Two eras, a lot of royalty, and one very long reign. Here's how to keep them straight.
Georgian and Victorian are two of the most common words you'll see on antiques. Both come from British history, and both are used for pieces made in America and Europe too. Here's what each one means and how to tell them apart.
We have a Georgian-era 1827 needlework sampler and a handful of Victorian pieces in the shop right now, from cabinet cards at $22 to silver plate and porcelain.
See the 1827 sampler →
Georgian: 1714 to 1837
The Georgian era is named for the four King Georges who ruled Britain one after another, from 1714 to 1830. The short reign of William IV, 1830 to 1837, is usually counted as part of it too.
What it looks like: elegant, balanced and restrained. Think classical columns, urns, swags and garlands, inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Georgian pieces were mostly made by hand, before factories took over.
- Jewelry: handmade settings, closed-back settings with foil behind the stones, paste (glass) stones, and mourning rings.
- Silver: hand-raised, with crisp hallmarks.
- Porcelain: early English makers such as Worcester, Derby and Coalport.
- Furniture: mahogany, with makers like Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton.
Real Georgian pieces are scarce and usually expensive, since they're 190 to 300 years old.
Victorian: 1837 to 1901
The Victorian era covers Queen Victoria's reign, from 1837 to 1901. It's usually split into three parts:
- Early or Romantic (1837 to 1860): sweet, sentimental designs, with hearts, hands, flowers, snakes and lockets.
- Mid or Grand (1860 to 1885): darker and heavier. After Prince Albert died in 1861, mourning jewelry, jet and black became fashionable.
- Late or Aesthetic (1885 to 1901): lighter and more playful, with stars, crescents, Japanese-inspired designs and the Arts and Crafts movement.
What it looks like: more is more. Victorians loved ornament, pattern and sentiment. This was the era of the Industrial Revolution, so many Victorian pieces were made by machine in large numbers. That's why Victorian antiques are much easier to find than Georgian ones.
How to tell them apart
- Handmade or machine-made: Georgian pieces show hand tools and small irregularities. Victorian pieces are often more uniform.
- Style: Georgian is restrained and classical. Victorian is busy, romantic and full of decoration.
- Jewelry backs: closed backs with foil point to Georgian. Open backs became common in the Victorian era.
- Brooch clasps: Georgian brooches often have a simple long pin with no safety catch. The C-clasp is typical of Victorian brooches. See our guide on dating a brooch by its pin back and clasp.
- Photographs: photography didn't exist for most of the Georgian era. Cabinet cards, tintypes and cartes de visite are Victorian. Read how to date antique photographs.
See it in person: Georgian and Victorian pieces in the shop
Each one is a single piece, so when it's gone, it's gone.
What came after?
After Victoria came the Edwardian era (1901 to 1910), known for light, lacy designs and platinum jewelry. Then came Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
Quick cheat sheet
- Georgian: 1714 to 1837, classical, handmade, rare
- Victorian: 1837 to 1901, ornate, sentimental, often machine-made
- Edwardian: 1901 to 1910, light and lacy
New to these terms? Start with Vintage vs. Antique vs. Retro: What the Words Really Mean.
Keep browsing:
Antique photographs →Vintage home decor →Vintage kitchen & dining →
Keep reading: What Is a Needlework Sampler? · How to Date Antique Photographs · Odd Victorian Tableware
Do you have something in the family that's been called "Victorian" for as long as anyone can remember? Tell us what it is, and we'll help you guess which era it really comes from.