A deeper understanding of antique Victorian furniture begins with some knowledge of the Victorian Era itself, the period of time in which this remarkable furniture was made. The Victorian Era takes its name from Queen Victoria, who ruled in the United Kingdom from June 1837 to January 1901. During Victoria’s reign, the British people grew very prosperous, both through their empire and through industrial progress at home. This prosperity led to the rise of a large and highly educated middle class.
The Victorians were fascinated with novelty, and the era witnessed much conflict with regard to style, including the famous Battle of the Styles, which pitted Gothic against Classical. The Great Exhibition, which took place in London’s Hyde Park from May 1 to October 15, 1851, was the first World’s Fair. It featured the Crystal Palace, which the famous critic John Ruskin, who supported Gothic style, called the epitome of mechanical dehumanization.
The Victorian Era was also greatly influenced by the development of photography, which scholars link to the rise of Impressionism and Social Realism in the latter part of Victoria’s reign.
The decorative arts were characterized by an eclectic revival and influences from Asia and the mid-east. Here at The Antique Victorian Furniture Blog we are particularly interested, of course, in the furniture of the era. No particular style dominated the creation of Victorian furniture. Rather, the designers drew inspiration from Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, English Rococo, Neoclassical and other periods.
Gothic and Rococo were perhaps the most popular and common styles. The Gothic style of Victorian furniture, which flourished from approximately 1830 to 1860, follows the design and motifs of churches, with arches, quatrefoils, spires and crockets. Rococo, prevalent in the 1850s and 1860s, is characterized by sinewy curved lines, C and S scrolls, and elements of nature such as leaves, vines and flowers.
On the other hand, one of the most famous Victorian furniture designers, Charles Eastlake, despised Rococo and ushered in an era known as the Eastlake era in response. This was noted for its trend toward less showy and less complicated designs, with more stylized natural elements, shallow incisions and turnings.
It’s important to understand that the styles of antique Victorian furniture vary greatly. It can be a tricky business for the novice collector, especially given that the furniture is rarely labeled and attribution is largely a matter of opinion. I’d recommend that you start by reading a few good books, such as Jeremy Cooper’s Victorian and Edwardian Furniture and Interiors. Pick the brains of people who know the business. Find and observe local auctions that deal in antique Victorian furniture.
And visit websites, like The Antique Victorian Furniture Blog and others that I will point you toward, which are devoted to giving you reliable information and to helping you deepen your understanding and appreciation of this glorious period of the decorative arts.
Thanks for the visit. Hope to see you again soon!