Antique and Reproduction - They are Not the Same, Really!

Antique reproduction furniture is a product that seeks to recreate a popular or much sought after antique and is most often sold honestly for what it is - a copy of an original. By using antique reproduction hardware, reproduction antique furniture can, in some cases, be just as handsome as the authentic piece but can be sold in a price range accessible to the average consumer.

Is it possible to tell the difference?

It is possible to differentiate between reproduced items and the real thing if you know what to look for. Research is essential to dealing with authentic antiques. Only by understanding the craftsmanship that went into the production of a piece of furniture can the buyer judge the origin of an item and spot a fake.

The word "fake," however, does not necessarily mean that a piece is cheap or unattractive, only that it is not attributed to a given period or to a given furniture maker. In most cases when someone has bought a "fake" the transaction simply represents ignorance on the part of both buyer and seller.

In any generation there are people who can afford the "real thing" and those who need to find a more economical route. Some so-call ed "fakes" are actually the same age as "authentic" antiques but were simply produced by different means. For the buyer, the question is one of taste and purpose. If you are trying to build an antique collection of excellent representative pieces of a given style of furniture, a reproduction from any era will be of no interest to you.

However, if you are interested in a piece of old furniture simply because you like it and it is something you want in your home, you may not be as concerned about the "provenance" or the origin and credentials of the piece. Just be clear in your mind what it is you are trying to accomplish before you begin the negotiation to purchase any piece of furniture.

Also, bear in mind that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If you see a one of a kind piece that you know you will never be able to acquire, it is completely possible to commission a custom antique reproduction. In the hands of skilled furniture makers, such reproductions are usually well m ade, attractive, and desirable in their own right - they just don't happen to be antiques.

Continue to: Differences between Wholesale Antique Reproductions and Others

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