What defines an antique style, and are some better than others?
A. Antique styles (Renaissance, Louis XV, Chippendale, etc.) come from the era (Renaissance), Victorian (Queen Victoria 1837-1901) or cabinetmaker (Thomas Chippendale) that the style was first created. The resurgence of the major classic styles in the later part of the 19th century led to the use of terms revival or second, as in Renaissance Revival or Second Baroque. The significant antique styles to emerge as original styles thereafter were Art Nouveau (1890-1915) and Art Deco (1920-1940). Classic styles come and go in popularity, even within a general style, for example, Renaissance. Spanish or 1500’s or early Renaissance is a heavy look that had greater popularity in the 1970 and 1980s. Today, Italian or Tuscan or late Renaissance is very much in vogue, as witnessed by the current home building craze for Tuscan architecture and interior design. Gothic revival is also very popular now with serious collectors.
