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.
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Style: Federal
Period: 19th Century
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Antique 19th Century American Federal Eagle Bullseye Convex Rondel Wall Mirror
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 19th Century American Federal Bullseye convex mirror. Features a round hardwood ebonized and gilt frame with eagle crown and leaf foliate. Originally belonged to Frances Jaspe...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Rare Antique American Federal Mahogany Inlaid Sofa Settee Boston Massachusetts
Located in Dayton, OH
A Very Fine American Federal Period Carved Mahogany Sofa, circa 1810. Features a bowback frame with cross banding. Sloped arms lead to reeded supports in front of remarkable three-di...
Category
1810s Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Cherry Hand-Planed Gate-Legged, Drop Leaf Dining Table
Located in Louisville, KY
Not your ordinary drop-leaf table, this early 19th century cherry gate-leg, drop-leaf table was hand-planed and hand-turned to create a wonderful dining table that doubles as a conso...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Cherry
1800s American Federal Mahogany Butler's Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
An early 19th Century Federal Mahogany Butler's Secretary Desk recently refinished.
Measure 45.75" in width, 21" in depth and 44" in height.
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Federal Flame Mahogany Secretary Writing Desk Gothic Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
A fine and impressive antique early 19th century Federal Period flame Mahogany secretary and bookcase. The bookcase features an eighteen pane Gothic arched cabinet...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Pair Large 19th C. American Federal Empire Brass Curtain Tie Backs.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair Large 19th C. American Federal Empire Brass Curtain Tie Backs.
An elegant pair of American Empire floral motif curtain tie backs. Large, 5 Inc...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Federal Butlers Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
Very attractive Mahogany southern Federal Butlers Desk probably mid Atlantic states around 1820-30. Large bottle drawers on either side of a nicely fi...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Federal Swirl Mahogany Butler's Desk New York, Circa 1800s
Located in Germantown, MD
An American Federal Swirl Mahogany Butler's Desk New York Circa late 18th Century to Early 19th Century , featuring three flawlessly working upper drawer, and A Abattant Door that o...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Rare Antique Federal American Mahogany Secretary Writing Desk Gothic Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
A fine and impressive Federal Period Mahogany secretary and bookcase, circa 1830s. The bookcase features an eighteen pane gothic arched cabinet fro...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Federal Style Flame Mahogany Serpentine Hepplewhite Sideboard Marquetry Cabinet
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Stunning serpentine federal style sideboard, flame mahogany veneer and patterned marquetry inlay. Sold with unrestored with original patina and losses. Great bones for a complete res...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique American 4 Poster Acanthus Carved Southern Bed in Mahogany, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
Period Antique Federal American 4 poster bed in West Indies mahogany, c. 1820. A fine example of a Southern bed featuring carved tobacco and acanthus leaves in a fine tight grained C...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American "French Sideboard" Attributable to Duncan Phyfe, New York, circa 1815
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptionally fine and rare "French Sideboard Table" in mahogany, attributable to the workshop of the eminent New York cabinetmaker, Duncan Phyfe, circa 1810-1818.
This exquisit...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
American 1800’s Federal Style Two Drawer Drop-leaf Side Table
Located in Louisville, KY
This lovely table is an example of an era of furniture long gone. Made in Burlington, Vermont in the mid 1800’s, this beautiful cherry, burled walnut and poplar as secondary, showcas...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Poplar, Walnut, Burl
Classical American Federal Gondola Sleigh Bed in Mahogany, Philadelphia, c. 1830
Located in Miami, FL
An exquisite classical American gondola sleigh bed in fine West Indies mahogany from the Federal period in Philadelphia, circa 1830. Inspired by the aesthetic ideals of ancient Greek & Roman furniture popularized during the Empire & Federal period, this sleigh bed features shaped sideboards with an out-scrolled headboard...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century American 39 Star Flag, circa 1889
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century American 39 Star Flag, circa 1889, a period printed silk parade flag with a wavy pattern of dancing stars. This was never an official flag of the United States but was m...
