The Georgian period is one of the most fascinating in English history. A time of great change, it has made 18th-century English antiques some of the most interesting and sought-after in all of English history.
While most known for its Georgian furniture, 18th-century designs had much more variation, creating some of the most lavish and classical antiques in English history.
The Georgian period is one of the most fascinating in English history. A time of great change, it has made 18th-century English antiques some of the most interesting and sought-after in all of English history.
While most known for its Georgian furniture, 18th-century designs had much more variation, creating some of the most lavish and classical antiques in English history.
18th Century England – A Time of Progress & Prosperity
The 18th century was a prosperous period for England. Following a 17th century dominated by conflicts both external and internal, the 18th century started with the unification of England, Wales and Scotland, the first iteration of what is known as Great Britain.
Despite lots of European conflicts in the 17th century, England found itself in a position of strength. Having sided with Dutch allies to both withstand French expansion during the Nine Years' War (1688-1697) and then win more territory following the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), England emerged above European competitors as the dominant colonial power.
The ascension of Hanoverian Georg Ludwig, aka George I, to the throne in 1714 was the beginning of the Georgian era, which ran into the 19th century. However, George I’s distant connection to Great Britain, combined with the growing financial power of parliament following major conflicts, led to the start of the monarchy’s weakening responsibilities and the emergence of Robert Walpole, seen by many as Britain’s first Prime Minister, in 1721.
England used its colonial dominance, the financial might of parliament, and its much-revered naval power to establish an extensive network of global trade. Money raised from exports increased more than sixfold during the 18th century, bringing new wealth and affluence to England’s middle and upper classes.
England’s growing wealth and aspiration led to a growing interest in material comforts such as furniture, particularly for designs that showed the owner’s wealth and worldly interests.
Key 18th Century English Antique Styles
With more peaceful and affluent times in England, the 18th century saw a growing interest in furniture. The aspirational middle and upper classes were willing to pay extra for comfort and style, while technology allowed for more intricate designs to be widely available.
Growing demand and supply of furniture in England, alongside a more connected world allowing for the sharing of global styles, saw trends come and go throughout the 18th century. However, there are a few key styles this century is synonymous with.
Georgian Furniture Style
Despite many different styles taking hold during England’s Georgian period, the term ‘Georgian furniture’ is still widely used.
When most people refer to Georgian style, they are often talking about the early Georgian period, heavily influenced by Rococo. During this period, furniture makers focused on intricate details and heavily decorated designs. Curved edges and legs became very popular, while symmetry was used to bring refinement to individual pieces.
Georgian furniture is often also associated with exotic woods. Mahogany imports drastically increased from places such as Jamaica, and it became popular for those seeking to show affluence through their home furnishings.
Rococo Style
Despite regular conflicts between England and most of central and southern Europe, art movements from these regions often found their way into English tastes. This happened apace during the relative peace of the 18th century, particularly when Rococo started to take hold.
Originating in France in the 1730s, Rococo was primarily a rebellion against the very straight and structured Louis XIV style, named as such because it was a set of guidelines imposed by the French King. At the end of Louis’ reign, designers rebelled by doing the opposite of what he suggested – creating eccentric, lavish, asymmetrical designs with lots of natural curves. Rococo was also partly inspired by the ornate designs of Asian antiquities, which created a similar style called Chinoiserie.
Rococo was imported to England through French silvers at first, before becoming a popular motif for furniture. Much of early English Rococo was a copy of what had been imported from France, until legendary cabinetmakers such as Thomas Chippendale gave Rococo a distinctly English feel.
Chippendale Furniture Style
Thomas Chippendale was a woodworker in London when Rococo became popular. To help compete against the popularity of European imports, he came up with original versions and published them as a journal, creating one of the first ever product catalogues.
Chippendale’s designs became so popular that they came to define much of English late 18th-century furniture. Nowadays, genuine Chippendales are some of the most sought-after and expensive English antiques you can find.
The Chippendale style is largely seen as adding an English Gothic twist to traditional French Rococo. Chippendale was less excessive and more focused on form, but still kept many of Rococo’s eye-catching natural curves and forms. Ball-and-claw feet, inspired by Chinese mythology, are a common feature of Chippendale designs.
Neoclassical Furniture Style
During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was something of a rite of passage for young men of the European upper class to go on a ‘Grand Tour’ to Italy to study Renaissance art and ancient civilisation. This often led to a romantic desire for the ideals of ancient Greek and Roman civilisations, which became known as the neoclassical movement.
Neoclassical ideas bled into every area of culture, including furniture and interior design. Neoclassical tastes, including the aforementioned Louis XIV style, sat opposite Rococo; instead of celebrating excess, neoclassical was about being clear and understated, seen as key ideals of those idolised civilisations.
In England, neoclassical designs started to become popular in the late 18th century, mainly as an alternative to the increasingly common Rococo style. Straight lines were favoured over Rococo’s curves, while lighter woods came back into fashion.
The incredible variety of antiques from this century is partly why it remains one of the most popular periods when it comes to antiques. If you’re looking for a statement piece for your home, Georgian antiques deliver boundless character and artistic sense, with intricate details filled with opulence.