How To Antique Furniture Shop
Amongst all of the different types of antiques, furniture is the most popular and also the most practical of choices. When you buy antique furniture it’s totally unlike the other types of antiques because usually, people who collect antique furniture do not collect the same type of object continuously.
What that means is, you would not want to buy only antique writing desks or Queen Anne highboys and have them everywhere in your home…although I’ve known some people that do that very thing! However, you may be partial to a certain style, period, wood or specific period.
If you are planning to antique furniture shop, you need to know how to go about it. You should have some idea about the basics ie: various styles, finishes, construction methods and variety of woods that were used. This is necessary in order to determine whether a particular piece is an authentic antique, meaning in its original state without any major changes or alterations.
After you have researched the basics, visit as many antique furniture dealers, antiques shows, historic homes, museums and auctions as you possibly can. At dealers shops, shows and auctions, be sure to check the pieces you are interested in carefully, remove drawers, look under table tops and lift chairs to have a look at their legs.
Furniture was originally made of solid wood when it first came into use, but with improvements in cabinet making techniques, the application of veneers (thin sheets of wood) as decoration was developed. This provided a cost effective way of creating decorative effects from different the grains and patterns of woods. This technique made inexpensive woods look like expensive hard woods.
The body of the furniture was constructed of a much less expensive wood, like pine and then topped with veneers. Some of the woods that were used in antique furniture are beech, cherry, chestnut, ebony, elm, mahogany, pine, oak, satinwood, walnut etc.
These tips will help you determine the age, authenticity, quality and value of antique furniture…
*Color and Patina:
Patina shows use and wear and displays the glow of the wood after years of accumulation of wax polish and dirt. Also, a rich subtle color is an important characteristic of genuine antique furniture.
*Proportion:
A piece of furniture with strange proportions may be a “marriage” of separate parts from different pieces of furniture, either from the same period of time or another period.
*Construction:
Furniture was made using mortise and tendon joints before 1800 and wooden pegs were handmade.
*Condition:
Antique pieces with marks or blemishes, if the wood has not been damaged, can still be very desirable. A good restorer can undo surface spots and give the piece a fresh look without affecting it’s antique character and value, as antique furniture in original pristine condition is worth the most.
*Alterations:
Altered furniture is always less valuable and therefore less desirable than a piece in it’s original condition. Signs of alteration would include large pieces reduced in size, freshly cut surfaces, plugged
holes or repositioned handles etc.
Now that you know “what” you should look for, the next question is “where” to shop for and buy antique furniture?
Besides auctions and dealers, you can should check the classifieds in the newpaper for antiques for sale, yard sales, estate sales, etc. Who knows, you just might find a good bargain this way.
If you want to save time, visit my online wholesale antiques warehouse to antique furniture shop and buy antique furniture…
We welcome and entertain all serious offers!
Tags: antique furniture, antique furniture shop, antiques, buy antique furniture
Leave a reply