How to Identify Queen Anne Furniture

Queen Anne furniture was a style that was popular in the early 18th century, named after England's monarch from 1702 to 1714. Changes in lifestyle during that time period were reflected in the changes of style of furniture. As people traveled further, the needs in furniture changed to make it easier for travel. Queen Anne style furniture has some key characteristics that are listed below.

Instructions

1. Notice the type of wood used. Heavy oak was used less and less, which made room for lighter woods such as walnut, cherry and maple. Walnut was most commonly used.

2. Look for lighter-weight pieces. This is due to wide travel at the time. People were traveling across oceans, and furniture needed to be easier to move and lighter cargo for ships. There was less mass and less bulk to the pieces of Queen Anne style. Furniture appeared more graceful and feminine.

3. Observe simpler lines. There was not a lot of decoration. The appearance was much more curvilinear.

4. Look for cabriole legs. Cabriole legs have out-curved knees and in-curved ankles. The base of the legs resemble feet and may be simple or of Dutch-, drake- or Spanish-foot style. Once again, this follows the pattern of curvilinear form popular of the time. It is a drastic change from furniture style prior to Queen Anne, which has straight, thick and round legs.

5. Examine the characteristic decorations of this furniture. Most were decorated with a curved scallop or cockle shell. The shell shape emphasized the curvilinear quality of this furniture.