Edwardian furniture is furniture made in Britain during the reign of Edward VII from 1901 to 1910, although the term is often used more loosely for pieces made up to the First World War. The period followed the heavy, richly ornamented taste of the late Victorians with a lighter, more refined approach.
The most characteristic Edwardian furniture is in the Sheraton Revival style, drawing on late eighteenth-century designs with slender tapering legs, satinwood and mahogany veneers, crossbanding, boxwood and ebony stringing, and delicate inlaid or painted decoration of shells, urns, ribbons and husks. Bedroom suites, display cabinets, bijouterie tables, occasional tables and salon chairs were produced in large numbers by firms such as Maple & Co., Waring & Gillow and Edwards & Roberts. At the same time, Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau influences continued, particularly in oak furniture. Edwardian pieces are often well made, conveniently sized and elegant, making them practical choices for modern homes.
