Queen Anne Furniture

This was a period when English designers were less influenced by foreign tastes

The reign of Queen Anne (1702–14) marked a period in English furniture design that was characterised by functionality, comfort and elegance. Queen Anne furniture is generally regarded today as the most popular of all English styles, although it derives more from the work of independent craftsmen than professional designers.

The style began as a simplification of its 17th century ancestry, the elaboration of which during the William and Mary period had betrayed continental, particularly Dutch, influences. With the growth of affluence in England, patrons of fine furniture no longer felt the need to copy foreign tastes and could commission pieces that suited their need for practicality.

This was an age during which many great houses were built in England, most notably Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace. The furniture designed during this period reflected the architecture in that it was essentially English in style, unlike the high crested and pedimented pieces from the previous reign that seemed to imitate the pointed gables of Dutch houses. With Queen Anne furniture, the centre of gravity is lower and the pieces appear more stable and solid.