Federal Furniture
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.
Style: Federal
Color: Gray
Rare Early 19th Century American Porcelain Pitcher by Tucker & Hemphill
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine and rare, early 19th century Tucker and Hemphill porcelain pitcher.
Of classic form with typical polychrome floral sprays to both sides and gilt decoration.
Tucker and Hemphill was the important first large-scale producer of porcelain in America. They operated in Philadelphia from 1826-1838, and pieces are extraordinarily hard to find and highly coveted by American collectors.
For comparable examples, visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art's online collection.
Simply a wonderful piece of early American porcelain...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Virginia MetalCrafters Federal Style Polished Brass and Steel Fire Tool Set
Located in Germantown, MD
An exquisite set of Federal Style Polished Brass and polished stee Fireplace Tool Set by Virginia MetalCrafters. Excellent vintage condition. Cast brass polished and polished steel....
Category
20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
Gilded Gold Wood Floor Mirror by John Richard
By John Richard
Located in Toledo, OH
Gilded floor mirror by John Richard. Mirror features a serpentine arched top with a paneled boarder throughout. Each section has a distressed mirror with a thin beveled edge. Carved ...
Category
20th Century North American Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
Federal Cast Brass Hearth Bench Fireplace Trivet / Stool, circa 1840s
Located in Germantown, MD
Federal Style cast and polished brass hearth bench or trivet with a pierced floral top, pierced floral border skirt, and terminating on cabriole leg...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Kindel Oxford Mahogany Frame Federal Mirror Wall Gold Gilt Carved Eagle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Kindel oxford mahogany frame federal mirror wall gold gilt carved eagle. Item features gold gilt carved eag...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Federal Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Ionic Column Plaster Architectural Study Objet D’art
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A plaster study of an ionic column. Marked in pencil “American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, PA.” Rough unsealed plaster patina.
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Plaster
Boston State House Staffordshire Blue & White Pottery Plates
Located in Downingtown, PA
Boston State House Staffordshirepair of pottery plates
John Rogers & Son,
1825
This Rogers underglaze blue printed plate of the Boston State Ho...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Pearlware, Pottery
19th Century French First Officer’s Uniform Red Epaulettes
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century French First Officer’s Uniform Red Epaulettes
Good pair of French Officers Epaulettes made in Red Silk and lined in black velvet, the f...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique English Copeland Late Spode Toby Jug Pitcher Colonial Englishman
Located in Dayton, OH
19th century Copland Late Spode English Staffordshire rare porcelain toby jug in the shape of asdeated colonial Englishman holding a cup and pitcher. 180288...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
American Serpentine Brass Finial & Artistic Wire Work Fire Fender, Boston C 1800
Located in Hollywood, SC
American serpentine brass ball finial and artistic wire work fire place fender, Boston, MA. Early 19th Century.
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wire
American Brass and Artistic Wire Work Fire Place Fender, New York, Circa 1810
Located in Hollywood, SC
American brass and artistic wire work fire place fender, New York. Early 19th century.
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wire
American Brass and Artistic Wire Work Fire Place Fender, New York, Circa 1810
Located in Hollywood, SC
American brass and artistic wire work fire place fender, New York. Early 19th century.
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wire
Armorial Service of Samson Chinese Export Porcelain for the American Market
By Edmé Samson
Located in Essex, MA
Partial set of Samson hand painted Chinese Export style porcelain for the American Market.
In beautiful orange trim with hand printed gilt motif. American eagle in centre with Shi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Admiral Eagle Federal Round Bull’s-Eye Wall Mirror
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Beautiful round mirror with eagle surmount. In a bronze hue. A great example of the American federal style.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Resin, Plastic
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1940s Brass Greek Key Architectural Element
Located in Stamford, CT
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1940s American Vintage Federal Furniture
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Drab Mirror Polished Stainless Steel Floor Mirror by Zieta
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Located in Beverly Hills, CA
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Located in New York, NY
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H 31 in W 11 in D 5.5 in
Antique Federal Style Wooden Fireplace Mantel
Located in Sheffield, MA
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Antique Federal Style Mahogany & Gold Gilt Eagle Wall Mirror
Located in Charlotte, NC
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I Need a Boy-Toy, Vanity Mirror, Mixed Media Objet D'art
By John Seubert
Located in Chicago, IL
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John Seubert
I Need a Boy-Toy (Like I Need a Refrigerator)
mixed media
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JSE074
In the early Nineties, John Seubert was living in a former hotel in a high-rise building on St. James Place in Chicago. The apartment was tiny, as hotel rooms tend to be, and clad with paper-thin walls allowing sound to pass from one apartment to the other. At the time, John’s artwork consisted of pounding copper sheets into tables which was a noisy endeavor to say the least. Following several noise complaints from the neighbors, John had a dream that he was living in a ramshackle house but with plenty of room to work and no attached neighbors. The following day after lunching at the McDonalds in Lincoln Park, John wandered the neighborhood a came upon a shabby, falling-down old Victorian house. He located the real estate agent, put in an offer, and weeks later was pushing a shopping cart full of his belongings to his new home.
