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 Ships From: USA
Style: Federal
American Federal Mahogany Chest Of Drawers
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top with pinched corners over four graduated drawers with oval brass handles.
Bracket feet.
Category
1790s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Federal Style Mahogany Credenza Sideboard Server
Located in Elkton, MD
Sheraton-style mahogany sideboard server with spacious storage features. This elegant piece showcases two expansive drawers and two large cabinets, providing ample storage space.
Category
1970s American Vintage Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early 20th-C. Federal Style Sofa W/ Painted Gustavian Finish & White Upholstery
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early Federal style sofa that has been given a fresh update with a Swedish / Gustavian antique finish. The white upholstery is in very go...
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany, Paint
Vintage Spreadwing Brass Eagle Bookends by Virginia Metalcrafters, 1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Offered is a beautiful pair of spread-wing eagle bookends by Virginia Metalcrafters, stamped 1952. The eagle is shown with its wings fully spread and a laurel branch and bundle of ar...
Category
1950s American Vintage Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Miniature 3-Drawer Mahogany Bow-Front Chest, Mid-Atlantic, Circa:1795
Located in Alexandria, VA
This charming little chest was hand made as a cabinet maker's sample, or more likely as a toy chest for a very privileged little girl to keep her doll's clothes in. It was made in a ...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Federal Grain Painted and Stenciled Document Box 19th Century American
Located in Hudson, NY
A spectacular and fine, dovetailed poplar, rosewood grain painted and ebonized document box. The gold stenciling is of a very fine quality. Retains the original fire gilded steel bai...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Gold, Steel
Pair Hickory Chair Federal Style Upholstered Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Hickory Chair Furniture Federal Style Upholstered Mahogany Armchairs in great vintage condition.
Measures 25" in width, 25" in depth, 36" in height, 18" seat height. Arm heig...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Virginia Craftmen Federal Mahogany Pencil Post Canopy Twin Size Bedsteads, Pair
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Federal Style Mahogany Pencil Post Canopy Bed Steads by Virginia Craftmen furniture.
Measures 41.5" in width, 81" in depth and 77.5" in height to the top of the finials. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
1960s Federal Style Mahogany Drop-Leaf Rolling Buffet Bar Server Card
Located in Germantown, MD
1960s Federal style genuine mahogany drop-leaf rolling buffet server and bar cart with 3 drawers functioning perfectly, with dovetail joints cons...
Category
Mid-20th Century Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Kittinger Thomas Jefferson Octagonal Mahogany Rotating File Rent Center Table
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful mahogany File or Rent table by Kittinger. This table is part of the Thomas Jefferson collection that was authorized by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. It is a reproduction of the original table which was used by Thomas Jefferson and is located in the Monticello Library today. It has an octagonal top with hand-turned/hand-carved fluted pedestal baseending in a hoof foot. The four dovetailed drawers and four hinged door compartments have inlaid boxwood alphabetical lettering. The top swivels 360 degrees. Originally Purchased from William W. Sauer Associates Ltd. Virginia Beach, VA in 1997.
"Monticello," Italian for "Little Mountain," is an enduring tribute to the genius and versatility of Thomas Jefferson, who personally designed and supervised erection of the splendid mansion. He resided in it for many years of his long life, his spirit lives on in its architectural perfection and the ingenious devices with which he equipped it, and he is buried nearby. Sitting amid pleasant gardens and lawns on a hilltop, the residence overlooks Charlottesville; the University of Virginia, which Jefferson founded and some of whose buildings he designed; and the green rolling hills...
Category
1990s Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Vintage Boho Carved Burl Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Boho chest of drawers. Beautiful Burl wood drawers with incredible wood grain detail. Hand carved corner posts. Acquired from ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
1940s Federal 5 Arm Petite Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Federal style brass five arm chandelier with fluted details and candlestick arms from 1940s. Cleaned and restored. Please note, this item is located in our Scranton, PA location.
Category
1940s Vintage Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Federal Style Mahogany Barrel-Back Upholstered Seat and Back Armchairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Federal Style mahogany barrel-back upholstered seat and back armchairs.
Very good vintage condition. Double layer seat. Very...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Tall Narrow Georgian Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk Individual Glass
By Reprodux
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Tall Narrow Georgian flame mahogany drop front secretary desk individual glass panes doors MINT!
