Antique Furniture

Colonial furniture includes furniture made in the colonies during the colonial period, from the first European settlement in 1788 to Federation in 1901. That furniture is largely based on British furniture of the period, but is not as sophisticated as best quality examples from Britain. For this reason, parallels are sometimes drawn between it and British provincial furniture.

The best examples are nonethless of very high quality, a remarkable achievement considering the conditions under which the early furniture-makers, in particular, plied their trade.

Australian colonial furniture does not enjoy the high prices of American colonial furniture, but the rarity of fine early pieces creates a significant investment opportunity. Items bearing the maker's mark or label are among those most sought after.

Three of the main native woods used in Australian colonial furniture are red cedar, birdseye huon pine and blackwood. The closest equivalents from the Old World are mahogany, birdseye maple and walnut. But considerable furniture was also made in the colonies from exotic timbers. That furniture is nonetheless regarded as colonial furniture.

A great deal of furniture from all over the world was brought to the colonies by settlers, or imported here in commercial quantities. This furniture, too, has a claim to be regarded as part of our colonial heritage, as does furniture made in England from timber sent to England by early officials and settlers. These include the 'Surgeon White' (or 'Hamond') table and the 'Nepean' table. The former is now held by the Australian Museum, Canberra, while the latter is held by the NGV, Melbourne.

Considerable collections of colonial furniture are held by all the major institutions. Private collectors are also prominent in the field. Interest in colonial furniture, and the decorative arts generally, is promoted by the journal Australiana, the publication of the Australiana Society.

Antique Furniture

Antique Furniture

Antique Furniture

Tips on Preserving Antique Furniture

If you are collecting antiques or you just want to use them to decorate your home, you should know some important tips on preserving antique furniture. Antique furniture is different form modern furniture because it is old and needs special cleaning methods. And it is important to know some useful tips on preserving antique furniture because this type of furniture is not cheap.