Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
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.
20th Century American Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Brass
Early 18th Century American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
1970s Vintage Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Maple
Early 20th Century American Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
1970s Vintage Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
1790s American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
20th Century American Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century English Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Wood, Hardwood, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary British Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Wood
19th Century English Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
20th Century American Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Metal
Late 20th Century American Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Brass
2010s Mexican Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Brass
1790s American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Birdseye Maple
1820s Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
Mid-17th Century American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Brass
19th Century American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Maple
19th Century American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany
19th Century American Antique Federal Dessert Tables and Tilt-top Tables
Mahogany