Category
1880s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Silk
Antique 19th Century American Federal Giltwood Eagle Bullseye Convex Mirror
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Regency style convex bullseye wall mirror featuring a carved eagle with open wings and 13 small spheres representing the original 13 colonies around the inside ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique 19th C. American Federal Crotch Walnut 2 Drawer Side Table Nightstand
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique American Federal Side Table. Made from walnut with two hand dovetailed drawers, turned drawer pulls and crotch walnut veneer front. The table is supported by long squared l...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Neoclassical Federal Pedestal Sideboard in Mahogany, circa 1815
Located in Miami, FL
A very long and elegant American Federal, pedestal sideboard in mahogany with mahogany inlaid bandings along the borders. Inspired by the classical architecture of ancient Greece and...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
NYC Federal Full Tester Bed Attributable to Lannuier w Four Floral-Carved Posts
By Charles-Honoré Lannuier
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional American Federal sleigh bed with tester in fine West Indies/ Cuban mahogany with beautifully-articulated floral and acanthus-leaf carvings, along the crest of the headboard and footboard, and on the four posts, attributable to the French-born cabinetmaker Charles-Honoré Lannuier...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Philadelphia Federal Work or End Table in Mahogany, circa 1820
By Anthony Quervelle
Located in Miami, FL
A stunning American Federal table in mahogany with neoclassical form in the manner of renown Philadelphia cabinetmaker Anthony Quervelle. Top offers ...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
1818 Declaration of Independence Broadside Engraved by Benjamin Owen Tyler
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a stunning 1818 engraving of the Declaration of Independence, the first engraved broadside of our nation’s founding document. The year 1815 saw the conclusion of the United S...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Paper
American Federal Mahogany Child's Four-Post Bed
Located in Queens, NY
American Federal-style (19th Century) small mahogany child's four poster bed with pineapple finials (includes: headboard, footboard, does not include rails.) (Irregular size, check m...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Philadelphia Federal Wardrobe / Armoire in West Indies Mahogany c. !820
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional American Federal wardrobe from Philadelphia in fine West Indies mahogany. Features split cylindrical columns with elaborate acanthus-carved Corinthian capitals flanking doors with book matched, crotch-mahogany panels. The stepped ogee-style crown molding, too, is expertly book matched, along with the concave base board...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Federal Drop-Leaf Table in Mahogany, circa 1825
Located in Miami, FL
A federal table in mahogany with drop-leaves, on turned legs with large leaf carvings and ending in casters. Offers one drawer with original wooden pull.
Note: You should always req...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Federal Mahogany 2 Drawer Inlaid Side Table Brass Gallery 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique American Federal inlaid mahogany side or work table with a brass gallery, circa 1810.
The table with four brass turned columns with ball finials joined with circular b...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
American-Market "Peace, Plenty and Independence" Liverpool Creamware Jug
Located in Downingtown, PA
"Peace, Plenty and Independence" Liverpool Transfer Decorated Creamware Jug,
Circa 1800
The "Peace, Plenty and Independence" Liverpool transfer decorated creamware jug has a black transfer print on one side depicting a spread wing eagle perched atop a cannon flanked by symbols of Peace and Plenty with the other side with the "Farmer's Arms," the front with "Samuel & Rachel Hayne.s" within a wreath above four lines of verse, inspired by Cupid's Lessons, reading, "My love is Fix'd, I cannot range,I like my choice,Too well to change". a second stanza not shown read " Long may we live, Happy may we be, Blest with content, And from misfortune be".
Dimensions: 10 1/8 inch height x 9 inches wide x 6 1/4 inches deep.
The print of an eagle with its wings spread standing on a cannon above a medallion containing the words, “PEACE, PLENTY, and INDEPENDENCE.” This is flanked by two allegorical figures. The figure on the left represents “plenty” holding a cornucopia, while the one on the right represents “peace” using her torch to set fire to instruments of war.