This 144-year-old Painted Lady provided a blank canvas for this inimitable artist. For many years the house remained so empty that John was able to ride his Japanese fold up bike throughout the 1st floor. “Some people want to have sex...
Category
Early 2000s American Federal Furniture
Materials
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Previously Available Items
Oversized Antique Federal Baluster Brass & Wrought Iron Andirons Circa 1800
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique set of large Federal fireplace andirons offer brass and wrought iron construction with balustrade columns raised on scroll form cabriole legs terminating in ball feet, c18...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
H 23.5 in W 10.25 in D 20 in
American Federal Wire and Brass Fender with Scrollwork Decoration
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal Period thirty eight and a half inch wire and brass fender with artistic decorative scrollwork over arched wire verticals surmounted b...
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Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wire
American Federal Wire and Brass Fender with Swags and Scrolls
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal period wire and brass fireplace fender. The wire fender has an extra layer of detailing in the shape of swags and scrolls against vertical...
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Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
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Brass, Wire
Antique Old Staffordshire Blue Willow Toby Jug Pitcher Colonial Englishman
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique turn of the century Old Staffordshire rare pottery toby jug in the shape of a colonial Englishman holding a cup and pitcher, and decorated with a chinoiserie blue willow...
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Early 20th Century Federal Furniture
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Porcelain
Set of Three Federal Brass and Iron Firetools
Located in Essex, MA
Three piece comprising a poker, shovel and tongs with ball finials. Newly polished.
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Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Set of American Brass Finial and Polished Steel Fire Place Tools, Phil. C. 1810
Located in Hollywood, SC
Set of three American brass finial and polished steel fire place tools, Philadelphia. Early 19th century. Set consists of tong, shovel, and poker.
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1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
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H 38 in W 5.75 in D 1.5 in
American Brass Finial and Artistic Wire Work Fire Place Fender, Phil. c. 1810
Located in Hollywood, SC
American brass finial and artistic wire work fire place fender, Philadelphia. Early 19th Century.
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wire
H 15.5 in W 53.5 in D 15 in
American Early 19th Century Federal Gold Leaf Over Mantel Mirror
Located in Wells, ME
American early 19th century Federal period gold leaf overmantel mirror. This carved wooden split column mirror is enhanced by areas of brightly burnished gold which contrasts to the ...
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Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
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Gold Leaf
American Federal 18th Century Gold Leaf Mirror with Classical Frieze
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal 18th century gold leaf mirror with bold cornice from which are suspended gold leafed balls. The cornice helps to frame a handsome...
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Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
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Gold Leaf
Federal Style Patio Set, Table, Attributed to Molla, Dolphin and Star Design
By Molla
Located in Toledo, OH
Heavy cast aluminum patio set in the Federal style attributed to Molla. 42" table and 4 chairs. Dolphin arm supports and leg supports on the ta...
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Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
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La Barge Gilt Gold Wood Mirror Floral Basket Detail Mirrored Insert Border
By La Barge
Located in Toledo, OH
La Barge gold gilt mirror with carved floral basket details at the top. Decorative inlay mirror border.
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Late 20th Century North American Federal Furniture
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Wood
H 39 in W 22.5 in D 1.5 in
19th Century Carved Gilt Gold Pier, Console, Floor or over the Mantle Mirror
Located in Stamford, CT
An enormous monumental 19th century carved gilt gold pier, console, floor, full length or over the mantle mirror. This simply stunning heavily carved floor, pier, console or over the...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Federal Furniture
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Mirror, Giltwood
Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal furniture made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Kindel Furniture, Drexel, and Edward F. Caldwell & Co.. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $115,000 while the average work can sell for $2,800.
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