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
Pair Federal Mahogany Upholstered Armchairs Attrib. to Ephraim Haines, C. 1805s
Located in Germantown, MD
A Fine and Rare Pair of Federal Carved Mahogany Armchairs. Finely carved, stained and Upholstered. Newer upholstery. Attributed to Ephraim Haines (1775-1837) and Henry Connelly (1770...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany, Hardwood
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
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Ship's Passport Signed, November 5, 1804
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This rare official document, dated November 5, 1804, is signed by both Thomas Jefferson as the nation's third President and James Madison as Secretary of State. The document, partial...
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Paper
Antique 19th Century Yellow Pine Chest of Drawers
Located in Southampton, NJ
Late 19th c. American yellow pine chest of 4 dovetailed drawers in solid condition with working locks & key. Naturally patinated original honey finish with fully reinforced joinery,...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Federal Chest
Located in Acton, MA
Circa 1830 cherry wood chest of drawers with. four beaded drawers. The top drawer being oversized for ample storage with three graduated drawers below. The piece is constructed with ...
Category
1830s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Cherry
Antique Federal Style Bow Front Figured Mahogany Chest for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The fine chest with four graduated drawers each with fine string inlay and with a pair of brass oval bales decorated with a classical columned rotunda and brass key holes. All drawer...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
19th Century Mahogany and Needlepoint Upholstered Footstool.
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Mahogany and Blue Needlepoint Upholstered Footstool.
Measures 19" in width, 14" in depth and 11" in height.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Upholstery
New England Windsor Style Deacon’s Bench, 19th Century
Located in Doylestown, PA
A large painted and stenciled deacon’s bench in the Windsor style with parcel gild decoration, spindle back and scroll arms, early to mid 19th century.
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Beech
$1,650 Sale Price
37% Off
A Fine Inlaid Federal Sheraton Mahogany Chest, c.1820
Located in Savannah, GA
A fine inlaid federal sheraton mahogany chest of drawers, circa 1820.
Six drawers with half columns and conforming top. Finely inlaid drawer fronts. Chestnut secondary wood.
Po...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$12,000 / item
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
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
Antique Sheraton Federal Acanthus Carved Mahogany Serpentine Game Table C1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote***
Antique Sheraton Federal Carved Mahogany Serpentine Game Table w...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$1,960 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Federal Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Federal Mahogany Chest of Drawers. Measures 36" in width, 20" in depth and 34" in height.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
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 Figured Maple Chest
Located in Acton, MA
Federal figured Maple Chest with a flame birch case. This elegant chest sits high ups up on a figured bracket for base. The four cock-beaded drawers feature inlayed cherry shield sha...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
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
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
$3,196 Sale Price
28% Off
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 convex mirror but without the distorted mirror)
Category
1880s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Plaster
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
Antique Ca. 1820 Federal Era Trompe L'oeil Painted Chest
Located in Peabody, MA
American Federal era chest of drawers in its original trompe l’oeil mustard painted finish, ca. 1820.
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
$2,275 Sale Price
30% Off
An Interesting Account of the Voyages and Travels of Captains Lewis and Clarke
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Fisher, William. An Interesting Account of the Voyages and Travels of Captains Lewis and Clarke, in the Years 1804-5, & 6... Baltimore: P. Mauro, 1813. 12mo. Illustrated. Rebound in...
Category
1810s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Paper
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
1800's American Federal Period 2 Drawer Side Table
Located in Louisville, KY
This gorgeous American Federal period table is a beautiful reflection of the early 1800's. With hand turned legs, unique irregular lines ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
American Federal Style Mahogany Chest Of Drawers
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The chest in fine traditional form and having good graining with decorative line inlay. Raised on four carved feet with four long drawers with brass oval pulls and key escutcheons. ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of Brass Ball Top Andirons
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good pair of American early 19th brass ball top andirons having ring turned collar over balustrade turned shafts, standing on hoof-footed cabriole legs with spurred knees, the log st...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
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
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
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
Vintage Regency Sheraton Drop Leaf Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Infuse your home with the classic charm of this handsome Sheraton-style drop-leaf table. Crafted from rich, warm mahogany, this piece showcases the elegant proportions and quality cr...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
Antique Circa Early 19th Century American Federal Chest on Bracket Feet
Located in Peabody, MA
Antique American Federal period chest of four drawers in cherry over bracket feet.
