Victorian

Dates for the Victorian era vary, but most agree it ranged from around 1835 to 1903. Queen Victoria of England was known for the longest reign in English history. There are several periods of Victorian designs, but all reflect a similar overly ornate and highly detailed style. Rich, abundant and cluttered are words often used to describe the furniture, jewelry, clothing and home decor of the time. Aged more than 100 years, these items are now considered antiques. Victorian antiques varied widely among the different periods of the era and among the social classes. Throughout the era, members of nobility and landowners furnished their homes with lavish decoration, while farmers and peasants did not own finer these furnishings. Victorian furniture and decor was, by and large, wooden, overstuffed, hand carved and ornate, with work by furniture designer Charles Bevan and metalwork pioneer William Burges still in museums today. Beginnings of Victorian Style PopularityIn 1851, the Crystal Palace Exhibition in England, orchestrated by Queen Victoria herself, featured Victorian-era textiles, glassware, furniture and more. 17,000 exhibitors showed and sold their wares, and nearly six million people visited the exhibition that year. Prizes were given to manufacturers from all over the world and sparked a monumental interest in Victorian decor.There has been a significant Victorian influence in American design as well. Cut-glass art, lamps and other pieces became very popular in America during the late Victorian period, as did the gaudy furniture and dress of the time. A surge in popularity has recently made these items popular with online auctions and antique reproduction manufacturers.