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.
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
$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
19th Century Silver Gilt Presentation Casket Awarded to Alderman Abel Heywood
Located in London, GB
An Elkington & Company Silver Gilt Presentation Casket Hall Marked for Birmingham, 1891 and the maker; the casket, in the Victorian Gothic manner, with cluster columns at the angles...
Vermeil
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
Superbly Handcrafted Pair of Arts & Crafts Brass Candlesticks / Holders, 1910s
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and very stylish pair of Gothic candlesticks made in the Arts & Crafts era. If you are looking for rare and good quality antiques in the Gothic style to grace your living ...
Brass
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
$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
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
French Gothic Revival Wrought Iron Calendar
Located in Queens, NY
French Gothic Revival-style (19th Century) wrought iron calendar (Related items: 035057A, 035057B, 048571D)
Iron
19th Century Lectern Louis-Philippe Period
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This Louis-Philippe period table lectern in cherrywood resting on four turned legs, has three positions for three different reading angles. France, circa 1840.
Cherry
$2,177 / 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
Large Antique Campaign Burr Walnut Writing Box. English. C.1870
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful burr walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware and ebony stringing Working secret drawers* Replaced leather No Key Free U...
Brass
$2,007
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
Pair of Arts and Crafts Brass Candelabras, Gothic Design, 1910
Located in Montreal, QC
This unusual pair combine an Arts & Crafts sensibility with a Gothic twist. Each tapering central spire supports a pair of pierced hexagonal open candleholders. The round base is tur...
Brass
$65Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.57 in W 6.5 in D 1.38 in
Set of Antique Bound Books Dating from the 19th Century, France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of old religious books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are called "Commentaries". These beautiful books are perf...
Paper
Set of Old Bound Books from the 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are entitled "Journal des missions Evangeliques» with Map (Mission...
Leather, Paper
$350
H 4.75 in W 13 in D 9 in
Antique 19th Century Victorian Birdseye Maple Traveling Writing Slope Box
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique dark birds eye maple writing slope with brass M monogram plate on top with green felt lining and multiple interior storage compartments finishe...
Felt, Birdseye Maple, Ebony
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
$8,158
H 28.75 in W 50.79 in D 21.26 in
19th Century Infants Coffin Casket, Carved Wood, Etched Glass, Memento Mori
Located in Lowestoft, GB
For sale a very rare early 19th century infants coffin carrier, this would of been housed on a horse and cart hearse. The casket has a decorative wrought...
Wrought Iron
Italian 19th Century Lit De Presentation, Presentation Bed
Located in Round Top, TX
A charming later 19th century Lit De Presentation - Presentation Bed from Venice, Italy. Such a wonderful piece was used to formally "present" the infant at his baptism. This bed wil...
Wood
19th Century Grand Tour Antique Handmade Bronze Mortar with Pestle
Located in Roma, IT
19th-century grand tour antique handmade bronze mortar with pestle. This fantastic piece has an original patina. The pestle is 9.05 inc high wit...
Bronze
Sold
H 4.34 in W 3.75 in D 1.19 in
Neo-Gothic lock. Wrought iron. Spanish school, 19th century. Incomplete.
Located in Madrid, ES
Neo-Gothic lock. Wrought iron. Spanish school, 19th century. Incomplete. Wrought iron lock decorated with arched shapes and architectural elements inspired by Gothic architecture ...
Iron
Gothic Revival Coromandel and Brass Lap Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Highly-prized coromandel, or East Indian ebony, was used to create this beautiful 19th-century British Gothic Revival lap desk. The desirable wo...
Brass
Sold
H 5.75 in W 5.75 in D 10.5 in
Antique Carved Oak 19th Century Gothic Revival Reticulated Letter Post Box
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian / Gothic Revival oak post box with slots labeled Answered and Unanswered leading to two red velvet lined compartments, encased with heavy carvings and pierced flora...
Velvet, Oak
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
Pair of Bookends, 19th Century Bronze-Mounted Horn
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of 19th century bronze-mounted horn bookends are ideal for decorations, desktops, or as bookends on any surface. Cattle horns were a symbol of affluen...
Bronze
19th Century Collectible Sealing Seal in Vermeil by Jean Jacques Feuchère
By Feuchere
Located in Marseille, FR
Collectible sealing seal in vermeil (hallmark with the boar's head) and hard stone 19th century dimension height 6.7 cm representing Méphistophélès: Feuchère represents a very melanc...
Vermeil
Sold
H 6.25 in Dm 8.75 in
Handcrafted Pair of Arts and Crafts / Gothic Revival Wrought Iron Candle Sticks
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and very stylish pair of Gothic candlesticks made in the Arts and Crafts era. If you are looking for rare and good quality antiques in the Gothic style to grace your livin...
Wrought Iron
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
Set of Four 19th Century Carved Wood Gothic Spires
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of four 19th century carved wood Gothic Spires are great for using as decorative accents, or even placing atop an existing piece of furniture to creat...
Oak
19th Century Dovetailed Wood Box with Pyrimidal Cast Brass Lid
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century dovetailed wood box with pyramidal patina cast brass lid features raised figural relief appearing to be ten of the apostles. The lid r...
Brass
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
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