Antique furniture made in the Cape from 1652 to 1900 can be divided into 5 stylistic categories:
- Renaissance Classicism (1652 – 1720)
- Baroque (1680 – 1780)
- Rococo (1750 – 1800)
- Neo-Classicism (1785 – 1840)
- Regency (1820 – 1900)
A further distinction is made between Patrician Furniture (sophisticated furniture made in and around Cape Town for an elite clientele) and Country Furniture (furniture made by country craftsmen favouring contrasting woods such as yellowwood and stinkwood).
Pioneer Furniture refers to furniture made by the pioneers after the Great Trek (1835 – 1846) in the Transvaal or in the Orange Free State. Craftsmen were often amateurs, using available material and equipment to create furniture that was functional and easily transportable. The combination of boekenhout and tambotie is often found in Transvaal Furniture. Carving or inlay work was sometimes used to decorate these charming pieces.
