Antique Furniture

What are the important things to look for when buying antique furniture?

First, how do you determine that a piece of furniture is antique? Anything that is old and rare can be generally considered an antique. Normally, antique items are a hundred years old or more, but more recent items that are in high demand can be considered antiques. Importance and market demand usually dictate how much an antique is worth. However, real antique furniture is a very popular commodity and its value always appreciates over time because it uniquely describes the craftsmanship of its era.

Generally there are four types of antique furniture – English, European, American and Oriental. English is further divided into Victorian or Pre-Victorian, whereas American furniture is divided into Shaker, New York or Western. Oriental antique furniture, on the other hand, is normally identified by associating it with the period of its manufacture.

An important factor in determining the value of antique furniture is the type of wood used to create them. The best antique furniture are the ones made with mahogany, oak, walnut or pine. The condition of the piece is also a crucial factor in determining its value. Inspecting each piece is a good idea. Also take note that antiques should be cleaned only with pure beeswax because lemon oil dries out the wood and darkens the patina. Antique furniture that leaves oil when you touch their finish is bad because lemon oil has been used on them.

If you are interested in buying antique furniture, it is best to learn as much as you can about them so that you can make an educated guess when making a purchase. Study the names of the styles that interest you by going to libraries or searching over the Internet. You can also visit local museums and ask the curator on the types of items that interest you. You should also learn to spot items that can diminish the value of the piece, such as damaged parts, replaced items, or unauthentic hardware.

Next, you should learn to identify reliable antique dealers. Looking for them through ads in publications or the Internet is one way of doing it. Curators from local museums can sometimes lead you to reliable dealers. For extremely rare furniture you can try antique auction houses. However, for more reasonable antiques, you can try country auctions, where there are plenty of bargain pieces. For even greater bargains, you can try estate sales, garage sales, pawn shops and flea markets, where unexpected gems of antiques abound.

Finally, while antique furniture should still be in good shape, don’t expect it to be in perfect condition, after all it is old. It is normal to see signs of wear and tear on the finish, legs, and back panels.