Question 1

How do you identify 1930s furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify 1930s furniture, first see if you can spot a maker's mark in hidden areas, such as the back, base, inside of drawers or under tabletops and seats. Trusted online resources can help you determine who produced your furniture based on these markings, and from there, you can research more to get a rough idea of how old your item is. A piece's characteristics can also be helpful when dating furniture. Many items made during the 1930s are examples of Art Deco furniture. Art Deco furniture is characterized by geometric patterns and luxurious materials, such as shagreen, marble, mother of pearl, mirrored glass, exotic animal hides and rare woods like mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. A certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer can provide an expert opinion on when your piece was likely made. On 1stDibs, explore a range of 1930s furniture.

Question 2

Did they have record players in the 1930s?

Accepted Answer

Yes, people had record players in the 1930s. In fact, record players began to become more common during the decade and continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Thomas Edison made the first phonograph record player in 1877. Shop a variety of record players on 1stDibs.

Question 3

What did brides wear in the 1930s?

Accepted Answer

What brides wore in the 1930s varied. Some wore long flowing dresses made of satin or silk. Long sleeves were popular and designs often featured only minimal embellishments like appliqués and beading. Because many people faced difficult financial situations due to the Great Depression, brides also sometimes simply wore their best dresses on their wedding days. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of vintage wedding dresses.

Question 4

What did phones look like in the 1930s?

Accepted Answer

In the 1930s, phones typically looked like rotary telephones. They had either a round or square base with a numbered dial that spun when you dialed and a handset receiver with both an earpiece and a mouthpiece. A cord connected the handset to the base. Find a variety of rotary phones on 1stDibs.

Question 5

What is French furniture called?

Accepted Answer

French furniture is usually just called French furniture in English. In French, someone might say "les meubles français," which translates directly to "French furniture." However, there are names for furniture styles inspired by the furniture produced in France. French Provincial is the name for pieces made in or inspired by craftsmen from the Loire Valley or in Lyon. Furniture produced in this style often shows off scalloped carvings and curving cabriole legs. French royal furniture is the general term for furnishings made for the monarchs of France or inspired by these pieces. An example is Louis XVI furniture, which often includes clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Find a wide variety of French furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 6

What are some French furniture styles?

Accepted Answer

Some popular French furniture styles of the 19th century include Directoire, Empire and Restoration. The Regency style popular from 1715 to 1730 is also well known. Many styles share their names with the monarchs who ruled during the period. Examples include the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI styles. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of French furniture.

Question 7

How do I know if my French furniture is provincial?

Accepted Answer

To know if your French furniture is provincial, examine its decorative flourishes. Provincial furniture often showed off a white painted finish with gold gilt accents. Many pieces feature carvings depicting mythological subjects or floral motifs. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted French provincial furniture.

Question 8

How do you identify 1800s furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify 1800s furniture, first check to see if your piece bears any maker's marks. Should you locate any, researching them using trusted online resources can help you determine the maker and age of your furniture. To determine if unmarked pieces date back to the 19th century, look for tool marks and variations in their carvings and ornamentation. Since 19th-century furniture was handmade, you should expect to find these signs of hand craftsmanship. A piece that shows no marks or inconsistencies in details is likely a contemporary machine-made reproduction. Familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of Rococo, Chippendale, Gothic Revival, neoclassical and other 19th-century styles can also be helpful. If you struggle to make an identification, consider consulting a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a range of 19th-century furniture.

Question 9

What do you call furniture from the 1960s?

Accepted Answer

Furniture from the 1960s is often called mid-century modern. This style emphasizes the importance of good design that looks attractive and performs its function well. Notable mid-century modern designers include Eero Saarinen, George Nelson, Florence Knoll and Charles and Ray Eames. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of mid-century modern furniture.

Question 10

What is 1950s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

1950s furniture is called vintage furniture. Some pieces produced during this period may be considered mid-century modern based on their characteristics. Mid-century modern design refers to the variety of modernism that rose to prominence in the 1940s and ’50s. It displays many of the characteristics of the earlier versions of modernism, including simple forms and a focus on functionality. Other traits common in mid-century modern furniture include unadorned silhouettes, clean lines and mixed materials, emphasizing wood, wool, steel and plastic. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of 1950s furniture.

Question 11

What is 1970s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

What 1970s furniture is called varies. Generally, you may see pieces produced during the decade classified as "vintage" or "retro" furniture. During the 1970s, some makers continued to produce furniture that boasted the characteristics of mid-century modern works. The disco era yielded furnishings with organic, often rounded shapes, unadorned silhouettes, clean lines and a mix of materials. The showy leather furniture of the 1970s, which was both sexy and comfortable, is seeing a resurgence in today’s homes. Shop a wide variety of vintage 1970s furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 12

What is ’70s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

What ’70s furniture is called depends on its style. Generally, pieces from this decade can be called vintage furniture. However, pieces with certain stylistic characteristics have other names. For example, some 1970s furniture is mid-century modern. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, was developed in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of 1970s furniture.

