How To Identify Edwardian Antiques (2024)

FAQs

How To Identify Edwardian Antiques? ›

Edwardian furniture tends to be more free-spirited, rejecting the restraint of the previous Victorian period as a result of Edward VII's love of fashion and the arts. Colours also changed as the style moved away from the darker shades of Victorian furniture toward lighter colours that created a less imposing look.

However, you're able to tell the difference between the two styles simply by walking into the room. The Victorian era produced furniture that was big, bulky, dark, and intimidating; the Edwardian era, on the other hand, produced furniture that was light, airy, portable, and practical.

Mahogany was a popular choice for Edwardian furniture; cheaper pieces utilised soft wood which were then stained dark. Lighter materials such as wicker and bamboo were also introduced during this period while a Japanese influence popularised black lacquer and satin finishes.

The Edwardian period from 1901 to 1910 was short and heavily influenced by The Arts and Crafts Movement.

Based on the style and your description of the ring, if it is a genuine antique it is most likely from the Edwardian era. The marquise boat shape of the ring, use of filigree, natural flower and leaf motifs plus the intricate designs, diamonds and platinum metal are all classic hallmarks of Edwardian rings.

Edwardian furniture tends to be more free-spirited, rejecting the restraint of the previous Victorian period as a result of Edward VII's love of fashion and the arts. Colours also changed as the style moved away from the darker shades of Victorian furniture toward lighter colours that created a less imposing look.

Antique Edwardian Furniture is pieces made during King Edward VII's reign in Britain from 1901 to 1911. This was the era when mass production began in a large scale with the use of new machinery.

Typical details of Edwardian Baroque architecture include extensive rustication, usually more extreme at ground level, often running into and exaggerating the voussoirs of arched openings (derived from French models); domed corner rooftop pavilions and a central taller tower-like element creating a lively rooftop ...

The Edwardian era oversaw a lot of progressive social change. As well as child labour laws being introduced, the Edwardians also saw women's suffrage rise to prominence and the working class becoming an active voice in politics.

Edwardian houses are 1-1/2 storey with a very steep-pitched front-gabled roof above an integral porch and (typically) saddle-bag dormers. The roof skirt gives a strongly triangular look to the gable and usually frames a sleeping porch.

What do Edwardian houses look like? ›

Edwardian houses are similar to Victorian homes—which came slightly before—in some ways but are overall less ornate and more airy in design. They have a history of being seen as homes for the wealthy and are therefore considered to be grand and ideal for entertaining.

For example, Georgian homes typically have grand rooms with high ceilings, especially on the first and second floors. Victorian homes often feature detailed plasterwork and have bay windows. Edwardian homes usually have light and airy rooms and have the addition of a front garden.

Edwardian homes tend to be shorter than Victorian residences, partly because the middle classes who lived in these homes had less of a need for servants, unlike the Georgian the Victorian generations before them. Gone were the cellars and the second floors, but in came larger halls and spacious gardens.

We recommend taking the piece to a jeweler to be tested. They will have professional tests that will determine whether your jewelry is real as well as the purity of the metal itself. A certified appraiser will be able to provide the value of the piece as well.

A hallmark is a small stamp, branded into a piece of jewellery to tell us more about its beginnings. The concept of marking jewellery in this way can be dated back thousands of years, so it's not unusual for an antique ring to bear hallmarks that provide valuable information about its age, origin and quality.

Design: Look for delicate, flowing designs in Edwardian jewelry versus bold, geometric patterns in Art Deco. Motifs: Floral and romantic motifs suggest Edwardian, while symmetrical and exotic motifs are typical of Art Deco.

Search for any labels, stamps or manufacturing tags underneath or on the back of furniture, or in the drawers. These marks will be able to tell you who made the furniture, where it was manufactured and often the year that it was made.

What is Edwardian style décor? Cheerful, elegant, fresh and light is the best way to describe Edwardian interior décor. Pastel colour schemes became fashionable, as well as floral and embossed wallpapers and paintings; largely influenced by Art Nouveau designs.

Often constructed from mahogany or walnut - favourites of English chairmakers, Edwardian chairs often feature sprung seats, button backs, marquetry and brass casters.

The interiors of Edwardian properties typically feature high ceilings that create a sense of spaciousness. This design element contrasted with the lower ceilings often found in Victorian houses. Edwardian houses aimed to create brighter and more open interior spaces.