal banjo design wall clock with gold stenciling and painted glass ship scene panel. (Not working)
Glass
Elmer O. Stennes Weymouth MA Eglomise Girandole Banjo Clock
By Elmer O. Stennes
Located in Milford, NH
A beautiful example of a hand made girandole banjo clock by well known Weymouth, Massachusetts clockmaker Elmer O. Stennes (1911-1975), with a signed circular face with brass ball surround, surmounted by a gilt carved eagle...
Brass
Rococo Giltwood Clock
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine 18th century rococo carved and giltwood shelf clock, the crest with stork holding a bone in his beak pearched on a romantic castle ruin with carved...
Giltwood
$5,648
H 88.59 in W 43.31 in D 17.72 in
Antique Original Clock Cabinet from Sweden, Hand-Crafted Untouched Veneered Elm
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique clock cabinet made during the early to mid 1800s, circa 1820 to 1840. The cabinet is veneered and waxed elm. The lower cabinet is...
Elm
$3,950
H 40 in W 10.25 in D 3.88 in
Waltham 8 Day Banjo Clock for Shreve Crump and Low, Simon Willard Patent
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of the Waltham “Willard” presentation model weight driven banjo clock. Waltham banjo clocks of Willard Design are faithful reproduc...
Brass
$950Sale Price|26% Off
H 20.5 in W 12 in D 3.5 in
Giltwood Cartel Wall Clock Complete, Original Key, Enameled Face, Pendulum
Located in Miami, FL
Giltwood Cartel Wall Clock Complete Original Key, Enameled Face, Pendulum Offered for sale is, a lovely and very decorative cartel wall clock with a heavy gilt finish from Sweden or...
Metal, Brass
$6,800
H 31.25 in W 17.25 in D 4.5 in
American Mahogany Pillar and Scroll Mantel Clock, Eli Terry, Circa 1825
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany pillar and scroll mantel clock with a broken arch pediment, three urn wood finials, flanking ringed columns, hinged glass d...
Brass
Antique Walnut Wall Clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Walnut Wall Clock, having a quality carved walnut case with original turned finials, reeded columns and solid walnut carvings and gla...
Brass
$297Sale Price|30% Off
H 31 in W 17.25 in D 5 in
Mason & Sullivan West German Oak Pillar & Scroll Shelf Mantel Clock 31"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid to late 20th century Mason & Sullivan pillar and scroll style, chiming, key wound mantel / shelf clock. Slim rectangular wooden case flanked with slender pillars and scrollwo...
Glass
19th-century Victorian Banjo Mother Pearl Wall Barometer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
19th-century Victorian banjo-style barometer, featuring a black lacquered wood casing inlaid with mother-of-pearl. For decorative use only as the barometer/thermometer do not appear...
Brass
John Nicholl Federal Tall Case Clock
By John Nicholl
Located in New York, NY
Federal Tall Case Clock Made and Signed by John Nicholl, (1784-1862) Belvidere, New Jersey Circa 1825 Primary Wood: Mahogany, Mahogany Ven...
Mahogany, Maple
$15,000
H 91.75 in W 20 in D 10.5 in
American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
Brass
Vintage Waterford Crystal Lismore Carriage Clock
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
An elegant addition to any mantle or desk, the Lismore Carriage Clock features an elegant cream clockface with Roman numerals and brass finish, set in a sweeping frame of fine, handc...
Crystal
Junghans Wall Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
Wood box, clock face with Arabic numbers, restored new battery movement.
Wood
New Hampshire Federal Mahogany And Tiger Maple Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
With urn finial over a round clock face with painted iron dial and Roman numerals. Hinged glass bezel. Waisted case with finely figured tiger maple flanked by carved mahogany side a...
Brass, Iron
Sold
H 34 in W 10.25 in D 4 in
Antique American Simon Willard & Son 8 Day Banjo Clock Patent Timepiece 1825
Located in Portland, OR
Rare antique American Simon Willard & Son Mahogany Patent Timepiece or "Banjo" Clock, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1825. The case made of Cuban mahogany with figured mahogany panels to ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 29.5 in W 9.75 in D 4 in
Mid Century Seth Thomas Brookfield Banjo 8 Day Springwound Eagle Wall Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1950s Seth Thomas Brookfield Colonial banjo style 8-day spring wound, pendulum, chiming wall clock with eagle finial. “Fabulous re-creation of the circa 1810 Willard Banjo Clock...
Brass
Sold
H 26.25 in W 4.75 in D 13.75 in
Antique Seth Thomas Rosewood Office Calendar No 2 No 3 Clock Case Federal
Located in Dayton, OH
An exception and rare federal style case for a Seth Thomas calendar clock model No 2 or No 3. Manufactured in the last quarter of the 19th c...
Glass, Rosewood
Sold
H 5 in W 10.5 in L 5 in
Antique American Waterbury Willard 8 day Églomisé "Aurora" #3 Banjo Clock, 1908
Located in Portland, OR
Antique Waterbury Willard No. 6 "Banjo" Clock, Connecticut, circa 1908, the mahogany case with an 8-inch porcelain Arabic numeral dial. Gilt-rope moldings enclose the reverse-painted...
Mahogany
Sold
H 40.25 in W 11 in L 40.25 in
Vintage Henry Ford Museum Reproduction of Aaron Willard Mahogany Banjo Clock
Located in Big Flats, NY
A vintage Henry Ford Museum reproduction of and Aaron Willard banjo clock offers mahogany case with figural eagle finial surmounting face signed "Aaron W...
Mahogany
19th Century American Mahogany and Églomisé Banjo Clock
Located in Savannah, GA
Gilded wood case Banjo clock outlined in relief beaded molding with decorative brass eagle atop. Features include two back painted glass panels depicting "Old Mill Stream...
Brass, Metal
Sold
H 42.75 in W 10 in L 42.75 in
Antique Federal Mahogany Banjo Wall Clock by Waterbury Clock Co, circa 1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Federal banjo clock by Waterbury offers mahogany case with reverse painted glass panels, original label as photographed, complete with pendulum and key, circa 1900 Meas...
Mahogany, Glass
Sold
H 32 in W 8.5 in D 3 in
Federal Style Seascape & Patriotic Mahogany Banjo Clock by J. E. Caldwell & Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style patriotic banjo wall clock features mahogany case with hand painted glass panels of seascape, central shield and eagle, signed on face J...
Mahogany, Glass
Federal Style Nautical Battle Scene Banjo Wall Clock by Aaron Willard
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style nautical banjo wall clock features gilt case with painted glass panels of maritime scene of tall mast ships Constitution and Guerriere i...
Mahogany
Sold
H 32.5 in W 9.5 in D 4 in
Federal Style Mahogany Banjo Wall Clock "Willard's Patent", Floral Motif
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style banjo wall clock features Mahogany gilt decorated case with pierced brass trim, rose floral with urn painted panels, "Willard's Patent",...
Sold
H 44 in W 11 in D 5 in
Federal Style Repro Aaron Willard Nautical Banjo Wall Clock by Colonial, 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style reproduction Aaron Willard nautical banjo wall clock by Colonial of Zeeland, MI for The Henry Ford Museum features gilt case with painted g...