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Federal Furniture

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
American Federal Mahogany and Inlaid Sideboard
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a small, but sophisticated American Federal inlaid mahogany bow front breakfront sideboard. The top has a straight edge over a central drawer and central tambour cabinet door...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Federal Mahogany Inlaid and Stinciled Top Accent Table
Located in Germantown, MD
X legs American Federal style side table with inlays and gold stenciling top. Good vintage condition. Measures 22" x 22" x 28"H.
Category

Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Diminutive Federal Inlaid Mahogany Chest of Drawers, First Quarter 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Diminutive Federal Inlaid Mahogany chest of drawers, first quarter 19th century.
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Philadelphia Federal Mahogany Work Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top with rounded hinged ends opening to compartments over two drawers that open from both sides over a hinged door with tambour front and ends and back raised on turned t...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Early 20th Century E.F. Caldwell Leaded Glass Lantern
Located in Canton, MA
A hexagonal leaded glass lantern. The glass panels are wheel engraved with a curved foliate flower basket design. The top panels slant to the top and have clear round glass pieces. T...
Category

Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Lead

19th century Giltwood and Églomisé American Federal Mirror
Located in Savannah, GA
Detailed early 19th century American federal églomisé, or reverse painted giltwood mirror featuring a primitive house with three chimneys. It came fro...
Category

Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

Federal New York Pier Mirror, Late 18th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
This Classic Greek and Egyptian motif mirror has vertical pillars flanking mirror panels framing the central split looking glass. The cornice of the mirror has a Classic Adams Urn...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Antique Ca. 1820 Federal Era Trompe L'oeil Painted Chest
Located in Peabody, MA
American Federal era chest of drawers in its original trompe l’oeil mustard painted finish, ca. 1820.
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 1900s Carved Walnut Durfee Case Elliot Movement 5 Tube Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular clock with what I believe is a solid carved walnut Durfee case and and has an Elliot of London movement. The case has some signs of wear and is in it's original...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Kittinger 5 Drawers Pull Out Tray Mahogany Federal Style Bachelor Chest Dresser
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Kittinger 5 drawers pull out tray mahogany federal style bachelor chest dresser. Lockable drawer.
Category

20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

American Federal Banquet Dining Table with Extension Leaves Seats 18, circa 1850
Located in Miami, FL
From Malcolm Forbes' estate Timberfield, an elegant and long mahogany dining table with three sections, American, circa 1850. The rectangular top above ...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

NYC Federal Full Tester Bed Attributable to Lannuier w Four Floral-Carved Posts
By Charles-Honoré Lannuier
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional American Federal sleigh bed with tester in fine West Indies/ Cuban mahogany with beautifully-articulated floral and acanthus-leaf carvings, along the crest of the headboard and footboard, and on the four posts, attributable to the French-born cabinetmaker Charles-Honoré Lannuier...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Federal Mahogany Tall Gentleman's Chest
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Federal style mahogany and figured mahogany Gentleman's chest of drawers, the bowfront reeded edge top with protruding corners above leaf carved capital and reeded column supports,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Federal Furniture

Materials

Wood

American Federal Brass Ball and Steeple Top New York Andirons
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal period brass ball and steeple top andirons. The belted balls are surmounted by a spire that adds height and elegance to these ear...
Category

Early 1800s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

1940s Federal Style 6-Arm Brass Chandelier Nickel Plated with Original Patina
Located in New York, NY
This federal style 6 light chandelier is original to the 1940's and is nickel pated over brass with the original patina. It has elegant arms surrounding an urn shaped body and featur...
Category

1940s American Vintage Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass, Nickel

American Federal Mahogany Bow Front Sideboard with Tapered Cuffed Legs, C. 1810
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany bow front sideboard with three frieze drawers over centered hinged cabinet doors, flanking hinged doors with fitted interior single drawers, period brasses,...
Category

1810s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century American Cherry Extendable Dining Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a stunning early 19th century American cherry extendable dining table. From circa 1800-1820 and made of solid cherrywood. T...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Cherry

Early 19th Century Antique American Federal Mahog. & Birch Flap-Top Games Table
By John & Thomas Seymour
Located in Charleston, SC
This is a spectacular antique American Federal New England period highly figured mahogany and satin birch Flap-top serpentine Games or Card Table in the manner of the workshop of Joh...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Birch, Mahogany, Rosewood

