Painted or formal furniture is meant for the homes of the well-to-do or as an accent piece in the homes of the socially aspiring. This category embraces a wide range of periods and styles from the complex turnings of William and Mary to the carvings of Chippendale and the rich grains of Federal. Painted furniture includes high-style 'fancy' decoration (a style trend of the early 19th Century) as well as the less refined painted finishes of country pieces. We distinguish painted furniture from our Ornamental Painting category by the function of the piece so stylistic overlaps might occur.
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