Queen Anne Walnut Coffee Table

Although named for the last Stuart monarch of England, antique Queen Anne furniture, with its curvy cabriole legs and pad feet, has its origins in the earlier reign of King William III, which began in 1689 and ended with his death in 1702. Later evolving during Anne’s rule from 1702–14, the style would continue to influence design in the decades after her death.

Sometimes called late Baroque or early Georgian, Queen Anne chairs, bedroom furniture and tables are subdued yet ornate and characterized by a graceful blend of influences ranging from Asian design to classical motifs. Furnishings of this era — with their curvilinear supports and novel emphasis on comfort and versatility — are marked by a shift away from the more opulent and angular William and Mary style.

Chairs designed in the Queen Anne style are more functional and lightweight than their predecessors. They often feature a vase or fiddle-shaped splat, which refers to the central vertical back element, in order to support the spine and plush cushions. Craftsmen of the era predominantly worked in walnut, maple and pine. Any embellishments they introduced in their furnishings were frequently minimal and refined and expressed by way of modest flourishes such as shells or scrolls. Some pieces were more lavish with “japanned” finishes, or varnished interpretations of East Asian lacquer art. Almost every piece of furniture, whether a tea table or desk, included S-shaped, animalistic cabriole legs that end in a paw or claw-and-ball form.

These qualities made Queen Anne furniture popular throughout Europe and North America. Boston and Philadelphia became hubs for the production of this style of furniture, spurred by the arrival of British artisans who fostered a market for well-heeled colonists. While the showier Chippendale style later surpassed it in popularity, Queen Anne’s simple elegance still draws an enduring appreciation.

Find a collection of antique Queen Anne dining tables, seating, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.

As a practical focal point in your living area, antique and vintage coffee tables and cocktail tables are an invaluable addition to any interior.

Low tables that were initially used as tea tables or coffee tables have been around since at least the mid- to late-1800s. Early coffee tables surfaced in Victorian-era England, likely influenced by the use of tea tables in Japanese tea gardens. In the United States, furniture makers worked to introduce low, long tables into their offerings as the popularity of coffee and “coffee breaks” took hold during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

It didn’t take long for coffee tables and cocktail tables to become a design staple and for consumers to recognize their role in entertaining no matter what beverages were being served. Originally, these tables were as simple as they are practical — as high as your sofa and made primarily of wood. In recent years, however, metal, glass and plastics have become popular in coffee tables and cocktail tables, and design hasn’t been restricted to the conventional low profile, either.

Visionary craftspeople such as Paul Evans introduced bold, geometric designs that challenge the traditional idea of what a coffee table can be. The elongated rectangles and wide boxy forms of Evans’s desirable Cityscape coffee table, for example, will meet your needs but undoubtedly prove imposing in your living space.

If you’re shopping for an older coffee table to bring into your home — be it an antique Georgian-style coffee table made of mahogany or walnut with decorative inlays or a classic square mid-century modern piece comprised of rosewood designed by the likes of Ettore Sottsass — there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Both the table itself and what you put on it should align with the overall design of the room, not just by what you think looks fashionable in isolation. According to interior designer Tamara Eaton, the material of your vintage coffee table is something you need to consider. “With a glass coffee table, you also have to think about the surface underneath, like the rug or floor,” she says. “With wood and stone tables, you think about what’s on top.”

Find the perfect centerpiece for any room, no matter what your personal furniture style on 1stDibs — shop Art Deco coffee tables, travertine coffee tables and other antique and vintage coffee tables and cocktail tables today.