Question 13

What is 1920s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

What 1920s furniture is called depends on its style. However, the most prominent design style of the decade was Art Deco. The term alone conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. The iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture often featured bold geometric lines, floral forms, shimmering mirrored finishes, sleek metal accents, and the use of expensive materials such as shagreen or marble as well as exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Art Deco furniture.

Question 14

What is the 1950s furniture style called?

Accepted Answer

The best-known 1950s furniture style is called mid-century modern. Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three phrases that describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style emerged primarily in the years following World War II through creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Mid-century modern designers combined natural and human-made materials, such as teak, rosewood and oak woods as well as steel, fiberglass and molded plywood. Some well-known mid-century modern designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of mid-century modern furniture.

Question 15

What is 1960s-style furniture called?

Accepted Answer

Generally, 1960s-style furniture is called mid-century modern. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Some of the most notable furniture designers of the time include Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Eero Saarinen and Hans J. Wegner. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of mid-century modern furniture.

Question 16

What was the term in French furniture for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface?

Accepted Answer

In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.

French Furniture 1930s

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

French Designer, Pendant Light, Glass, Rope, France, 1930s

Early 20th Century French Bauhaus Armchairs

Bauhaus tubular cantilever chair, 1930 s

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

French Designer, Table Lamps, Glass, Metal, Onyx, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

French Designer, Pendant Light, Glass, Brass, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

French Designer, Wall Light, Brass, Glass, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French French Provincial Table Lamps

1930’s Mercury Glass Table Lamps

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Console Tables

1930 s French Art Deco Console Table in Wrought Iron with Curved Marble Top

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

French Designer, Wall Lights, Brass, Glass, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Screens and Room Dividers

Sculptural Wood Folding Screen by Baumann, from Grands Magasins Du Louvre, 1930s

Vintage 1930s Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors

French Designer, Wall Lights, Metal, Glass, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French French Provincial Table Lamps

1930 s Opaline Glass Table Lamps

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Table Lamps

1930 s French Art Deco Art Glass Figural Table Lamp - Designer

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Wall Mirrors

1930s French Art Deco Oak Mirror

Mid-20th Century French Carts and Bar Carts

Art Deco Bar Cart, France 1930s

Vintage 1930s French French Provincial Wall Lights and Sconces

Pair 1930 s Large French Bagues Silver Leafed 3 Lights Sconces

Vintage 1930s French Floor Lamps

1930 s wrought iron Art Déco floor lamp by Louis Katona

Vintage 1930s French Wall Lights and Sconces

French Designer, Wall Lights, Brass, Fabric, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French French Provincial Wall Lights and Sconces

1930 s French Bagues Silvered Metal 5 Lights Sconces with Crystals

Vintage 1930s French French Provincial Wall Lights and Sconces

1930 s French Bagues Crystal Bird Large Sconces with 3 Lights

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Armchairs

Pair of Art Deco Bridge/ Armchairs, in Leather, France, Circa 1930 s

Early 20th Century French Industrial Chairs

French 1930s University Chair

Vintage 1930s French Table Lamps

French Designer, Table Lamp, Brass, Onyx, Fabric, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French French Provincial Wall Lights and Sconces

1930 s Large French Bagues Gilt Metal Sconces with 3 lights

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

1930 s French Art Deco Verde Potted Palm Tree Sculpture - Large

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Sideboards

Large Art Deco Warehouse Counter In Oak, France 1930 s

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

French Designer, Table Lamps, Brass, Alabaster, Fabric, France, 1930s

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants

French Art Deco Chandelier in Wrought Iron and Press Molded Glass, Circa 1930 s

Vintage 1930s French Wall Lights and Sconces

French Designer, Wall Lights, Iron, Fabric, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French French Provincial Table Lamps

1930 s Opaline Glass Table Lamps

Vintage 1930s French Wall Lights and Sconces

Pair Of 1930 s Baccarat Twin Branch Wall Lights

20th Century French Art Deco Side Tables

1930s French Art Deco Side Table

Vintage 1930s French Wall Lights and Sconces

French Designer, Wall Light, Brass, Glass, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s European French Provincial Chandeliers and Pendants

1930 s French Gilt Metal Sunburst Light Fixture with 9 Lights

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Wall Lights and Sconces

Pair 1930 s French Art Deco Gilt Metal Wall Sconces

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Armchairs

Pair of Art Deco Streamlined Armchairs in Walnut and Fabric, France 1930 s

Vintage 1930s French Wall Lights and Sconces

French Designer, Wall Light, Brass, Glass, France, 1930s

20th Century French Table Lamps

Gustave Asch Ceramic Table Lamp, France, 1930s

Vintage 1930s French Barware

wooden former ice box France - 1930s

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Table Lamps

Petite Art Deco "Craquelé" Enameled Earthware Table Lamp - France 1930 s

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Table Lamps