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: 18th Century and Earlier
Federal Mahogany Card Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
American mahogany inlaid Hepplewhite fold top card table Circa 1790-1800. Tapered straight legs terminating at the feet in simple cuff inlay. Shaped skirt and conforming ovolo shaped...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Queen Anne Curly Maple Drop Leaf Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very attractive early Federal Queen Anne Curly Maple Drop leaf table with a great aged color and patina on an older refinished surface. Looks to possibly be a very early marriage ...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
Late 1700's American Federal Inlaid Mahogany Corner Cabinet w/ Dentil Molding
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 18th Century American Federal Inlaid Mahogany Corner Cabinet with an overhanging dentil molded cornice above the upper section with a diamond pattern individually glazed divided...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Silk Broadside An Elegiac Poem Death of President George Washington 1800
Located in Portland, OR
An important & rare antique American political printed silk broadside, an elegy on the death of President George Washington, dated 1800.
A poem on the Death of President George Was...
Category
1790s Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Silk
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
Federal Maryland Walnut Corner Cupboard
Located in Bradenton, FL
An exceptionally fine large two piece Federal Walnut architectural corner cupboard 1780-1800 attributed to the Frederick County area of Maryland s...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Antique Period American Federal Period Maple Tilt Top Side Table Late 18th C
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique Period Late 18th Century American Federal Period Maple Tilt Top Side Table with tripod pedestal base and a burl wood veneered top.
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Maple
Antique Federal Cherrywood Desk and Glassdoor Bookcase
Located in Sheridan, CO
A Late Federal Cherrywood Desk and Bookcase, Circa 1830.
This unique piece includes a folding desk and make a fabulous looking compact desk with plenty of storage in bookcase above. This was possibly a clerk's desk.
Includes plenty of storage and desk...
Category
Early 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
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 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
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
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
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
American Federal Brass Lemon Top Andirons with Cabriole Legs and Slipper Feet
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal cast brass seamed 20 inch high lemon top andirons with slipper feet and iron log holders. This pair of quite substantial andirons retain their original lemon top l...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Monumental Giltwood Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
A truly, exceptional and most fine example of the neoclassical mastery. This monumental mirror will make a truly shows-stopping statement in any parlor it is displayed.
Very forma...
Category
17th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Leaf
Rare Antique late 18th C. Federal Period Brass & Wirework Bowfront Nursery Guard
Located in Charleston, SC
This is a marvelous period, late 18th century "Adam" style wirework and brass trim bowfront Fireplace Fender with original blackened wire work hand woven in Adam swags. The wirework...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel, Wire
2 Antique Chelsea Porcelain Staffordshire Miniature Confetti Spaniel Dog Anchor
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of antique Chelsea Porcelain miniature 18th century Staffordshire figurines in the shape of brown spotted King Charles Spaniels or poodles....
Category
18th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
American Chippendale Federal Mahogany And Parcel Gilt Constitution Mirror
Located in Free Union, VA
A fine ca. 1780’s American Chippendale Federal wall mirror with a scrolling “broken pediment” which flanks a central pedestal holding a Ho Ho bird with outstretched wings standing on...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
American (Philadelphia) Mahogany Pembroke Table with Marlborough Feet
Located in Free Union, VA
A richly colored mahogany Pembroke table with unusual cross stretchers between the chamfered square legs. The drop-leaf top has attractive timber with some nice fiddle back patterning. Good antique condition with a few restorations: a slender splice repair in the top along with stress separations over the hinges, doweling and later batons (not visible under the top) added to reset the hinges from beneath. Replaced brass pull of appropriate form. Good even finish. Provenance: Philip Bradley...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century American Two Over Three Chest of Drawers
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of an 18th American chest of drawers in a two over three configuration, possibly a converted highboy top of Boston origin, with added finished molded top, original bra...
Category
18th Century 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
18th Mahogany Inlaid Card Table
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality 18th century American federal mahogany inlaid card table, the half round top intricately inlaid, supported by a gateleg to the rear, opening to a baise lin...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
2 Antique 1780 George Smith III Sterling Silver Serving Table Spoons 143g
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of large heavy antique late 18th century Georgian sterling silver serving spoons with tipped handles, monogrammed with the initials TA. Made in 1780 by George Smith III of Londo...
Category
1780s Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
NH Queen Anne Curly Maple Highboy Attributed to the Dunlap Workshop c 1760-1780
By Dunlap Cabinetmakers
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a New Hampshire Queen Anne two part highboy in curly maple attributed to the Dunlap Workshop, circa 1760-1780, its upper case featuring a hand carved cornice...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
American, 18th Century, Birdcage Tilt Top Table Probably Philadelphia, Ca. 1780
Located in Vero Beach, FL
American 18th century birdcage tilt top table probably Philadelphia ca. 1780.
Very fine American mahogany tilt top table. The top is support...
