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Federal Chairs

FEDERAL STYLE

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.

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Style: Federal
Windsor Highchair In Original Paint Circa 1820
Located in Hudson, NY
Beautiful American, windsor, arrow-back high chair in original surface. Circa 1820, this chair is in excellent condition with an incredible surface history. The splayed legs are much...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Maple, Paint

Antique Pair of Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis #2
Located in Norton, MA
Early 19th Century Antique Pair of Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis with stylized scroll form rail over slat back, caned seats, and splay legs, c1830. Mea...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Four Federal Tiger Maple Slat Back & Cane Seat Dinning Charis
Located in Norton, MA
Early 19th Century Four Antique Federal Tiger Maple Slat Back & Cane Seat Dinning Charis with stylized scroll form rail over slat back, caned seats...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique 2 Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis
Located in Norton, MA
Early 19th century Antique 2 Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis #3 with stylized scroll form rail over slat back, caned seat...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Pair of Federal Birch Wood Dinning Charis
Located in Norton, MA
Early 19th Century Antique Pair of Federal Biech Wood Dinning Charis with stylized scroll form rail over slat back, caned seats, and splay legs, c1830. Measures- 33.5''H x 17.5''W...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Pair of Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis
Located in Norton, MA
Early 19th Century Antique Pair of Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis with stylized form, caned seats, and splay legs, c1830...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Wood

American Federal Painted Child's Windsor Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Hallowell, US
New England rod back Child's Windsor side chair, with original surface.
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Ash, Maple

American Federal Wingback Chair with Blue Upholstery
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Federal period mahogany American wingback armchair in blue upholstery. In very good condition and nicely re-upholstered. Structurally sound and comfort...
Category

Early 1800s American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Set of 10 Federal Style Dining Chairs Attributed to Nathan Margolis, Hartford CT
Located in Milford, NH
A fine set of ten Federal style mahogany dining chairs attributed to Lithuanian / American well known furniture maker Nathan Margolis, of Hartford CT, two ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Federal Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Pair of Antique Federal Style Chairs, circa 1890-1910
Located in New Orleans, LA
Set of antique Federal style chairs, circa 1890-1910 EDC016.
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

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19th century American Bird's-Eye and Tiger Maple Sleigh Bed
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Classic American sleigh bed in a double size. Made of fine New England tiger and bird's-eye maple, it is solid, sturdy and would fit a mattress approximately 75 inches x 50 inches.Se...
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1820s American Antique Federal Chairs

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Pair Antique English Arts & Crafts William Birch Liberty & Co. Rush Chairs
Located in London, GB
Pair Antique English Arts & Crafts Liberty & Co. Rush chairs attributed to William Birch. circa 1890 Very good condition commensurate of age. Good solid construction.
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Antique Theater Seats
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Antique Cast Iron & Wood Theater Seats Overall Dimensions: 42 1/2" x 20" x 32 1/4" high Seat Height: 17 1/2" Materials: Plywood & Cast Iron
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Early 20th Century American Federal Chairs

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Antique Theater Seats
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Three Seat Sofa 'U' Frame Arms and Back with Tapered Slats in Style of Ohlsson
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This beautiful Swedish sofa in the style of Ohlssen with 'U'-shaped frame continuous in the armrests, a modern style with slats from the 1960s, gives a very special accent to the Mid...
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1960s Swedish Vintage Federal Chairs

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Michael Graves Pair of Postmodern Lounge Chairs in Silk and Bird's-Eye Maple
Located in Toronto, Ontario
An amazing pair of Postmodern lounge chairs by iconic designer Michael Graves, circa 1980 These chairs were created with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. A rare ...
Category

1980s American Vintage Federal Chairs

Materials

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Early 19th Century Bird’S-Eye Maple Sabre Leg Caned Bench
Located in Southampton, NJ
Scarcely seen figured bird’s-eye Maple Sabre leg early 19th century bench c. 1820-1840. Fully hand detailed with solid reinforced joinery, features include substantial French caned s...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

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Swedish Painted Folk Art Kubbstol Chair
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Folk Art Kubbstol chair from Northern Sweden. A Kubbstol chair is made from a hollowed tree trunk; from a single piece of wood that's been hewn out to form the seat, back and frame. ...
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Pine

Swedish Painted Folk Art Kubbstol Chair
Swedish Painted Folk Art Kubbstol Chair
H 36.62 in W 18.51 in D 18.51 in
Pair of French Wood Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible pair of carved wood armchairs from France, 1940s. Beautiful carved bobbin wood legs and criss-cross detailing on back. Dark stain has been newly refreshed and shows some i...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Federal Chairs

Materials

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Pair of French Wood Armchairs
Pair of French Wood Armchairs
H 30 in W 21.5 in D 22 in
Swedish Gustavian Original Painted 3 Drawers Dresser
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An early 19th century original painted small Scandinavian chest of drawers from the region of Värmland in Sweden. This small Gustavian 3 drawer dres...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

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Pine Trunk or Blanket Chest in Original Decorative Paint
Located in Baltimore, MD
We love antique trunks in original red and green paint. This small blanket chest has a worn green background all over, except, as is usual, the bac...
Category

Mid-19th Century Hungarian Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Pine

Wedding Chest From Circa 1820
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
German dowry chest made circa 1820 for one Anna Bertha Holderegger. Hand painted with beautiful fine details. The iron details such as the hinges ar...
Category

