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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Item type: Antique and Vintage
Style: Federal
Period Antique American Massachusetts Federal Carved Mahogany Sofa Circa 1800
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Period Antique American Massachusetts Federal Carved Mahogany Sofa. Curved and scrolled crest rail, with the arm rests terminating in carved pineapples and bulbs, set on fluted legs with brass casters, vertical stripe upholstery. Circa 1800. Solid Hardwood Construction and Hand Doweled Joinery. Eight way...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Hardwood, Mahogany
Brass and Iron Hand Made Fireplace Tool Set With Stand
Located in Sheridan, CO
Exquisite set of hand made brass fireplace tools from England (late 1800s) along with hand forged iron brush from France (mid 1800s). Set includes shovel, fork, tongs, brush and stan...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
1800 Federal Style Brass and Wire Steeple Top Fire Fender
Located in Sheridan, CO
Fireplace surround in the Federal Style. American brass rail top and wire fire fender with brass ball faceted steeple top finials and wire work, New Y...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
4-Piece Federal Bedroom Set: Vanity, End Table, Dresser, Chest of Drawers
Located in Soquel, CA
4-Piece Federal Bedroom Set: Vanity, End Table, Dresser, Check of Drawers
Elegant bedroom set from the Royal furniture Line by Robert W. Irwin and Ro...
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Mahogany Beacon Hill-Old Colony Collection Sideboard
By Beacon Hill
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A mahogany sideboard tagged by the Beacon Hill, Old Colony Collection. This piece is fashioned out of beautiful flame mahogany with a glossy finish and features ebonized columns with...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
American Walnut Tall Case Clock by Solomon Gorgas
Located in Essex, MA
By Solomon Gorgas. Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Works just cleaned and in good working order. With arched bonnet with pinwheel inlay in the scrolls. Glazed door opening to enameled wo...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Federal Style Mahogany Trumeau Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
An Early 20th Century Federal Style Mahogany Trumeau Mirror with hand painted on board perched eagle with yellow background. Measures 21.5" tall and 11" in width.
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Paint
Fine Bench Made Carved Mahogany Serpentine Front Dovetail Drawers Vanity Desk
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Fine Bench Made Carved Mahogany Serpentine Front Dovetail Drawers Vanity Desk Dressing Table.
The discoloration spot is under the finish, finish ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century American Federal Bachelor's Chest of Drawers
Located in Forney, TX
An exceptional quality American Federal Style Bachelor's chest of five drawers from the first half of the 19th century.
Finely hand-crafted of warm rich solid mahogany, having a r...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Federal Mahogany & Giltwood Figural Eagle Wall Mirror 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Shipping Rates - Reliable Service & Fully Insured***
An antique Federal wall mirror offers shaped mahogany frame having giltwood figural eagle crest, fl...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Federal Giltwood Convex Bullseye Eagle Acanthus Mirror 31"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th Century gold giltwood bullseye / convex wall mirror featuring a round frame carved with an American eagle with wings outstretched and bunches of acanthus leaves, over a ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
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
HONORE LANNUIER: Cabinetmaker From Paris - 1998 The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
By Charles-Honoré Lannuier
Located in Rochester, NY
Honore Lannuier: Cabinetmaker from Paris - Peter M. Kenney - 1998 The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Abrams. Softcover book - 253 pages - black/white and...
Category
1990s American Federal Furniture
Materials
Paper
19th Century Federal Style Mahogany Pembroke Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Federal Style Mahogany Pembroke Table . Measures 17.5" in width close, 34" in width open, 24.5" in depth and stands 26" tall.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Federal Gilt and Ebonized Dolphin Foliage Convex Mirror. Circa 1800
By A. Belokopytoff
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal gilt carved wood convex mirror with a perched intertwined dolphin on a rocky ledge, ebonized reeded banding, circular ball m...
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Gesso, Glass, Wood, Ebony, Giltwood
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 Furniture
Materials
Maple, Paint
Early 19th Century American Walnut Federal Style Drop-Front Desk
Located in Louisville, KY
Circa 1830's, this walnut Federal Sheraton style plantation desk has a single front drawer on the lower desk and double doors on the upper piece. The double doors open to reveal intr...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique American Federal Mahogany Feathers Plume Wall Vanity Mirror 26"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique mahogany Americna Federal style carved wall or vanity mirror with applied gilt plumage / trio of feathers accent.
Dimensions:
13" x 1" x 25.75" / Mirror - 8.875" x 13.875" (...
