Identifying Antique Table Leg Styles

Early 17th century furniture typically featured bun or ball style feet.

Identifying antique table leg styles.

The back tilts in a slightly reclined shape and the straight legs splay outwards from one another. Leg styles are key not only to the appearance and functionality of pieces but they can also be used to successfully identify many types of antique furniture furniture legs can provide clues to when a piece was manufactured especially when considering how they are used in conjunction with foot styles. But a leg can tell you when a style was first introduced and that is one important step in identifying an antique s age and period. Chippendale and queen anne chairs typically have an s curved cabriole leg with a knee and in curved ankle.

15 british furniture styles. The condition and quality of materials are used to gauge the age of a. Pair of gueridon tables from louis xvi style second empire. Turrets pointed arches and quatrefoils designs found in 12th through 16th centuries that were adapted to this mid century furniture style.

Look at this leg. The leg is usually a good indicator of type. Early georgian furniture is based on queen anne. You should look at the screws nails wood joining and hardware.

It is one of the few styles that celebrates elements found in the corresponding architectural themes. William and mary style furniture was popular in the late 17th and early 18th century and is characterized by dutch and chinese influences trumpet turned legs spanish ball feet and oriental lacquer work. William and mary 1690 1735. Often called chair tables the tops flip up and lock so that the tabletop is the seat back and the base is the seat the base often has a drawer for storage thus the reference to hutch in its name.

How to identify antique chairs. How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. A major telling feature of antique chairs starts from the floor and goes up. Bandy legged refers to the cabriole leg or curved leg found on colonial furniture.

2006 publications international chair and table legs exhibit many of the features that distinguish furniture styles. Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture. Leg and foot styles. More antique chair styles.

The back consists of multiple thin spindles that connect to a solid sculpted wooden seat and an arched or straight top piece. One of the best ways to identify an antique style is by observing the piece s legs and feet. Later styles show classic influence. It s shapely curves identify it as a cabriole pronounced cab ree ole leg and that type of leg was first introduced in the 18th century.

The gothic revival 1840 1860. De agostini picture library getty images.