The Gothic Revival movement (also called Victorian Gothic or Neo-Gothic) emerged in Britain in the 1740s, and reached its height in the late-19th century. Gothic Revival furniture's characteristics include such decorative flourishes as pointed arches, floral details, finials, heraldic motifs and linenfold carving.
The movement was rooted in religious and social conservatism. Gothic Revival's proponents, who included Charles Barry and A.W.N. Pugin, the architects of London’s Houses of Parliament (designed in 1840), believed that the art and architecture of the Middle Ages were authentically spiritual and inherently moral.
In the United States, the Gothic Revival movement shaped both public buildings and private houses. Numerous American schools were built in the early-19th century in a style now called Collegiate Gothic. Many builders and craftsmen were inspired by Andrew Jackson Downing’s widely read 1850 book Architecture for Country Houses, which posited that a family’s home should exemplify their values — and that the Gothic Revival style was particularly well-suited to scholars and clergymen. Furniture with detailing that mirrored that of Gothic Revival buildings appeared in the same period. Such pieces typically feature dark, intricately carved wood, and upholstery in velvet or leather.
Much like the castles or cathedrals that inspired them, Gothic Revival chairs, bookcases and beds make a bold design statement. And while you probably don’t have to cross a moat or raise a portcullis to get through your front door, a Gothic Revival piece will declare that your home is indeed your castle.
$300Sale Price / set|33% Off
Gothic English Ink Stand, circa 1880
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1880 brass & wood ink stand, English. Gothic Revival brass strapwork. Ebonized trim accents. Burl walnut. 10 1/2" W., 7 7/16" D., 3 5/16" H. Whitehall Antiques is a family bus...
Brass
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Charles X Gothic Revival Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Siena Marble Inkwell
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Of rectangular shape, decorated with gothic cathedral arcades, with two wells and two pen holders, raised on a Siena marble base raised on scrolled feet. Between the twelfth and six...
Siena Marble, Bronze
Italian Patinated Brass and Marble Architectural Model Inkwell, circa 1875
Located in Atlanta, GA
Cast in great detail in bronze in the neo-Gothic style, the top lifting to reveal three round openings, lacking glass inkwells, resting on a marble plinth base, raised on cast bronze...
Marble, Bronze
Charles X Gothic Revival Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkwell
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Of rectangular shape, cast with gothic style arcading, the removable top depicting a fallen knight adjacent to a broken column and opening to two wells. In the early 19th century, ...
Bronze
Gothic Revival Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkwell with Porcelain Plaque
Located in London, GB
A Louis-Philippe Gothic Revival gilt and patinated bronze inkwell Rising from two-tone gilt bronze bracket feet, the patinated bronze rectangular inkwell having a band of circular...
Bronze, Ormolu
$2,213 / set
H 3.15 in W 3.15 in D 5.32 in
Three Sterling Silver Mounted Commemorative Horse Hoof Inkwells
Located in London, GB
These interesting inkwells were crafted in Britain between the Victorian period and early to mid-20th century. The works have been created from horse hooves, applied with sterling silver mounts. Each hoof has been set onto a silver horseshoe and features a silver top and lid. Two of the tops have been engraved to imitate real horse hair, while the third is more simple, with banded ornament. All three have been given covers, two of which feature commemorative inscriptions. One lid states, ‘The Grey/1907-1917’ — presumably the name of the favourite racehorse, whose hoof this is — and another reads, ‘Mavourneen/ Died June 29th / Aged 53’. ‘Mavourneen’ is an Irish Gaelic word meaning ‘my beloved’. The dedicatee’s age of 53 implies that they were a human, perhaps a jokey, or racehorse owner. The lids open up onto a silver-lined interior, intended to be used for storing ink as part of a desk arrangement. The inkwells are stamped, on their underside, with silver hallmarks and maker’s marks, ‘J.T.’ and ‘C & CS’. This set of three horse hoof inkwells...
