| The Victoria era (1837 - 1901) brought us a style of | | | | smoke. These would reflect a very masculine |
| furniture which was highly decorative and elaborate. | | | | character with dark wood book shelves, desks and |
| Their design ideas were not new but were stolen | | | | occasional tables. The popularity of Victorian furniture |
| from the periods where excess was commonplace. | | | | reproduction has now ensured that all these pieces |
| Eras such as Baroque and Rococo, with their intricate | | | | can be bought at a very reasonable cost. |
| work and romantic undertones, were visible in their | | | | The furniture in the parlour, where the ladies would |
| styling, as were the bolder ideas from the Gothic | | | | play cards and talk whilst their men folk indulged in |
| period. Victorian furniture reproduction incorporates all | | | | smoking and drinking, would be much more feminine. |
| these aspects with the added benefits of the | | | | For example the occasional tables would often have |
| practicalities of modern design. | | | | a single, lightweight pedestal as opposed to the |
| Much of their furniture was very formal. Their dining | | | | heavyweight bases of the more masculine pieces. |
| rooms included straight back chairs and highly polished | | | | These reflect the rococo period rather than the |
| tables where the family would eat their meals. | | | | Gothic. These are very popular pieces of Victorian |
| Discipline was paramount, especially at meal times and | | | | furniture reproduction these days and can be easily |
| this is apparent in their choice of furniture in the | | | | sourced. |
| dining rooms. The wood for the furniture would be | | | | Victorian furniture reproduction relies heavily on |
| polished on a regular basis and this would be a | | | | veneers rather than solid wood. You will probably find |
| constant chore for the staff. Many of the households | | | | that the wood from which the furniture is |
| would employ upstairs and downstairs staff and a lot | | | | constructed is cheaper and sometimes softer wood. |
| of their time would be spent in the upkeep of the | | | | That is not to say that you cannot purchase |
| flamboyant solid wood furniture. Modern Victorian | | | | furniture which is made to the same exacting |
| furniture reproduction has brought with it all the | | | | standards as the originals. Such pieces are still readily |
| stunning aesthetic aspects of this era but with the | | | | available, they are just more costly. It may be that |
| advent of modern finishes much of the hard work | | | | you do not wish to pay a large sum for furniture |
| has been replaced by a quick spray of proprietary | | | | which may well be replaced when you decide that |
| wood polish or sometimes even just a wipe with a | | | | you would like to change the style of the room. |
| damp cloth. | | | | Whichever choice you make, be it the expensive and |
| It is now possible to furnish your entire house with | | | | well made pieces or the more economical yet |
| pieces that will recreate the warmth and feel of a | | | | effective furniture, you can be sure that Victorian |
| Victorian household. The library, or study, featured | | | | furniture reproduction will enable you to fill your home |
| highly in their homes as this would be where the man | | | | with some classic designs which will be eye catching |
| of the house spent much of his time. After a meal, | | | | and take you back to an era of homely |
| the men would retire to the library, or possibly the | | | | extravagance. |
| drawing room, where they would take drinks and | | | | |