Category
Early 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Federal Hepplewhite One Drawer Mahogany Sidetable Tapered Legs
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal period Hepplewhite one drawer mahogany sidetable. This classic form has tapered mahogany legs, elegant thin solid mahogany top and one dovetailed drawer. It can free...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
George Washington Signature Collage
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is an original George Washington signature, presented framed with an oval chromolithographed portrait of George Washington printed by E. C....
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Paper
19th Century Mortar & Pestle with Original Surface
Located in New York, NY
American, late 18th century/early 19th century wooden mortar and pestle. The urn shaped mortar with rich patina has a wonderful ...
Category
1790s Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple, Wood
American Federal Mahogany Bow Front Floral Satinwood Inlaid Sideboard Circa 1770
Located in Hollywood, SC
American federal mahogany bow front sideboard with satinwood sunburst floral inlaid outset corners, centered baized lined drawer with two flanking baiz...
Category
1770s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Federal Gilt-Wood & Eglomise Painted Mirror
Located in New York, NY
This American Federal gilt-wood mirror dates
Circa 1790, it’s lower rectangular antique mirror plate below
A black, white & gold verre e...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
American Federal Philadelphia Brass Andirons Faceted Acorn Top
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal Philadelphia cast brass faceted acorn top large andirons. The motif of faceting is repeated in the stepped faceted column as well as on the acorns. The columns rest ...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
Pair of 18th Century American Federal Period Carved Fan Shaped Lintels
Located in Stamford, CT
Wonderful pair of fan shaped late 18th century American Federal period lintels or over doors with exquisitely detailed carving. The distressed painted surface adds a lot of character...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
18th c Large Federal Style American Wooden Fireplace Mantel
Located in Savannah, GA
Large size wooden fireplace mantel from "keeping Room" of a 18th century New England home. Nice subtle details including dental molding and flu...
Category
1790s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Poplar
18th Century Four Post Mahogany Bed, Likely Charleston 'converted to queen'
Located in Charleston, SC
Great 18th century period four post mahogany bed, likely Charleston. Great quality hand carved feathers and ring turnings on posts.
Has been converted to fit a queen size mattress.
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American 18th Century Federal Period Tripod Tilt-Top Table in Apple Wood
Located in Wells, ME
American federal tripod tilt-top table in apple wood, probably of Connecticut origin. The graceful scalloped edge of the top and cabriole legs along with the well proportioned vase t...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
American Federal Mahogany Marble Top Satinwood & Ebony Inlaid Console, C. 1790
By Thomas Seymour
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany marble top console table with a molded edge top, carved floral corner medallions, ebony and satinwood banding, and resting on ebony inlaid tapered legs with the original brass barrel cupped casters. Console table retains the original marble top, Late 18th century. Attributed to Thomas Seymour...
Category
1790s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique American Federal Mahogany Tilt-Top Supper Table, circa 1790
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American Federal mahogany tilt-top supper table, circa 1790. Very rare antique American supper table, most likely mid-Atlantic states, carved with a Native American head...
Category
1790s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
Federal New York Pier Mirror, Late 18th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
This Classic Greek and Egyptian motif mirror has vertical pillars flanking mirror panels framing the central split looking glass. The cornice of the mirror has a Classic Adams Urn...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Arch Top Transom Window
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rescued from an estate outside of Boston, MA this antique arch top transom window adds an architectural feast to your space. The window has its original...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass, Wood
Federal Mahogany and Birch Inlaid Secretary/Desk sq
Located in Water Mill, NY
Federal Mahogany and Birch inlaid secretary/desk with contrasting veneers and
bone pulls.
Category
1790s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Birch, Mahogany
Set of 6 American Federal Hitchcock Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 6 American Federal Hitchcock style black painted side chairs with floral decoration on back.
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Rare Mahogany Cumberland Action Dining Table Possibly Duncan Phyfe Workshop
Located in Sheffield, MA
A Rare Mahogany Cumberland action
Dining Table
Possibly Duncan Phyfe workshop
18th century
Measures:
Height 28 ½ in. Width 47 ½ in. Depth 15 ½ “Closed”
Depth 47 ½ in. by 58 in.
Pro...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Miniature Portrait on Bone with Fitted Case 14-Karat Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Dating from the late 17th century and done in the Federalist style, this finely detailed and well executed hand painted miniature portrait on bone of a period nobleman can be worn as...
Category
Late 17th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Gold
American Federal Gilt Carved Convex Eagle Pediment Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
American Federal convex giltwood wall mirror with ball design, fluted ebonized border, and eagle pediment top.
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
American Federal Floral Painted Settee
Located in New York, NY
American Federal floral painted Hitchcock style settee with roll back
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
American Federal Pine Chest
Located in New York, NY
American Federal pine chest with 4 drawers and carved column sides.
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Pine
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
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
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
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
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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