Federal Wall Decorations
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
Vintage Ferguson Bros Federal Curved Glass Mahogany Wall Hanging Curio Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
A Vintage wall hanging Federal style display cabinet with a rounded curved glass front, mirrored interior and three shelves, topped with a scrolled pediment and three trophy shaped f...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
"G. Washington" Engraving by T. Johnson, after James Wright, 1890
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a handsome profile portrait of George Washington. Washington is depicted in a head and shoulders pose, looking to the right and body also depicted in profile. He wears h...
Category
1890s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
"Washington and His Generals" Engraving by A. H. Ritchie, circa 1870
By Alexander Hay Ritchie
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a large, handsome engraving entitled Washington and His Generals by Alexander H. Ritchie, one of the best historical printmakers of the mid-nineteenth century. Ritchie is par...
Category
1870s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Alexander Hamilton Etching by Jacques Reich, published by G.P. Putnam, 1904
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a Jacques Reich etched head and shoulders portrait of Alexander Hamilton. Reich completed the portrait in 1904 and it was published by G.P. Putnam that same year.
Jacqu...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
"Liberty In the Form of the Goddess of Youth" Stipple Engraving, E. Savage, 1796
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a rare stipple engraving of “Liberty. In the form of the Goddess of Youth giving Support to the Bald Eagle.” This engraving was drawn, engraved, and published by Edward ...
Category
1790s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Duke of Wellington Portrait
Located in Queens, NY
Copy of a portrait painting titled "Duke of Wellington" showing him in red military uniform
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
Late 20th-C. Federal Style Gilt Composition Wall Brackets For Plates - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of Federal style gilt composition wall brackets. They have an indentation for plates. They are unmarked and in very good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Composition
"Georgius Washington" Engraving by Giuseppe Longhi, 1817
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a handsome engraved portrait of George Washington by Italian artist Giuseppe Longhi. Titled “Georgius Washington” this engraving was published in Padua, Italy in 1817. The composition is based on a drawing by Longhi himself, but certainly influenced by the Gilbert Stuart and John Trumbull portraits. Washington is depicted in a head and shoulders pose, with his chest to the left but his head angled to the right. He wears a dark coat and vest and a white shirt and ruffled cravat.
The father of our country, George Washington was the commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) and served two terms as the first United States president...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
George Washington Engraving by H. B. Hall, after William Birch
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a handsome engraved portrait of George Washington by artist H. B. Hall. This engraving was published in New York, in a limited edition of 125 impressions. The engraving is based on a painting by William Birch Gilbert Stuart, a small miniature in enamel, completed in 1796. Birch painted Washington from life in his office in Philadelphia, by the request of I. G. Van Staphorst, Esqr. of Amsterdam. In the small portrait, Washington is depicted in a head and shoulders pose, facing right. He wears a dark coat and vest and a white shirt and ruffled cravat.
The father of our country, George Washington was the commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) and served two terms as the first United States president...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
"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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
American Needlework Sampler by Maria Morris, 1827
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique American Needlework Sampler by Maria Morris, 1827, a needlework sampler on linen panel having alphabet and numerals, above a religi...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Thread, Linen
Early 19th Century Portrait of Naval Captain William Compton Bolton
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th Century Portrait of Naval Captain William Compton Bolton (Anglo-American: 1799 - 1849), circa 1830s, an oil on canvas half-length portrait of a sea captain holding a spygl...
Category
1830s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas
19 th C English Oil on Canvas Painting of Horse and Jockey
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English 19 th century oil on canvas of horse and jockey painting in carved gilt wood frame. This 19th c English oil on canvas is a 19 th c...
Category
19th Century English Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
Pair of American Federal Male and Female Oil Painting Portraits
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of gilt framed oil painting portraits of a 19th Century man and lady.
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas
Robert Springfels American Victorian style Portrait of a Union Soldier, 1941
Located in Queens, NY
American Victorian style oil painting portrait of an old Union Solider holding a cane with his arm crossed and a house in the background with smoke rising to the sky and a canon visi...
Category
20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Blown Glass, Wood
Mid-Century Federal American Eagle Giltwood Bracket
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb vintage mid-century Federal American giltwood and gesso eagle wall bracket. This regal eagle has fine details with outstretched wings and a lovely gilt patina. It's the perf...
Category
Mid-20th Century Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Gesso, Giltwood
English Country Diorama Clipper Ship Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
American Country style (19th Century) painted diorama wall plaque with clipper ship and American ship painted on back in mahogany frame encased in a wood and glass case.