The New York Historical...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Creamware, Pottery
American Federal Gilt Wood Convex Mirror with Perched Eagle to Flee, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal gilt carved wood and gesso convex mirror with perched eagle to flee, flanking acanthus scrolled foliage, interior circular spheres, ebonized reeded ring, and termina...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Gesso, Mirror, Wood, Giltwood, Ebony
Pair Of Federal Style Mahogany Bedside Tables
Located in Essex, MA
In the style of Seymour of Boston with square tops and cookie corners. Two drawers with turned tapered reeded legs.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
The Life of George Washington by Jared Sparks, Later Printing, 1854
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Sparks, Jared. The Life of George Washington. Auburn and Buffalo: Miller Orton & Mulligan, 1854. Later printing. Two volumes in one. Octavo. Rebound in 1/4 brown leather and cloth boards, with gilt titles, tooling, and raised bands. New archival cloth slipcase.
Presented is a later edition of Jared Sparks’ esteemed biography, The Life of George Washington. First published in 1839, Sparks’ The Life of George Washington is one of the earliest and most intimate biographies of our first President. This printing was published in Auburn and Buffalo by Miller Orton & Mulligan, in 1854. Impressively detailed, the biography is embellished with 14 engraved plates of portraits, views, and battle plans...
Category
1850s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Paper
19th Century Mahogany Dining Table with Leaves with Brass Clips
Located in Huntington, NY
Table has 2 end sections and 2 leaves and brass clips. The table can be used as a pair
of side table against the wall. Great color and patina
Dimension...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
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.
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Early 19thC American Federal Period Convex Gilt Wood Eagle Mirror 1820
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique American Federal period convex gilt wood looking Glass/ mirror, circa 1820.
The mirror sumounted with a carved eagle on a plinth, the eagle with a chain suspended from...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century Dovetail Joints Secretary Drop Front Desk w Drawers Dresser
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Antique 19th Century Dovetail Joints Secretary Drop Front desk w drawers dresser.
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Walnut
18th Century American Walnut Federal Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Charleston, SC
A Federal walnut drop leaf dining table with bold wood grain, tapered square legs terminating with brass and porcelain casters, and dovetailed construction. Very good overall conditi...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
"The Declaration of Independence" Broadside, Published by Phelps & Ensign, 1841
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is an ornamental engraved broadside of the Declaration of Independence. The print was designed by William Woodruff, engraved by Story & Atwood, and published by Phelps and ...
Category
1840s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Paper
A late 19th Century Walnut inlaid Sewing Table
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Stately walnut inlaid sewing, work table with turned legs, single drawer and fabric covered slide out storage for sewing necessities. The top with a rare inlay in the form of a ship...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Satinwood, Walnut
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...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Federal Tobacco Leaf Carved Leg Table
Located in New York, NY
Federal Tobacco leaf carved leg table. Late Federal / American Empire mahogany drop-leaf table with hand carved tobacco leaf legs on original brass ca...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Federal Four Poster Mahogany King-Size Bed, Early 19th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
This elegant New York poster bed has some of the finest hand carving and delicate details making it a very fine example of a Federal bed. The solid mah...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Poplar, Mahogany
Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin, With Essays, in Two Volumes, 1796
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Franklin, Benjamin. Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin, Consisting of His Life Written by Himself together with Essays, Humorous, Moral & Literary, Chiefly in the Manner of t...
Category
1790s English Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Paper
Antique American Federal Maple Wood Canopy Single Twin Poster Bed Frame
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Federal Maple Wood Canopy Single Twin Poster Bed Frame with Carved Finials (Color indoors is more true to images 2 and 3). Buyer will...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
Antique American Federal Empire Mahogany Fold Over Pedestal Tea Game Card Table
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique American late Federal/Empire carved mahogany fold-over tea/games/card table, circa 1830.