Category
Early 20th Century Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Federal Mahogany Swell Front Card Table, Bell Flower & Eagle Inlay, C1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Lower In-House Shipping Rates - Reliable Service, Competitive Rates & Fully Insured***
An antique Federal game table offers mahogany construction in swell front form wi...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Federal Style Burl Mahogany Nightstand Side Table Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
An Early 20th Century Federal Style Burl Mahogany Nightstand Side Table Cabinet.
Features one dovetail joint drawer and divided lower cabinet with smooth closing door.
Measure 16.5"...
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Burl
Barbara Barry Style Mahogany Dining Chairs by Hickory Chair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome set of six mahogany dining chairs featuring a generous seat and round back in the style of Barbara Barry. Made by Hickory Chair with fluted or reeded legs in the front. The ...
Category
20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Architectural Wooden Fan Form Element in Old White Paint
Located in Milford, NH
A nice example of an architectural wooden radial fan form element in old white paint, dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, in very good overall condition, with some minor p...
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Vintage Federal Style Pembroke Table - a Pair
Located in west palm beach, FL
Exquisite pair of inlay mahogany pembroke tables featuring squared tapered legs on casters. This pair of pembroke tables will immediately eleva...
Category
Early 20th Century Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Federal Corner Cupboard in Early Yellow Paint with Glazed Doors & Barrel Back
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a one piece Federal period New England corner cupboard with a barrel back , a molded cornice with dentil molding surmounting two upper case glazed glass multi-panel...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Glass, Pine
Antique Mahogany Demilune Flip Top Console Game Table with Hidden Drawe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Mahogany Demilune Flip Top Console Game Table with Rear Drawer. Item features a hidden pull out rear drawer with hand dovetail, flip top, nicely carved details, beautiful woo...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Crotch Mahogany Individual Glass Pains Door Drop Front Secretary Breakfront MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Crotch Mahogany Individual Glass Pains Door Drop Front Secretary Breakfront MINT!
Category
20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of 4 Drawer Banded Top Demi Lune Consoles Dressers Brass Drop Pulls MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of 4 Drawer Banded Top Demi Lune Consoles Dressers Brass Drop Pulls MINT!
Category
20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
American Empire Pier Mirror, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
An early Empire giltwood pier mirror with rope twist split column, flower basket and leaf blocks with acorn spherules and original mercury glass, c.1815-1840.
29 inches wide by 5 ¼...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Henredon Burl Walnut Round Center Lamp Side Occasional Table Stand Shelves Mint!
By Henredon
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Henredon Burl Walnut Round Center Lamp Side Occasional Table Stand Shelves Mint!
Category
20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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
Rare Pair Antique American Federal Convex "Bullseye" Mirrors, Circa 1850-1870.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rare Pair Antique American Federal Convex "Bullseye" Mirrors, Circa 1850-1870. Carved Gilt Wood and Metal.
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Metal
20th Century Centennial Federal Style Cherry Queen Size Canopy Bed
Located in Germantown, MD
A Centennial Federal Style canopy queen size bed in good vintage condition.
Measures 65"in width, 86.75" in depth and stands 86.5" to the top of the posters. Headboard is 42.5" high...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Cherry
Pair of Compatible Bronze Bouillotte Table, Desk Lamps, Tole
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of Compatible Bronze Bouillotte Table Lamps, Tole
The set having matching shades and finials with compatible bases, one urn form and one column form. Both are bronze having bro...
Category
Early 20th Century Federal Furniture
Materials
Bronze
American 44 Star Flag, circa 1891
Located in Nantucket, MA
Rare Antique American 44 Star Flag, circa 1891, marking admission of Wyoming as a state in 1891. This was an official flag of the United States for only five years, making it one of ...
Category
1890s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Muslin
Antique 18th Century Pine Wall Hanging Corner Cabinet With Painted Blue Interior
Located in Peabody, MA
An 18th century New England hanging pine corner cupboard ca. 1760 with a Prussian-blue arched interior and paned glass doors.
Category
Mid-18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Glass, Pine, Paint
All Rosewood Double Glass Doors Adjustable Shelves Pull Out Desk Secretary MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
All Rosewood Double Glass Doors Adjustable Shelves Pull Out Leather Top Desk Secretary MINT!
Category
20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
1940s Weiman Regency Tooled Leather Mahogany Convertible Demilune Cocktail Table
By Weiman
Located in Germantown, MD
A 1940s Weiman Federal Style Mahogany Demilune Fold-Top convertible Tooled LeatherCoffee Table. Open coktail table top is mahogany. Tooled leather top on fold-top demilune only. Tab...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large Courthouse Eagle Globe Lamp
Located in Peekskill, NY
This lamp features a 16 inch diameter milk glass globe. I think thats the largest globe we have ever offered and it does make a statement. The decorative elements definitely say muni...
