Queen Anne Armchair Value Guide

This mid-18th-century American Queen Anne armchair represents a pivotal shift toward curvilinear elegance in colonial furniture design. Crafted between 1740 and 1760, its distinctive Spanish feet and cherry wood construction make it a highly sought-after example of early American craftsmanship.

What Is Queen Anne Armchair Worth?

The typical price range for Queen Anne Armchair is $1,200 - $1,500 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence of rare Spanish feet significantly impacts the desirability and market price.
• The condition and originality of the cherry wood finish and structural integrity.
• The quality of the vase-form splat carving and the overall proportions of the cabriole legs.
• Historical provenance or evidence of origin within specific American colonial woodworking centers.

How to Identify Queen Anne Armchair?

• Look for the characteristic vase-form or fiddle-back splat centered in the chair back.
• Examine the feet for the carved, flared 'Spanish foot' design rather than the more common pad foot.
• Verify the material is cherry wood, a native timber frequently used by American colonial artisans.
• Check for authentic 18th-century joinery and signs of age consistent with the 1740-1760 era.

History of Queen Anne Armchair

The Queen Anne style, prevalent from roughly 1720 to 1760, marked a significant shift in furniture design, moving away from the more rectilinear and robust forms of the William and Mary style towards curvilinear shapes and refined elegance. Originating in England, it quickly found its way to the American colonies, where local artisans adapted the designs, often using native woods like cherry and maple. Key characteristics include cabriole legs, pad feet or, as seen here, Spanish feet, and a fiddle-back or vase-form splat. These chairs were a symbol of status and comfort for the growing colonial elite.