Embrace Medieval Grandeur with Your Very Own Gothic Revival Furniture

From soaring cathedrals complete with stained glass windows to intricate stonework, Gothic Revival architecture has managed to capture people's interest and imagination for centuries. While it may be a stretch to move into a castle of your very own, there are plenty of ways to introduce the same alluring grandeur into your home. Starting with Gothic Revival furniture.

What is the Gothic Revival?

To understand what, exactly, the Gothic Revival is, you have to understand the original Gothic era. This style first appeared in the early 12th century, spreading rapidly from northern France to the rest of Europe. It's best characterized by features like flying buttresses, stained glass displays, and pointed arches. It was the most popular furniture and architecture style for a couple of hundred years until the Renaissance period took over in the 14th century.

Years later, in the 19th century, a new design movement emerged. It harkened back to the romantic motifs and elaborate styles made possible in the original Gothic era and was hence known as the Gothic Revival. This era of design breathed new life into the beloved style, and pieces have remained steadily popular ever since.

Why Do Collectors Like Gothic Revival Furniture?

The most avid collectors of Gothic Revival decor tend to appreciate the pieces for their rich historical significance. It's not every day that you find a table or chair in an Algonquin antique mall that goes back generations and generations. Featuring one of these designs, especially if it has a traceable provenance, evokes a sense of medieval grandeur in the home. 

Choosing a grand cabinet or canopy bed as the focal point for your room does more than add to your one-of-a-kind interior design—it's an investment. With exceptional craftsmanship unheard of in today's mass manufacturing, you can rest assured knowing the piece you buy is made to last for a lifetime (and beyond) of use.

The 5 Most Popular Types of Gothic Revival Furniture:

1. Armoire: large, versatile cabinets made to draw attention, with detailed ornamentations

2. Tall-back chairs: often resembling thrones, with high backs shaped like church windows and lancet arches

3. Canopy beds: mimicking those of the Middle Ages, these four-poster beds were sturdy and featured either solid wood or draped fabric toppers

4. Tables: including dining, library, extension, and pedestal tables, typically featured stout carved legs

5. Etagères: an open shelving unit designed to help owners display their tiny treasures and rare collections

What Are the Key Characteristics of Gothic Revival Furniture?

Even if you don't know what it is you're looking for, more often than not, Gothic Revival furniture is instantly recognizable. When you break it down, this era of furniture has a few distinct features.

Hallmark Features of Gothic Revival Furniture:

• Masterful craftsmanship

• Unique shapes

• Ornate carvings

• High-quality wood

• Tactile fabrics

• Embellished hardware

Sturdy and Handcrafted Construction

Gothic Revival furniture is praised for its high-quality construction, with many designs being handmade by master craftsmen of the time. From dining tables to decorative chairs, every piece was built to be equally durable, functional, and beautiful.

Architectural Detailing and Shapes

This era of furniture often mimicked the same shapes and details found in the architecture of the period. With pointed arches, vertical emphasis, and latticed panels, many of the pieces from this time are fit for cathedrals, castles, and, with the right styling, your home.

Intricate Carvings and Tracery

Part of what sets Gothic Revival pieces apart is the use of the same motifs found in the original Gothic era. Wood carvings and pierced tracery were the two main methods of embellishment used on these designs.

Popular Gothic Revival Furniture Motifs:

• Quatrefoils and trefoils

• Religious symbols

• Linen folds

• Rose windows

• Foliage

• Mythical creatures

• Knights, kings, and queens

Dark Woods and Tactile Fabrics

While mahogany, rosewood, and ebony were sometimes chosen, oak and walnut were the most commonly used woods in Gothic Revival furniture, as they provided the best background for intricate carvings and decorations. If anything needed to be upholstered, whether it be a chair, loveseat, or canopy bed, the maker would opt for ultra-textured fabrics, such as velvet, brocade, or leather.

Ornate and Opulent Hardware

When it comes to Gothic Revival designs, even the handles and hinges feature delicate yet extravagant detailing! If a piece comes with its original metal hardware pieces, it becomes all the more valuable.

Where is the Best Place to Buy Gothic Revival Furniture?

While there's a time and place for hunting down rare pieces on online auction sites, if you ask an experienced collector, they're all but guaranteed to agree that the best place to shop for Gothic Revival furniture is in person. Most towns have their fair share of locally owned thrift stores and pop-up flea markets, but none can compare to the thrilling experience of shopping at a Phoenix antique mall.

When you browse an antique mall, you have a great chance of finding that rare Gothic Revival piece you're looking for. The next time you're in your local Indiana vendor mall, take the time to sort through the tchotchkes, retro clothing, vintage glass jars, and collectibles – who knows what amazing Gothic Revival designs you may discover!

How to Authenticate Gothic Revival Furniture

It should be noted that very, very few pieces from the original Gothic age have lasted, meaning most Gothic-style furniture today is from the Revival period. When it comes to purchasing Gothic Revival furniture, determining whether or not a piece is the genuine thing or a modern-day replica is a must.

If you're buying antique furniture from a reputable vendor, they'll likely provide you with all the proper documentation you need. But if you do find a design in the wild, you'll want to go through a few necessary identification processes and precautions before handing over any money.

3 Authentication Methods for Gothic Revival Furniture:

1. Examine maker's marks, engravings, and labels for information on the artisan, country, or date it was made

2. Inspect the construction for signs of handcraftsmanship and antique joinery aligned with the era

3. Seek out auction records, old photographs, and any other historical documentation to confirm its age

Whether you're looking for a way to feel a little more luxe in your day-to-day or searching for a statement piece for your vacation home, our antique malls have plenty of Gothic Revival furniture designs to pick from. Swing by your nearest America's Antique Mall today and search for yourself.