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Glass
Stickley Furniture Federal Mahogany Inlay Sideboard Credenza Buffet
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant Stickley inlaid mahogany buffet from the Colonial Williamsburg Collection. Features stunning bell flower and oval inlay on tapered legs.
Sides have star inlay. It has two lo...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Early 20th Century Federal Brass and Iron Andirrons
Located in Germantown, MD
A pair Early 20th Century Federal Brass and Iron Andirrons. Measuring 8" in width, 18" in width and 21.5" in height.
Recently repolished
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
American Federal Period Maple Chest, Late 18th C
Located in New York, NY
American Federal period Maple chest, late 18th century, rectangular with molded cornice over four long drawers with brass lock plates and pulls on bracket feet.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
19th C. Federal Style Gilt Wood Mirror w/ Eagle & Cornucopias
Located in Farmingdale, NJ
19th century federal style mirror, hand carved and intact, two cornucopias filled flanking either side of the eagle.
Classic design element of the federal period (much like the con...
Category
1880s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Plaster
American Federal Style Carved Mahogany Queen Size Poster Bedstead
Located in Germantown, MD
An American Federal Style carved Mahogany Queen size Bedstead in great vintage condition. Measures 63.5" in width, 89" in depth and 88" in height to the top of the urn finials. Head...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Colonial Mfg Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Colonial Mfg. Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock. Item features a working lock and key, includes all parts pictured. Very ...
Category
Early 20th Century Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
Federal Cherry One Drawer Stand With Inlay American
Located in Hudson, NY
Federal cherry, inlaid one drawer stand, first quarter 19th century likely Connecticut. The rectangular mahogany cross-banded and geometric inlaid top with birdseye maple, mahogany a...
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Pine, Birdseye Maple, Cherry, Mahogany
Federal Bow Front Hepplewhite Chest
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice and clean Federal Mahogany Hepplewhite chest with cock beaded drawers and resting on a tall French foot. Very good condition ...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of American 19th Century Grain Painted Cannonball Twin Beds
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of American Federal Grain Painted and Decorated Twin Cannonball Beds. Most likely Maine. Circa 1830. Retaining original paint decoration of the Federal Period
Mixed woods, ma...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
Stunning Federal Pine Corner Cupboard, Virginia, Circa:1815
Located in Alexandria, VA
This late Georgian pine corner cupboard, more than 200 years old, bears all the hallmarks of a piece of architectural detail from a circa 1815 house of a wealthy Virginian of the era...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Pine
Wallace Nutting Tavern Table #660
Located in Parkesburg, PA
Wallace Nutting Tavern Table #660
Circa 1920's Hardwood Construction, Single Dovetailed Drawer, Joined Stretcher Base.
Writing Desk or Work / Tavern Table
Original Finish and Good...
Category
Early 20th Century North American Federal Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
American Federal Maple Candlestand
Located in Essex, MA
Circular fixed top with umbrella shaped inlay of exotic woods. Turned support with tripod splayed legs.
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
18th Century Large Liverpool Cream Ware Jug for the American Market, circa 1780s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Late 18th Century Large Liverpool Cream Ware Jug Made for the American Market, circa 1780s, an extremely large soft paste pottery pitcher made by the English Liverpool potteries for ...
Category
1780s English Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Pottery
19th C. Carved And Gilt Convex Mirror for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Originally purchased in Boston. A classic deep convex mirror with multiple surrounds. The outer decorated with X shaped motifs on each side, a deep curved band with gilt spheres, an ...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Mid Century Brass Umbrella Stand Cane Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
A mid Century sol8d brass Federal Style umbrella Stand. Measures 8" in width, 8" in depth and stands 26" tall.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Federal Early 19th Century Sheraton Bow Front Cookie Corner Chest of Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Exceptional early 19th century Sheraton bow front chest of drawers. The case is constructed of lovely flame mahogany. There are four drawers a...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Federal Rare Match Pair Of Boston Servers / Dressing Tables
Located in Hudson, NY
A fine, rare to find matched pair of Boston federal servers / dressing tables with backboard and scrolled sideboards on rectangular tops. The frame has ...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Pine
Early 18thC Pembroke Drop Leaf Side Table/Drawer
Located in Malibu, CA
18thC antique New England Pembroke drop leaf table, beautifully constructed. Featuring a long drawer, the opposite side has a faux drawer with match...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Hardwood
Antique Tall Chest Of Drawers
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A handsome Antique Chest with fine traditional form and good color. Antique tall chest of drawers with three over two over four graduated drawers. T...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Federal Mahogany Pedestal Trifid Demilune Table
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 20th Century Federal Mahogany Pedestal Trifid Demilune Table with brass paw feet. Measures 25" in width, 13" in depth and stands 22.5" tall.
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
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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