Antique Furniture - Know your Antique Furniture
Did you know that you can add style to your home with even a few pieces of distinctive antique furniture? There are numerous questions to answer and things to consider before you buy that special period antique. How many? How much? What style? Where will you put it? Why do you want it? How do you even know if it is an antique? If an article of furniture is more than 100 years old and still has use and value, it is an antique.
When you want to to buy antique furniture learn something about the basics. Decide what style suits your interest, learn about some of the methods of construction, what kind of wood is the antique furniture made from, what kind of finish does it have. What color furniture do you want in which room? This pre-purchase thinking will help you when it gets down to buying and searching for it. You also need to determine if it is authentic and worth the price.
Go to an auction or estate sale, with your hands in your pockets and your checkbook at home! Just observe the action and examine the quality of the antiques that surface there. You will be amazed what you can learn. Visit antique stores and museums, Talk to curators. Gather information and learn what types of antique furniture you like. Or you can read about antiques online or in the library.
Ask and be certain you know if your dealer is a part of LAPADA (the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers). Antique dealers are often helpful in teaching you a lot about their passion. Reputable antique dealers honor these ethics and standard practices established by LAPADA. That is one source of credentials to boost your confidence that you will be buying authentic Antique Furniture from that dealer.
Your authentic antique furniture should show the normal effects of aging. If an antique has been kept well and cared for properly these authentic antique furniture pieces will look best in their original condition. An antique without flaws is an oxymoron. It is not a worthy antique. It has probably been completely refurbished to look perfect for the unwitting buyer. Dealers know the condition of an antique affects its value. Dealers also know the originality of antiques is what make them valuable. So be alert.
You see, when we make furniture today it is generally mass produced and everyone’s looks the same. There is a modicum of comfort in that. But antique furniture reminds us that comfort and beauty are found in originality and creativity too. Historically each chair was made one at a time. They reflect the skill and talent of the craftsman or artisan. That is yet another form of beauty.
Because they have been hand made by individual artisans true antiques rarely show exact symmetry. The small imperfections and details that you can see show that the antique has been hand made not machine cut. For instance the spindles or rungs on a chair are likely to be just a little less than identical. That is a part of the beauty and value of these pieces.
Bringing antique furniture into our homes and offices is certainly a thoughtful way to remember and honor generations that have preceded us. The best way to recreate the time period when it was made is by purchasing some authentic pieces and using them in your home or office. The unique traits of antique furniture are a part of why there is an increased interest in collecting them today.Everyone wants to be unique. Their value can only increase and you can enjoy doing research on the time period when it was made.
