Remembered most for its reoccurrence near the end of the 19th century in the
Queen Anne Revival (c1870-c1900), Queen Anne period furniture marks an important turn in English furniture history.
Like many other aspects of English culture, Queen Anne style furniture grew quite popular in America,
particularly during the Revival period just after the American Federal style tapered off. Although
usually characterized by stylistic developments, this time also saw the introduction of mahogany into English
furniture-making, which would become quite popular later in the 18th century.
Named after the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714), Queen Anne style furniture saw the
introduction of the elegantly curved cabriole leg, which originated in East Asia. Before this
innovative leg design, which was strengthened by a knee and thus was strong enough to support chairs without
additional framing, stretchers were necessary for chairs. It is for this reason that chairs then and
today with cabriole legs tend not to have stretchers, although many chairs at that time still used them.
Stretchers, backrests and seats alike evolved to complement the serpentine curves of the cabriole leg,
developing a very distinctive, curvaceous appearance that persists today. Feet were often ball-and-claw
or lion’s-paw. Other furniture like cabinets and tables also featured curvilinear stands and legs.
The most popular wood used in Queen Anne period furniture as well as in the Queen Anne Revival was French
walnut, although Virginian walnut was sometimes used as well. As with other long-ago furniture periods,
very little Queen Anne furniture survives, although much Queen Anne style furniture survives from the late 19th and
early 20th centuries.
