Are You Letting Your Antique Furniture Waste Away?

Antique furniture is any type of furniture built fifty to one hundred years ago or more. Antique bedroom furniture and other types, like antique oak furniture, can be the centerpiece of a room, especially when adorned with antique furniture hardware. These objects represent not only a good investment, but create a unique atmosphere in your home that more modern pieces cannot necessarily achieve.

Antique Furniture Varieties

Styles of furniture change according to the tastes and fashions of the period in which they were constructed. French Rococo or Baroque pieces are heavily carved and often gilded whereas Arts and Crafts and Shaker pieces have strong, simplistic lines that emphasize function and convey an air of solidity.

Some people find this kind of rustic antique furniture with its sturdy, thick wood to be both comfortable and stylish whereas others are drawn to sleeker Art Nouveau or Post-Modern pieces. The great variety of antique furniture available insures that everyone can find a genre that appeals to them and that expresses the design sense they hope to convey in their homes.

If you are unfamiliar with various furniture genres, visit a bookstore or the library and find an illustrated guide to antique home furnishings. Just spend some time browsing and make notes about styles you do and don't like. Part of the process of selecting antique furniture is simply becoming familiar with the vocabulary.

Things to Consider Before Buying Antique Furniture

Antique furniture can be expensive depending on the type and style of item in which you are interested. Research is key to successful antique buying. Find out how to identify authentic pieces versus reproductions by working with guide books or by conducting research online. Antique furniture information can be found on antique furniture auction websites where you may also get an idea for the "going price" of given pieces or genres.

Until you are comfortable assessing the quality of items, however, you may want to consider shopping in physical venues such as outlets that offer prices at wholesale. Antique furniture is often sold in large antique malls and while such venues can be overwh elming, they can also be the source of hidden "finds."

In examining the furniture itself, consider the overall "patina" or wear evident on the piece. Does it look natural or faked? How are the elements of the piece put together? Are there custom joins or are nails used? If nails are used, are they appropriate to the period in which the piece was reputedly made? Does the hardware look original? These are the kinds of criteria with which you will become conversant after working with a good guide book.

Continue to: How can you determine the value of Antique Bedroom Furniture

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