Pair of Large American Federal Style Brass Ornate Andirons
Located in Germantown, MD
Amazingly decorated pair of large American Federal style brass ornate andirons. This is very heavy and in polished brass ornate with carved brass flowers...
Category

Early 20th Century Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

18th Century Four Post Mahogany Bed, Likely Charleston 'converted to queen'
Located in Charleston, SC
Great 18th century period four post mahogany bed, likely Charleston. Great quality hand carved feathers and ring turnings on posts. Has been converted to fit a queen size mattress.
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

C1930s Era English Made Federal Style Mahogany Breakfront China Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Federal style breakfront with 3 doors with 3 shelves over 3 doors each containing 1 shelf.
Category

20th Century Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century American Federal 19x22 Picture Frame
Located in Hallowell, US
12.5 x 22.5 19th century American Federal picture frame circa 1825 Rabbet dimensions: 12.5" x 22.5" Frame profile: 3.5" Depth: 3...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century American Federal Wall Mirror with Eagle Crest
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning and rare antique American Federal giltwood wall mirror dating to the first half of the 19th century. The fine quality example surmounted by a large carved figural eagle cr...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood, Paint

Federal Mahogany Four Drawer Server, circa 1810
Located in Milford, NH
A fine Federal mahogany server with rectangular top with front turret corners surmounting a case with three fitted drawers over one long drawer...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Stickley Federal Solid Cherry Wood Pembroke Tea Tables, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Federal style Pembroke nightstands, end tables, or tea tables By L. & J.G. Stickley USA, late 20th century Solid cherry wood, with original brass hardware...
Category

Late 20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

American Federal Hepplewhite One Drawer Mahogany Sidetable Tapered Legs
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal period Hepplewhite one drawer mahogany sidetable. This classic form has tapered mahogany legs, elegant thin solid mahogany top and one dovetailed drawer. It can free...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

American Federal Breakfast Table in Mahogany with Drop-Leaves, circa 1815
Located in Miami, FL
A Federal breakfast table in mahogany with a rectangular top and drop-leaves whose corners end in cyma curves, with inverted turned wooden fini...
Category

1810s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of Federal Style Solid Cast Brass by Puritan Co. C1955
By Puritan Ironworks Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of sand cast brass andirons by the Puritan Ironworks co. Canon all style with a pierced fleur de LIS. In excellent vintage condition with mi...
Category

1950s Vintage Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

American Chippendale Mahogany Chest
Located in New York, NY
American Chippendale style mahogany chest on chest cabinet with 7 drawers below 3 shell carved small drawers with flame form finials and broken pe...
Category

Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Federal Tiger Maple Tripod Table, American, Early 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Tiger Maple Tripod table, top with chamfered corners also inlaid with mother of pearl, circles, hearts & triangles. Turned standard raised on down swept legs terminating in spade feet.
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Wood

Set of Burl Wood Oval Nesting Tables by Baker
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of oval Baker nesting stacking side end lamp tables stands.
Category

20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Burl

American Federal Mahogany and Spanish Cedra Sugar Chest on Stand, Circa 1820
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany and Spanish cedra one drawer hinged sugar chest on stand with carved molded edge, exposed dovetails, wooden knobs, silver escutch...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Silver, Iron

