Duncan Phyfe, original name Duncan Fife, (born 1768, near Loch Fannich, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland—died August 16, 1854, New York, New York, U.S.), Scottish-born American furniture designer, a leading exponent of the Neoclassical style, sometimes considered the greatest of all American cabinetmakers.

How can you tell if a Duncan Phyfe table is real?

If your piece doesn’t have a signature, there are other ways to confirm you have a Duncan Phyfe original. The most obvious way is with reliable documentation or provenance. Finding a 175-to-215-year-old bill of lading for the piece would be ideal.

What is the Duncan Phyfe style?

The style is commonly known for harps, lutes, and lyres in chair backs. Upholstered seats are typical in chairs with smaller, more delicate legs. Phyfe furniture tends to have straight parallelled qualities, as opposed to the curvature seen in Queen Anne furniture.

How much is my Duncan Phyfe table worth?

Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854) was best known for the straight lines and classical look of his furniture carved in rich hard woods like mahogany and walnut. Values for an original Duncan Phyfe table range from $50,000 to $150,000.

When was Duncan Phyfe popular?

Demand for Phyfe’s work reached its peak between 1805 and 1820, although he remained a dominant figure in the trade until 1847, when he retired at the age of seventy-seven.

How long is a Duncan Phyfe table?

36″ width x 24″ depth x 30″ height when closed. Opens to 36″ x 48″.

How old is my drop leaf table?

Look at the finish of the table to determine whether it has a patina of age. Even if it is in beautiful shape, it should not look new. You can identify antique furniture by looking for saw marks, especially on the tabletop. Up until the early 1800s, saw marks will be straight, and after that, they may be circular.

How do I identify my furniture maker?

Spot the Signs: Tags, Stamps and Labels A telltale sign of the furniture’s maker is a manufacturing tag, label or stamp bearing the name of the creator. Such a marking or label may have been placed inside a drawer on an old dresser, on the back of a chest of drawers, or on the underside of a chair or sofa seat.

How can you tell if a table is antique?

Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860.

Is Duncan Phyfe a style or a brand?

Duncan Phyfe, original name Duncan Fife, (born 1768, near Loch Fannich, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland—died August 16, 1854, New York, New York, U.S.), Scottish-born American furniture designer, a leading exponent of the Neoclassical style, sometimes considered the greatest of all American cabinetmakers.

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What period is Duncan Phyfe?

Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854) was a late 18th Century/early 19th Century craftsman who produced traditional style furniture. While Eastlake furniture was a popular style in the late 19th century, Duncan Phyfe furniture designs are based on what was popular and fashionable in Europe in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Where was Duncan Phyfe made?

Duncan Phyfe was a Scotch immigrant who became known for refined furniture, made by skilled craftsmen in his factory in New York City. Phyfe took European styles and refined them with high quality materials to appeal to American tastes, becoming one of the best known furniture makes of the early 19th century.

What era is claw foot furniture?

Claw foot tables became a common fixture in many European and American homes during the 18th and 19th centuries. From massive banquet tables to quaint candlestick tables, these tables can be found in a wide variety of sizes and styles.

What do you call a table that the sides fold down?

A drop-leaf table is a table that has a fixed section in the center and a hinged section (leaf) on either side that can be folded down (dropped). … The usual purpose of a drop-leaf table is to save space when the table is not in use.

What does a gate leg table look like?

A gateleg table is a type of furniture first introduced in England in the 16th century. The table top has a fixed section and one or two hinged leaves, which, when not in use, fold down below the fixed section to hang vertically. … The earliest gateleg tables of the 16th and 17th century were typically made of oak.

What do the numbers on the back of furniture mean?

A number could indicate the style, the maker, or even a patent granted to the company. The furniture back. Some manufacturers used less expensive wood on the back of a bureau, and they placed the label there, where it wouldn’t damage the finish.

What is a Doughboy table?

Often called “doughboys” or “possum belly” tables, the wood table features two flour bin drawers, a utensil drawer, and a second slender top drawer. Beautiful tone to the wood, the table wood make a great workspace table in the kitchen or use as a console or entry table.

What are pie crust tables used for?

Piecrust tables were developed in the 18th century. They were typically used for serving tea or coffee, and do qualify as a type of tea table. They are often associated with Queen Anne and Chippendale designs.

What age does furniture become vintage?

Most antique dealers consider an item to be vintage if it is at least 40 years old.

How can you tell how old furniture is?

1. Look Past the Style of a Piece.
2. Examine Bottoms, Insides, and Backs.
3. Check for Perfectly Matching Elements.
4. Try to Figure Out What Tools Were Used.
5. Look at the Wood and Upholstery Fabric.
6. Investigate the Screws and Other Hardware.

Is there an app to identify furniture?

The Google Goggles app was an image recognition mobile app using visual search technology to identify objects through a mobile device’s camera. The Google Goggles mobile app can: … Recognize and offer information for historical landmarks.

What is Chippendale furniture?

Chippendale furniture is an American design originating in the 16th century. It is mainly characterized by the style of the legs and feet and is frequently made of a dark colored wood.

How can you tell how old a table is?

The condition and markings on the wood, the style and the hardware used to assemble the table can help determine if it’s antique — more than 100 years old — or simply a collectible. Age is just one determinant of value, however. Condition and craftsmanship are equally important.

What style is ball and claw foot furniture?

Craftsman in Philadelphia, the epicenter of American Rococo style, carved slightly flattened, squat balls into their ball-and-claw feet.

What are Bunn feet?

Bunn Foot or Bun Feet are available from All Cabinet Parts in many designs and wood species. Such as Alder, Cherry, Maple, Red Oak and Rubberwood. Bun Feet are typically used for furniture legs, for a sofa or love seat maybe.

What is a butterfly leaf table?

Also known as expandable tables, butterfly leaf tables are a helpful solution for solving space problems in a small dining room. … Rather than settling for a smaller table, opt for a table that can be extended, allowing more seating when you need it.

Why is it called a drop leaf table?

Pembroke table, light, drop-leaf table designed for occasional use, probably deriving its name from Henry Herbert, 9th Earl of Pembroke (1693–1751), a noted connoisseur and amateur architect.

How does drop leaf work?

An undercover workhorse, the drop leaf table features two hinged leaves at either end. Pop the leaves up and it functions as a perfect dining table, or let them hang free and turn it into a console or bedside table, neatly tucked against the wall.