1820s German Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Oak, Pine

Wedding Chest From Circa 1820
Wedding Chest From Circa 1820
H 20.87 in W 40.16 in D 17.33 in
Pair of French Antique Giltwood Caned Side Chairs
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A delightful pair of late 19th century carved and moulded giltwood side chairs, with caned seats and backrests. These elegant chairs, with their high, cartouche-style backs, are rais...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Cane, Giltwood

Previously Available Items
Federal Mahogany Upholstered Lolling Chair, circa 1785
Located in Milford, NH
A fine Federal mahogany lolling chair with fresh red satin upholstery featuring gold wheat accent pattern, circa 1785. Provenance: Bernard & S. Dean Levy...
Category

1780s American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Set of 8 Mahogany Federal Style Upholstered Dining Chairs with Satinwood Inlay
Located in Milford, NH
A fine set of eight mahogany Federal style upholstered dining chairs including two arm chairs and six side chairs, with stepped crest rail on each chair with inlaid panel, reticulate...
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20th Century American Federal Chairs

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8 Mid Century Windsor Farmhouse Walnut Bow Sack Back Dining Arm & Side Chairs
Located in Dayton, OH
"Eight handmade 18th century inspired windsor dining chairs, circa 1950s. Made from walnut featuring bentwood slatted back and saddle seat. Features 6 bow back chairs and 2 sack back...
Category

Mid-20th Century Federal Chairs

Materials

Walnut

2 Vintage S. Bent & Bros Colonial Windsor Thumb Back Black Maple Side Chairs
By S. Bent and Bros.
Located in Dayton, OH
2 S. Bent & Bros Hitchcock style colonial windsor thumb back side chairs. Made from maple with a black finish, stenciled back and gold trim. S. Bent & Brot...
Category

Late 20th Century Federal Chairs

Materials

Paint, Maple

Eight Antique Federal Tiger Maple Slat Back & Cane Seat Dining Chairs circa 1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
A set of eight antique Federal dining chairs offer tiger maple construction with stylized scroll form rail over slat back, caned seats and splay legs, c1830. Measures- 33.5''H x 1...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

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Maple

Set of Four American Antique Windsor Step-Down Chairs Maker's Stamp circa 1815
Located in Hallowell, US
Bearing maker's stamp, the paint is enhanced on the seats and legs. Obviously New England
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Wood

6 Vintage L. Hitchcock Harvest Stenciled Fan Back Windsor Maple Dining Chairs
Located in Dayton, OH
Six L. Hitchcock Harvest Windsor dining chairs. Made from maple with a stenciled fan back, contoured seat and gold trim. The story of L. Hitcock begain in 1814 when 19-year-old Lambert Hitchcock of Chesire, Connecticut was apprenticed to Silas Cheney (1776-1821) of Litchfield as a novice woodworker. Cheney was the typical cabinetmaker of the period turning out well made examples of Federal sideboards and fancy painted chairs that caught young Hitchcock’s attention. While apprenticed to Cheney he became familiar with the work of Eli Terry, the famous clock maker and inventor. Terry had formed a partnership with Seth Thomas and his son, also named Seth Thomas, to produce the components of wooden clock works in an assembly line fashion. This little trick stuck in Hitchcock’s mind as he mapped his future. In 1818 Hitchcock completed his apprenticeship and moved to a tiny sawmill community in the township of Barkhamsted known as Fork-of-the-Rivers at the junction of the Farmington and Still Rivers. He found employment in the local sawmill which was owned by some family friends and settled in. He “homesteaded” a small room at the back of the mill and after tapping into the mill’s power source from the river he began to manufacture a small number of unfinished individual chair components. He sold these components to Yankee traders who sold them to mercantile stores as replacement parts for broken chairs. Business was good and demand soon outstripped his ability to meet it by himself. He hired some help to make the parts and began to expand his market, shipping chair components as far away as Charleston, South Carolina. He eventually graduated to making complete unfinished chairs...
Category

Late 20th Century Federal Chairs

Materials

Maple, Paint

Set of 6 Early 19th Century American Tiger Maple Hitchcock Chairs
Located in San Francisco, CA
An unusually good set of six maple wood Hitchcock style chairs with rush seats. In excellent original antique condition. Sturdy and Sound. Rece...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Maple

Six American Federal Period Rush Seated Faux Bamboo Chairs
Located in Hudson, NY
This set of six chairs from America is of the federal period and were made circa 1820. An additional armchair that came along with the set is included since they were purchased from ...
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Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Rush, Wood

Antique Set of Six Federal Mahogany Wheat Carved Shield Back Dining Chairs c1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique set of six federal dining chairs offers mahogany construction with shield backs with carved wheat and raised square and tapered legs terminating in spade feet, c1920 Me...
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Early 20th Century Federal Chairs

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Wood, Mahogany

Set of Eight American Federal Mahogany Acanthus Carved Dining Chairs Circa 1820
Located in Hollywood, SC
Set of eight American Federal mahogany acanthus carved dining room chairs with scrolled arms, foliage splat backs, and terminating on turned bulbous ...
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1820s American Antique Federal Chairs

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Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany

Fine Set of 4 Federal Hemplewhite Style Carved Wood Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 newly upholstered Federal Hemplewhite style dining chairs with shield back. Carved wood back and high quality Holly Hunt leather to t...
Category

1880s North American Antique Federal Chairs

Materials

Leather

Federal chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Federal chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal chairs made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $275 and tops out at $8,900 while the average work can sell for $1,525.

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