American Chinese Chippendale Tripod Tilt Top Table - Co. of Master Craftsmen
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING a LOVELY Early 20th century American piece, made circa 1930. Chinese Chippendale Style Tilt-top tripod table with frieze Gallery. Made of solid dark mahogany. Great condition! Manufactured by the 'Company of Master Craftsmen' and is correctly stamped in the base of the tilt-top, with an eagle crest. and the serial numbers 'D16389' and 'J1524'. Would have been retailed by W.& J. Sloane in New York City. Provenance: Bought from a reputable Dealer in Ireland. Dimensions: Top Down: 28.5 in High with diameter of top being 23 in Top Up: 39 in High THE Company of Master Craftsmen: The Company of Master Craftsmen was founded in 1925 as a subsidiary of W. & J. Sloane. W. & J. Sloane, based in New York City, was one of the oldest and most established furniture makers and retailers in the U.S. It had a history of furnishing many of the finest homes in the country including the Breakers and the White House. William Sloane Coffin Sr., who was President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and an executive with the Sloane Company, founded the Company of Master Craftsmen to make colonial style furniture. The company worked closely with the Metropolitan Museum’s American wing, reproducing rare pieces from the collection to decorate the homes and offices of many of New York’s and the country’s elite. The Company’s production was quite limited during its’ thirty years in business making their pieces quite rare and very collectible. Today, a number of museums including the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the M.F.A. in Boston have Company of Master Craftsmen pieces in their permanent collections as examples of Fine “revival” furniture. W. & J. Sloane: The company was founded as a rug importer and seller on March 2, 1843, by William Sloane who had just emigrated from Kilmarnock, Scotland, a town famous for weaving Fine carpets and rugs. In 1852 his younger brother John W. Sloane joined the firm, when it was renamed W. & J. Sloane. It was the first company to import oriental carpets into the United States. It soon expanded to include furniture and other home furnishings, and quickly became the choice of the elite in New York. In the late 19th century the company added an antiques department, started producing furniture, and became the first home furnishings store in the country, Billing itself as "W. & J. Sloane Interior Decorators and Home Furnishers." Its flagship store was originally located at Broadway and 19th Street, in "Ladies' Mile", relocating later to 414 Fifth Avenue at 38th Street, former flagship of Franklin Simon & Co. In 1891, W. & J. Sloane incorporated and set the national decorating taste of the United States, and over the next sixty years decorated the homes of the most prominent people in the country, including the Breakers and the White House, created Hollywood movie sets, and even designed and decorated interiors of automobiles. It opened a branch in San Francisco, California originally to furnish pavilions at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition (it also furnished the model homes at the 1939 New York World's Fair). It later acquired other upscale firms such as the California Furniture Company, and in 1925 a subsidiary, the Company of Master Craftsmen was founded by William Sloane Coffin, Sr. (the father of Rev. William Sloane Coffin) to create colonial revival furniture. During World War II the company worked with the Newport News Company and the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company on shipbuilding contracts for the United States Navy fitting out the interiors of liberty ships under the direction of John Sloane...
Category

Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

American "French Sideboard" Attributable to Duncan Phyfe, New York, circa 1815
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptionally fine and rare "French Sideboard Table" in mahogany, attributable to the workshop of the eminent New York cabinetmaker, Duncan Phyfe, circa 1810-1818. This exquisit...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large E.F. Caldwell Gilt Bronze and White Glass Pendant Light
Located in Canton, MA
A Federal style pendant lantern with opalescent glass and patinated bronze with gilt bronze details. It is of a scale appropriate for an institut...
Category

Early 20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Bronze

American Federal Mahogany Marble Top Satinwood & Ebony Inlaid Console, C. 1790
By Thomas Seymour
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany marble top console table with a molded edge top, carved floral corner medallions, ebony and satinwood banding, and resting on ebony inlaid tapered legs with the original brass barrel cupped casters. Console table retains the original marble top, Late 18th century. Attributed to Thomas Seymour...
Category

1790s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Marble

Federal Style Mahogany Bedside Chest
Located in Westwood, NJ
A mahogany and figured mahogany nightstand, the reeded edge bowfront top with protruding corners with leaf carved and reeded uprights, with three graduated drawers with verdigris bra...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Federal Furniture

Materials

Wood

1940s Federal Style Brass And Inlaid Mahogany and Satinwood Sideboard
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a special piece! I love the size and inlaid details in the corners. This is a 1940s Federal style sideboard with brass gallery. The height from the floor to the serving surfa...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century American Giltwood Convex Girandole Mirror
Located in Essex, MA
Period American Federal convex girandole mirror of monumental size. Giltwood with original gilding and mirror. New York.
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

Early 20th Century Federal Style Continental Brass Lanterns, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a wonderful pair of Federal style brass lanterns with eagle pediment. They have a made in Holland label. They are not wired and were likely operated via oil.
Category

Early 20th Century European Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

Turkish President Ataturk Rug
Located in New York, NY
A mid-20th century turkish sivas rug with the former president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Measures: 4'4'' x7' Mustafa Kemal Atatürk;[b] c. 1881[c] – 10 November 1938) was a Turkis...
Category

20th Century Federal Furniture

Materials

Wool

Federal Early 19th Century American Tiger Maple Small Drop Leaf Table
Located in Hudson, NY
Made in Vermont circa 1820 this fine old country drop leaf table retains if not its original surface a very old one. Constructed by a craftsmen using pegs and hand plained local tige...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Maple

