I have liked this look for a long time, but I literally know nothing about antiques ... save for the fact my Grandmother really loves someone named Duncan Phyfe.
I was just wondering if someone could walk me through the better known better designed pieces - and those that work well with modern pieces.
I tend to like some victorian, french, and japanese styles ... I would love to be able to tell the junk from the cream of the crop.
Does anyone here have an appreciation?
..
I definitely love to mix it up. In our home we have MCM paintings alongside early Japanese scroll paintings, modern sculptures & pottery with early pottery & glass. Hollywood regency style marble urns.... We used to have a huge 19th century Chinese marriage bed all hand carved alongside minimal modern bedroom furniture. I think the rule of them is to mix quality items together. An 18th century chair can accent a MCM piece. Granted, too many designs that all scream for attention in one room can be overwhelming, so just be selective.
I tend to like Italian, French, & Japanese styles. Be wary of Victorian furniture, a lot of it was mass produced and not well made... not all of its bad though. One of my favorite chairs is a weird Victorian fantasy clam chair... in ripped velour....
Great mix
I think it's great you're mixing it up. Even better if you can pull off some relevant relationship with all the pieces. As for Antiques, if you have the opportunity to get some of your Grandparents, would be perfect. Tradition carries on...
See mix and match photo below...personal preference dictates a solid wood late 19th century Arts/Crafts table...ala Roycroft, Stickley etc.... not necessarily designer, mainly character and quality. Saarinen tulip chairs would go well too. Creating a visual essay isn't easy... I'm sure you'll pull it off.
Well, whitespike, I'm...
Well, whitespike, I'm getting for the life of me to be a modern antique. One of the most convivial styles, as far as I'm concerned, is Arts & Crafts, which shares a similar philosophy, if not the same genes. Anything made by Gustav Stickley can go to the dance with the modern scene, from one who loves Duncan Heinz far more than Duncan Phyfe, and I'm not a big fan of cake.
Creme de la creme
Whitespike, you specifically asked for info on the classics of the periods you liked, one of which was Victorian. The epitome of High Victorian, also know as Rococo Revival, were the designs of John Belter. He was known mostly for parlor sets all handcarved out of rosewood. Below is one of his settees. I have to warn you that many, many people find his stuff completely over the top, however, his workmanship was unquestionable.
Late Victorian
The man accredited with bridging the gap between High Victorian and Arts and Crafts is Charles Eastlake. He was a designer, not a furniture-builder himself, but all of his designs are know as Eastlake, no matter who actually carved and built them. Here is one of his pier mirrors.
Boy
I really don't like that Victorian settee at all! There was a lot of work put into that, that's for sure, but the design is not pleasing to my eye .... it looks to gothic or something. I really don't know the difference between high and low Victorian ... my guess is that high is more ornate? Enough is enough!
But this is why this thread in fun to me - I am learning.
You are not alone
Like I said, Victorian (high, low or middlin') is an acquired taste. I really, really hate it and refuse to sell it. You said you liked it, so I tried to show only the most classical of the pieces and their designers. What did you think about the Welsh dresser? I love them, but they are a little pricey at around 7 to 10 thousand american for the authentic ones, (i.e. not later reproductions).
What about a classic pine farmhouse scrubtop kitchen table circa 1850 with MCM chairs?
Hmmm. I don't like that...
Hmmm. I don't like that either. My statement about liking Victorian really comes from liking some Victorian architecture. I'd like to see the midrange. The high is too much and the low has just enough ornament to bother me.
Could you show me good French and Italian antiques?
There are some things I like and I just don't know what to call them. All of my knowledge is Bauhaus-current.
Repro
That's a very nice new reproduction of a King Louis the 15th of France version of an open-armed side chair covered in a neutral linen with a white milk-paint finish on the woodwork. It is made in some Asian locale like Indonesia or Sri Lanka and will probably crack along the glued joints at some near point in it's future.
shaker
as for likely most of us who hang out here, i'm not much of a fan for antiques except for arts and crafts [already mentioned] and some shaker pieces--which can date back as far as the late 1700s.
very simple, unadorned, functional, handcrafted, borne of need, no-nonsense type of furniture. i think it fits in beautifully with the mcm stuff we all esteem.
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com