The table having a fold-over & swivel top, below is a carved and gadrooned ap...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Federal Style Wooden Fireplace Mantel
Located in Sheffield, MA
A handsome example of an unusually large American Federal Period wooden fireplace mantel. The wood does show aged wear. Use it as is for added charact...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
A Fine Highly Figured Federal Style Pier Mirror
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A more diminutive Federal style Pier Mirror with traditional form and particularly rich color and graining. Highly figured mahogany pier mirror with a dimensional crest and two facet...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Mahogany Federal Philadelphia Work Table, Circa 1810
Located in Alexandria, VA
This handsome unique sewing/work stand is quintessentially the work of a master Philadelphia cabinetmaker. It has 2 drawers with replaced hand-cast solid brass pulls and original bra...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early Federal Style Tiger Maple Dressing Mirror
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A handsome early 19th Century Tiger maple dressing mirror with drawers. The rectangular mirror with original silvering showing appropriate age to the silver with three small drawers...
Category
1820s North American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
Antique 19th Century 4 Drawers Pull Out Tray Flame Mahogany Bachelor Chest Brass
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Antique 19th Century Federal Style 4 Drawers pull out tray flame mahogany bachelor chest brass
Pulls Dovetail Drawers.
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
American 18th Century Federal Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Carmel, CA
Sheraton style chest with four graduated drawers with inlay banding and cock beading about the perimeter. The chest has a curvaceous apron and Fr...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Federal Carved Giltwood Pier Mirror Églomisé Panel NY 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique American Federal period, Classical giltwood eglomise pier mirror, New York, circa 1815.
The mirror with a stepped cornice and applied gilt spheres, below are bands of ...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
American Federal Mahogany & Satinwood Butler's Desk with Paw Feet. NY, C. 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany butler's desk with a carved molded edge, three upper drawers with original brass knobs, sliding fall front interior desk with Satinwood drawers and pigeon h...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Centennial American Federal Gilded Carved Eagle and Mahogany Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb 1876 era Centennial American mirror with a gorgeous gilded eagle on top and garlands and detail on the rest of the mahogany frame. The frame is in good antique condi...
Category
1870s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Gesso, Mahogany
American Federal Tiger Maple One Drawer Stand with Turned Ringed Legs C. 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal tiger maple one drawer stand with original wood knob, turned bulbous ringed legs, and the original pointed feet. Secondary wood co...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple, Poplar
Carved and Painted Wooden Eagle with Shield Attributed to John Haley Bellamy
Located in Savannah, GA
In all original untouched condition including weathered paint, this wonderful Folk Art wall plaque speaks for itself. Substantial size. It looks to be made to be mounted on a ledge, ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Mahogany Banded Satinwood Inlay 5 Drawer Federal Bachelor Chest Dresser
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique mahogany banded satinwood inlay 5 drawer federal bachelor chest dresser. Item features banded satinwood inlay, beautiful wood grain, working l...
Category
19th Century North American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Federal Breakfast Table in Mahogany with Drop-Leaves, circa 1815
Located in Miami, FL
A Federal breakfast table in mahogany with a rectangular top and drop-leaves whose corners end in cyma curves, with inverted turned wooden fini...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Federal Style Cherry Butterfly Drop Leaf Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A handsomely carved and finished Federal style cherry butterfly drop leaf table with fine traditional form and great color. On four carved l...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Cherry
19th Century American Federal Secretary, Seymour School, Boston
By John & Thomas Seymour
Located in Essex, MA
Important American Federal Period Secretary. School of John and Thomas Seymour, Boston, circa 1820. Mahogany and Mahogany Veneered Case on Pine Secondary Wood. Two Gothic Fenestra...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Folding Sewing Table with Yardstick Top
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A unique and charming piece of sewing history, this antique wood folding sewing or tailor’s table from the 1800s is perfect for enthusiasts who appreciate the nostalgia and functionality of vintage sewing furniture...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
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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