19th Century American Hand Carved Gilded Pediment Eagle
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th century American hand carved gilded pediment eagle. Antique decorative hand carved and gilded wooden pediment eagle. The expressive sculpture w...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

J&R Furniture Federal Walnut Hexagon Candle Stand Pedestal Table Kettle Plant
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 20th century Federal inspired candle Stand by J&R Furniture Mfg Co of Salt Lake City Utah. Made from walnut with an inset hexagon top over turned column and tripod bade. Meas...
Category

Mid-20th Century Federal Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Classical Federal Andirons
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine pair of American classical Federal andirons, having urn finials over Doric column shafts standing on square plinths with scalloped base, over shaped legs having spurred knees an...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

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 Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass, Wood

Early 19th-C. Federal Style Faux Tortoise Eglomise Trumeau Mirror
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a wonderful piece! Firstly, it should be noted that it may even be as early as the later part of the 18th century. Note the simplicity of the trumeau that depicts a single pi...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Wood

Antique Federal Brass Iron Spiral Twist Finial Branch Legs Ball Claw Andirons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Federal brass and cast iron spiral twist finial branch legs ball & claw andirons. Item features remarkable authentic patina, spiral twist...
Category

Early 20th Century English Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Near-Pair Set of American Federal Card Tables
Located in New York, NY
A set of two Federal mahogany folding card tables. Handcrafted circa 1825. They are a near-identical pair with the legs varying slightly in...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Federal Faceted Brass Cannonball Branch Feet Cast Iron Andirons, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Federal Faceted Brass Cannonball Branch Feet Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair. Item features large impressive size, ball and claw branch feet, great original patina, facet...
Category

20th Century English Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

American Federal Mahogany Églomisé Barley Twist and Acorn Wall Mirror, C. 1815
Located in Hollywood, SC
American federal mahogany églomisé wall mirror with decorative carved acorn and barley twist motif. Mirror retains the original looking glass and wood backing, Early 19th century.
Category

1810s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Paint, Pine, Mahogany, Mirror

Baker Furniture Historic Charleston Inlaid Mahogany and Satinwood Coffee Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Federal or Georgian style coffee or tea table By Baker Furniture "Historic Charleston" Collection USA, circa 1980s Mahogany, with satinwood inlay and brass ha...
Category

1980s American Vintage Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

American 19th Century Federal Mahogany Serpentine Table
By Samuel Field McIntire
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A superb quality and extremely rare early 19th century American federal period mahogany dressing table of serpentine form having well figured top over two frieze drawers retaining original lions mask brass handles raised on elegant carved and reeded turned tapering legs Attributed to “Samuel Field McIntire, Salem, Massachusetts’ (Samuel Field McIntire who worked in Salem, at the start of the early 19th century was the son of Samuel McIntire...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Southampton Mahogany Gallery Top Brass Drop Pull One-Drawer End Table Stand
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mahogany brass hardware one shelf end table nightstand.
Category

20th Century Unknown Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Federal Mahogany Work Table/ Nightstand Attributed to Isaac Vose, Boston
By Isaac Vose
Located in Miami, FL
A very handsome Federal work table in fine West Indies mahogany with fold-down leaves. There are two drawers with two rounded columns flanking each side. Drawers have the original turned pulls. Top rests on a square column that gradually widens ending with ogee moldings and rests on quatre-form base with concave arches. Table rests on foliate-carved scrolls that end in carved lions' paw feet with original porcelain casters. Attributed to highly regarded cabinetmaker, Isaac Vose...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Federal Eglomise Wall or Table Mirror
Located in Stamford, CT
A finely detailed Eglomise decorated wall or table mirror having a glass eglomise panel of a young girl in a wooded area flanked in a Fine gilt frame reminiscent of the time of manuf...
Category

1890s Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Pair of American Classical Style Andirons
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good pair of American Classical style andirons having double knob urn finials over Doric column shafts, standing on plinth support over pair o...
Category

20th Century American Federal Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century New England Tilt-Top Tripod Table
Located in Vero Beach, FL
New England Federal tilt-top tripod table tiger maple, circa 1810 Beautiful American tripod tilt-top candle stand table. It was created during the Federal era...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Furniture

Materials

Maple

Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Kindel Furniture, Drexel, and Edward F. Caldwell & Co.. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $115,000 while the average work can sell for $2,800.

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