Antiques are old collectible items that are valuable because of their age, beauty, rarity, condition and personal emotional connections. Antiques represent a previous era or time period, and generally refer to objects that are at least 100 years old. They show some degree of craftsmanship and a certain attention to design, and can be bought from antique dealers, auction services, or even online through websites and online auctions. Antique furniture is a popular area of antiques, due to the practical characteristics of these objects - they can still be used as well as admired. Antique furniture includes dining tables, chairs, chests, bureaus. They are most commonly made of mahogany, oak, pine, walnut and rosewood. There are a number of different styles of English antique furniture depending on when and where it was made. The Tudor and Elizabeth Periods: Early English furniture was made from oak and other trees such as beech, chestnut and cypress wood. The Tudor Period in England consisted of the time when Henry VII, Henry VIII and Edward VI ruled (1485-1558), and this saw great advancement in the making of furniture. Henry VIII encouraged both English and foreign craftsmen and cabinet makers to work in England. The Elizabethan Period followed from 1558-1603, under Queen Elizabeth's rule. She encouraged craftsmen to design and make furniture for the Royal Palaces, and many different styles became incorporated into classic furniture such as gothic designs and the addition of ivory, box, cherry and ebony. The William and Mary and Queen Anne Periods: In the early 1600,s, oak was still the primary wood used by craftsmen. The use of mirrors also became prominent. The William and Mary Period (1689 - 1702) saw the use of walnut, olivewood and laburnum as well. The Queen Anne Period (1702-1727) produced its own style, with the introduction of the Windsor chair, made in elm and fruitwoods. The Georgian and Regency Period: The Georgian Period (1727-1820) is well known as being the classic furniture period. The new wood which was used in this period was mahogany, and this era was captivated by talented designers such as Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. The Regency Period (1800-1830) reflected the empire design, and furniture in this era was more subtle. The main wood used as rosewood. The Victorian Period: The Victorian Period (1837 - 1901) was recognized as the era where English antique furniture became heavier in design. The main woods used were mahogany, rosewood and satinwood. The well known cabinet designers - Holland and Sons, Gillows and others used excellent materials to produce furniture of the highest quality. Ultimately, furniture from this era is some of the finest ever produced.
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