Sterling Silver
$2,040
H 4 in W 4 in D 2.5 in
English Regency Inkwell in Patinated Bronze and Ormolu with Dolphin Mount
Located in London, GB
English Regency patinated bronze and ormolu double inkwell. Set upon a rectangular base with mercury gilt ormolu moulding of "stiff leaf and dart" design. The inkwell holder itself, ...
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Bronze Letter Rack - Gothic Revival
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant French bronze letter rack, late 19th century. The openwork design features intricate Gothic Revival motifs with stylized foliage, quatrefoils, and decorative details, complem...
Bronze
English Edwardian Mahogany Book Stand, Circa 1900
Located in High Point, NC
Lovely period Edwardian book stand made from Mahogany and expertly inlaid with satinwood. This charming book stand is absolutely precious! The stand is made from mahogany and then...
Mahogany, Satinwood
Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival Writing Slope Desk Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival writing slope desk box. A letter box is flanked by the original brass collared & hinged inkwells in brass surrounds (the hinges now a bit loose fro...
Brass
English Brass Telescope on Tripod Stand signed Dollond, London Circa 1890
Located in Charleston, SC
English brass telescope on tripod stand with slipper feet. Telescope has the original carrying case with lens covers. Late 19th Century
Art Deco Model of a Boeing 314 Clipper Airplane Circa 1938
Located in London, GB
A superb Art Deco Model of a Boeing 314 Clipper Aeroplane Circa 1938. The Boeing Clipper was a long range Flying Boat made by the Boeing Aircraft Company i...
Wood
Inkwell In Gilt Bronze And Crystal, 19th century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Inkwell in gilded bronze and crystal from the second half of the 19th century Original gilding in perfect condition 19th century, Napoleon III 8.2 x 10.6 cm, total height 8.2 cm
Crystal, Bronze
An Art Nouveau Patinated and Gilt Bronze Inkwell, Circa 1900.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An Art Nouveau patinated and gilt bronze inkwell, circa 1900. An Art Nouveau patinated and gilt bronze inkwell, signed, circa 1900, lacking the glass receptacle. Dimensions : H: 5....
Bronze
Brass Desk Top Model of a Kedge Admiralty Anchor
Located in London, GB
A brass desk top model of a Kedge admiralty anchor. Well modeled with Shank, stock, crown, flukes, shackle and keep pin.
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Patinated Bronze Inkwell
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Art Deco period patinated bronze inkwell featuring symbols of the Zodiac By Tiffany Studios New York, USA, early 20th century Measures: 4"W x 4"D x 2"H. Good o...
Bronze
$20,149 / item
H 4.73 in W 19.3 in D 19.3 in
Otterburn Chess Set, Board & Box —Solid Patinated Brass & Walnut by NOVOCASTRIAN
Located in Washington, GB
A special chess set in solid, hand-patinated brass and walnut. Handcrafted in the North to order. Available in a range of materials and finishes, Otterburn can truly be customized an...
Stone, Limestone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Copper, Stainless Steel...
Sold
H 4.53 in W 11.03 in D 7.09 in
Gothic Antique Sterling Silver Ink Stand by Joseph Angell & Son, London, 1893
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1843 by Joseph Angell & Son, this striking, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver Ink Stand, is in the Gothic Reviva...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 4.14 in W 7.88 in D 2.96 in
Gothic Revival Inkwell in Gilt Bronze and Sienna Marble, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Oval gilt bronze inkwell in Neo-Gothic style, decorated with cathedral arcades and rosettes. It houses two inkwells with their lids and a pounce pot decorated with openwork branches,...
Siena Marble, Bronze
19th Century bronze and ormolu oval encrier
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century bronze and ormolu oval encrier, having gothic arched gallery and scrolled base, ending on replacement marble plinth base.
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
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H 4.14 in W 7.88 in D 2.96 in
Gothic Revival Inkwell in Gilt Bronze and Sienna Marble, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Oval gilt bronze inkwell in Neo-Gothic style, decorated with cathedral arcades and rosettes. It houses two inkwells with their lids and a pounce pot decorated with openwork branches,...
Siena Marble, Bronze