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Glass
American Print Of Two Soldiers with Green Uniform
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century black framed print of two 18th Century soldiers in green uniform with on standing on a horse.\"Moylans Light Dragoons\" (similar to: NWL7295A, NWL7295C, NWL7295D)
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
American Federal Silhouettes of Livingston Family Members
Located in New York, NY
Snipping a profile from paper with scissors, and mounting the result to a contrasting sheet of paper, became a popular diversion among the European and American upper classes in the ...
Category
1830s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Americanl Framed Print of Two Soldiers Near A Cannon
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century black framed print of two 18th Century soldiers in green uniform with on standing on a horse. \"Rhode Island Train of Artillary\" (similar to: NWL7295B, NWL7295A...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Brunschwig & Fils Boscobel Restoration Medford Inn 1804 Hand-Printed Wallpaper
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Brunschwig and Fils Boscobel Restoration Medford Inn 1804 hand-printed wallpaper. Very unusual paper - it is marked as custom hand-printed for the Bo...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Letter Fragment and Antique Coins in Burgundy Matting and a Gilt Frame
Located in Queens, NY
American (19th Cent) fragment of antique paper with handwritten script and numerical calculations framed in a burgundy mat above two copper coins in a blue mat mounted in a gold wood...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Copper
Antique Letters with Central Oval Portrait in a Wooden Frame
Located in Queens, NY
American (19th Century) copy collection of two letters from the 1830s in a white mat with a central oval printed portrait of a gentleman (Otis Cafron) in a gold wooden frame.
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Gold
American Federal Framed Print of Two Soldiers and Tent in The Back
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century black framed print of two 18th Century soldiers, one in a red military uniform holding a rifle, the other soldier wearing a tan uniform holding a drum \"2nd Cana...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Other
American Framed Print of Two Soldiers Talking
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century black framed print of a two 18th Century soldiers talking, one in a red jacket uniform and the other in a tan uniform in front of a gate of wooden spiked barrica...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Other
Portrait Puccini Painting
Located in Queens, NY
Copy of a portrait painting titled "Portrait Puccini" showing woman in black dress with white lace rummaging through jewelry chest
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
Brunschwig and Fils Boscobel Restoration Medford Inn 1804 Hand-Printed Wallpaper
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Brunschwig and Fils Boscobel Restoration Medford Inn 1804 hand-printed wallpaper. Very unusual paper - it is marked as custom hand-printed for the Boscobel Restoration, Inc. with a copyright date of 1977. The Boscobel Restoration is a rebuilt historic mansion (see images 9 and 10) in Garrison, NY using salvaged parts of an original Federal-period home that was demolished in the 1950s. This is a historic pattern, marked on the paper as "Medford Inn, 1804" and a registered design of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. The Medford Inn (see image 11) was built in 1804 and became known as a well-known hotel located on Main Street in Medford, Massachusetts.
The design of the paper hearkens back to Roman tradition of wall decoration, with a trompe l’oleil effect that mimics ornate panelling and stone inlay. As per the this paper was also produced in a brown colorway and is part of the Digital Public Library of America and Historic New England...
Category
Mid-20th Century Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
American Federal Side Portrait of an Officer
Located in Queens, NY
American Federal print portrait in silhouette of a gentleman in a distressed gold frame
Category
20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
American Federal Man in Black Portrait
Located in Queens, NY
American Federal gilt framed oil portrait painting of man in black holding large white paper
Category
20th Century American Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
Reverse Painting on Glass of George and Martha Washington by W. M. Prior
By William Matthew Prior
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century reverse painted on glass portrait of George and Martha Washington by William Matthew Prior (1806 - 1873), one of New England'...
Category
1830s American Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Glass
$2,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Set of 3 Italian Neo-Classic Engraved Prints of Medals with White Carved Coin
Located in Queens, NY
SET of 3 Italian Neo-classic style (19th Century) engraved prints of metals over a single white pariu carved coin with a classical bust in a silver/gilt frame (Prov: Christies NY) (P...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Federal Wall Decorations
Materials
Metal
Federal wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Federal wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage wall decorations created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, building and garden elements, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal wall decorations 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 wall decorations, popular names associated with this style include Brunschwig & Fils, William Matthew Prior, and John Trumbull. 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 wall decorations differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $700 and tops out at $35,000 while the average work can sell for $3,550.
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