Category
20th Century English Federal Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Drexel Heritage Federal Style Mahogany Tooled Leather Slide Top 10-Drawer Desk
By Drexel
Located in Germantown, MD
A rare Drexel Heritage Bonheur du Jour Federal Style mahogany tooled leather slide top desk with 10 functional drawers. It is superb condition and is beautifully designed. The desk area has 5 top smaller drawers, 4 rear, very deep drawers, a large center drawer with original brass drawer knobs...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Mahogany Drop Front Desk High Chest of Drawers
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful warm highboy dresser with drop-front secretary. Leather embossed writing surface with 3 drawer storage. Perfect size with versatility for an apartment or stately home. Rich...
Category
Mid-20th Century Federal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood, Birdseye Maple
Pair American Mahogany Serpentine Inlaid Knife Boxes with Cutlery Interiors
Located in Charleston, SC
Wonderful pair of cutlery boxes with chevron inlay and sloped lid with an oval Patera surrounding a sea shell. These knife boxes have a Family History of being from Baltimore.
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
L. J. Frazier American Federal Giltwood Wall Mirror, Circa 1910s
By Larry Frazier
Located in Germantown, MD
American federal giltwood wall mirror, Circa 1910s by L. J. Frazier.
Giltwood frame in very good shape. Original Mirror shows signs of aging, but in good condition. Circa 1910s.
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Federal Boston Mahogany Sideboard Attributed to the Seymour Workshop
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional Federal Boston demilune Mahogany sideboard, with shaped top with delicate arrow inlay surmounting a conforming case with deep central frieze drawer flanked by smaller ...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture Federal Flame Mahogany Bow Front Sideboard Credenza, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Federal or Georgian style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet
By Baker Furniture,
USA, Mid-20th century
Book-matched flame mahogany, with satinwood string inl...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
1910s Pair of Petite Bronze Federal Two-Arm Wall Sconces, Floral Details
Located in New York, NY
1910s pair of petite Federal style floral bronze sconces with two arms and ribbon detailing.. Priced as a pair. This can be seen at our 400 Gilligan St location in Scranton. PA.
Category
1910s American Vintage Federal Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Boston Gilt Convex Mirror Labeled William Balch
Located in Charleston, SC
This 1830s Boston convex mirror has a wonderful scrolled frame with a foliate crest centered on the four quarters. The central feature of the frame has an oak leaf ring...
Category
1830s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood, Gesso
Early 19th Century American Federal Gilt Overmantel Mirror
Located in New York, NY
This American Federal-period overmantel composition mirror features a gilt carved wood and gesso frame. A sculpted eagle is perched above an églomisé panel depicting flowers. Separating the panels of original mirror glass are engaged Corinthian columns, and atop each of the ends are flame-and-leaf finials. The mirror is of an unusual design, but two Federal-period New York mirrors...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Giltwood, Mirror
Federal Mahogany Worktable
Located in Westwood, NJ
A fine American Federal reed leg mahogany cross banded worktable with fitted top drawer and sewing bag drawer.
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Blue Formal Traditional Antique Persian Tabriz Rug
Located in New York, NY
Room size antique Persian Tabriz rug. Blue Field Red Border
8'10'' x 11'5''
Category
1920s Persian Vintage Federal Furniture
Materials
Wool
American Mid Atlantic States Federal Style Sideboard
Located in Bridgeport, CT
With bow front, bold circular marquetry door fronts, string inlay, inlaid bell flowers on tapering legs, marquetry trim, brass drop pulls and escutcheon. The bottle drawers have been...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
1920s Silver Plated Six-Light Colonial Style Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
1920s six light Federal style chandelier. Made of brass with a silver finish. Price includes restoration. This can be seen at our 400 Gilligan...
Category
1920s American Vintage Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
1920s Pair of Federal Style Iron and Crystal Sconces with Arrow
Located in New York, NY
From circa 1920, fashioned out of iron with crystal dressing and presented in a Federal style. This can be seen at our 400 Gilligan St location in Scranton, PA.
Category
1920s American Vintage Federal Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Iron
American Federal Style Banjo Clock
Located in Asheville, NC
Gilded wood case Banjo clock with decorative brass cutwork and back painted glass, enameled clock face with Roman numerals, brass pendulum and winder. Surm...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Furniture
Materials
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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