Queen Anne Chairs

When purchasing antique Queen Anne chairs, it’s important to check their construction,especially the materials they are made of to ensure their authenticity. Most pieces are crafted out of walnut; however, you'll find pieces made of maple and cherry as well. Imported mahogany wood became popular in the 1750s, so it’s often used by furniture craftsmen. Mahogany was imported frequently from the Caribbean to England.

Other woods that make up antique Queen Anne chairs include pine, cedar, ash, tulip, and beech. Differences in kinds of wood provide clues as to whether the pieces are original or not. For instance, when a chair’s seat has been replaced or repaired, the wood may not match the rest of the chair’s construction.

Queen Anne chairs were among the first to incorporate curving cabriole legs. Even when the chairs are short, they still feature cabriole-shaped legs. A pad foot is also commonly found on chairs with the Queen Anne style, but trifid feet are used as well, which replaced the ball foot’s heavy look that is used in other stylings like William and Mary. Later pieces with the Queen Anne style may have claw or ball feet but they’re more indicative of Chippendale.

Take note that on “country” Queen Anne chairs that are made from the workshops of refined furniture makers in Colonial cities, they don’t have cabriole legs. The legs may come with turned embellishments but they’re often straight instead of curved.

Spade feet may also be used with country pieces; however, they’re less refined compared to the higher quality chairs made by the experienced furniture makers of the era. They're also less valuable.

Apart from the ubiquitous cabriole legs that are so often incorporated on antique Queen Anne chairs, there are other features or characteristics to look out for. Remember that not all design elements can be seen on every piece. Instead, they are frequently used on antique pieces, which you should know about as you familiarize yourself with such type of furniture.

• Delicate but broad features with curved elements.
• Chairs may have top rails that are yoked-shaped and back splats that have solid vase shapes like those found in Hogarth chairs.
• Seats often feature a compass or horseshoe and aren’t upholstered.
• Simple shell and fan carvings are used in embellishing many pieces.
• Space saving features like a slim profile are often incorporated into antique Queen Anne chairs.
• For upholstered pieces, they’re decorated with silk damask, crewelwork with pictorial designs or large flowers, and printed cotton. Leather is also used for upholstery but is rare. Keep in mind that it’s rare to find original fabrics that are used in decorating older upholstered pieces in the Queen Anne style.