Pair of gueridon tables from louis xvi style second empire.
Identifying antique table leg styles.
The back tilts in a slightly reclined shape and the straight legs splay outwards from one another.
How to identify antique chairs.
William and mary 1690 1735.
Leg shapes help define the style and period to which the chair belongs.
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.
Early georgian furniture is based on queen anne.
The gothic revival 1840 1860.
Early 17th century furniture typically featured bun or ball style feet.
Later styles show classic influence.
How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age.
De agostini picture library getty images.
The leg is usually a good indicator of type.
Turrets pointed arches and quatrefoils designs found in 12th through 16th centuries that were adapted to this mid century furniture style.
Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture.
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.
You should look at the screws nails wood joining and hardware.
More antique chair styles.
A major telling feature of antique chairs starts from the floor and goes up.
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.
It is one of the few styles that celebrates elements found in the corresponding architectural themes.
The back consists of multiple thin spindles that connect to a solid sculpted wooden seat and an arched or straight top piece.
2006 publications international chair and table legs exhibit many of the features that distinguish furniture styles.
Leg and foot styles.
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.
Queen anne style furniture emerged during the reign of william iii of england.
15 british furniture styles.
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.
Look at this leg.
The condition and quality of materials are used to gauge the age of a.
Chippendale and queen anne chairs typically have an s curved cabriole leg with a knee and in curved ankle.