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How to Reproduce 18th Century Furniture

Eighteenth-century style furniture has become hugely popular today. The period represents the final era of furniture created by hand. The period includes styles such as Queen Anne, Federal, Sheraton and Chippendale. Well-known furniture designers of this time include Thomas Chippendale and George Hepplewhite. If you wish to reproduce furniture of this period, your best bet is to select a specific piece already in existence that you can replicate. A cabinet or chair of eighteenth-century style can become the defining aspect of a room.

Things You'll Need

Model piece of 18th century furniture or photograph of a piece
Hand saw
Chisels
Block plane
Marking knife
Dovetail saw
Band saw
Lathe
Router
Small, light hammer
Furniture fixtures if relevant
Wood such as mahogany, walnut or poplar

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the piece of furniture you wish to reproduce and the defining characteristics of how the wood is carved. The piece should include ornate, curving lines and possibly cabriole legs to reflect the era.
- 2
  Measure your wood. If you have a model available, you can simply copy the dimensions of your model piece. If you are using a photo of a piece as your model, you will have to estimate the dimensions. Stay as true to the proportions of your model as possible for the most authenticity.
- 3
  Cut all the pieces of wood to your required dimensions using a handsaw. If you are building drawers, you will need to cut the dovetail sections so that the sides can join in the traditional method.
- 4
  Carve the leg ornamentation and any other ornamental carvings that appear on your model. The cabriole style leg is a defining characteristic of the 18th-century style furniture.
- 5
  Apply a stain. Allow first coat of stain to dry in a ventilated area. Apply a second coat with a lint-free rag then wipe off with a clean rag. Allow to dry.
- 6
  Attach fixtures with screws.

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