Victorian Furniture

Victorian Furniture – the Victorian period coincides with the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901.

Industrialisation was the key feature of the Victorian era and this enabled the mass production of furniture to suit the needs of the ever expanding middle classes who saw furniture as a status symbol and so demanded more and more of it.

Furniture of the time was characterised by being made in dark rich wood, particularly mahogany, burr walnut, rosewood and ebony. Furniture was designed to be ornate to look as if it was very expensive adding to the status of the owner, This meant it was very ornate with a high-tone gloss, richly carved silhouettes, with as many flourishes and ornaments as the surface of an item would allow.

The rich coloured wood was intensified by layering high-gloss lacquers over stained wood. Comfort was also a key consideration, so there was also an emphasis on rich textiles with velvet cushions and curtains and brocade upholstery on sofas and chairs to create maximum impact in a room.

By modern tastes Victorian interiors were cluttered and dark but the overall intention was to create the impression of wealth though the ownership of highly ornamented furniture and many other decorative items.