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
"Facsimile of the Signatures to the Declaration of Independence" by A.H. Wray
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a handsome steel engraving, a patriotic composition of the facsimile signatures of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The engraving is from John H. Hinton’...
Category
1850s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Paper
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
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
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
19th Century Federal Inlaid Mahogany Demilune Fold Top Console / Card Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Federal Inlaid Mahogany Demilune Fold Top Console / Card Table in clean antique Condition. Measures 36" in width, 17.5" in depth folded, 35" in depth unfolded and 29.5...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Maple Chest-On-Chest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The tall chest-on-chest finely crafted in maple with tiger maple drawers. The top chest has a cavetto cornice over two short drawers flanking a center short drawer with a finely carv...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th century Giltwood and Églomisé American Federal Mirror
Located in Savannah, GA
Detailed early 19th century American federal églomisé, or reverse painted giltwood mirror featuring a primitive house with three chimneys. It came fro...
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
$119 Sale Price
92% Off
Very Fine Antique Secretary Bookcase with Brass Eagle Crest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Well constructed with fine mahogany veneer with Federal style brass eagle finial on a pedestal. The carved cornice with urn form finials over a carv...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
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
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
$2,060 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
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
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
American Federal Blanket Chest, c.1820
Located in Savannah, GA
A Federal painted blanket chest, circa 1820.
48 inches wide by 20 ½ inches deep by 26 ½ inches tall
Category
1820s Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Pair of Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis #2
Located in Norton, MA
Early 19th Century Antique Pair of Federal Tiger Maple & Bird's Eye Cane Seat Dinning Charis with stylized scroll form rail over slat back, caned seats, and splay legs, c1830.
Mea...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Federal Mahogany Work Table/ Nightstand Attributed to Isaac Vose, Boston
By Isaac Vose
Located in Miami, FL
A very handsome Federal work table in fine West Indies mahogany with fold-down leaves. There are two drawers with two rounded columns flanking each side. Drawers have the original turned pulls. Top rests on a square column that gradually widens ending with ogee moldings and rests on quatre-form base with concave arches. Table rests on foliate-carved scrolls that end in carved lions' paw feet with original porcelain casters. Attributed to highly regarded cabinetmaker, Isaac Vose...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Federal Early 19th Century American Tiger Maple Small Drop Leaf Table
Located in Hudson, NY
Made in Vermont circa 1820 this fine old country drop leaf table retains if not its original surface a very old one. Constructed by a craftsmen using pegs and hand plained local tige...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Maple
Antique American Mid Atlantic States Federal Style Sideboard/ Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful American Federal style sideboard with a shaped bow front and darker banding. The top edge has string inlay framed moldings, The figured wood frieze drawer with fine brass b...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Federal Style Gilded Eglomise Trumeau Mirror with Mother & Child
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a sweet gilded trumeau mirror with Federal styling. The eglomise panel depicts a mother and child. The mirror portion does show age wear.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mirror, Giltwood
$1,346 Sale Price
25% Off
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
Antique Mahogany Federal Period Sheraton Two Drawer Stand c. 1820
Located in Westfield, MA
This charming two-drawer stand, dating to circa 1820, exemplifies the elegance of Federal Period design, specifically from the Sheraton style. Crafted from rich mahogany, the piece s...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Very fine early 19th center Portsmouth, NH federal inlaid sideboard
Located in Richmond, VA
Very fine early 19th century Portsmouth, NH federal inlaid sideboard. Impressive inlays , fine quality crotch veneers, inlaid turrets with sand shading, beautifully turned legs.
Pr...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
American Federal Mahogany Hunt Board with Flanking Hinged Cupboards, Circa 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany hunt board with a carved molded edge one board top, single lined interior drawer over chamfered arch, flanking hinged cup...
Category
Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture
Materials
Brass
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 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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