If you enjoy spending your free time browsing yard sales, antique shops, and flea markets for old and unusual furniture pieces, you have plenty of company. It's a popular pastime, and sellers are eager to show off everything from rare tables and chairs to convincing reproductions. If you're not a lover of modern styles, and are interested in learning how to spot genuine antiques, the pros have some suggestions for choosing country and town house antique furniture Kensington decorators use.
If you want to know if you're looking at an genuinely old piece, you need to check the construction. The dovetails will tell you a lot. If you see them, the piece was probably handmade. If the dovetails are large, that indicates the rustic workmanship of a country craftsman. Smaller dovetails take more expertise. When you see these, you know the piece was created by a highly skilled craftsman. Pieces that are nailed and glued together are factory made and more modern.
If you were looking at a painting, you would probably see a signature. This is less true of furniture, but it is possible to find some sort of signature, stamp or label that can give you more information. Experts say the best place to look for an identifying mark is on the back or bottom of a drawer or on the backs and bottoms of the pieces if there are no drawers.
You should certainly inspect any piece you are interested in for damage. The areas on a chair or dresser that get the most wear are where you are likely to see repairs or replacements. You should check the backs of wood chairs to see if the center supports have been replaced. On dressers, the feet tend to wear out first.
You should be less concerned about cracks. Old wood has had time to expand and contract. That's what causes the cracks and why experts say they usually don't negatively affect the value.
Experts have different opinions when it comes to the subject of refinishing. If you want pieces that are completely authentic, you won't be buying tables or chairs that have been refinished. Original wood on old furniture is generally purplish or black in color. The varnish is often crackled because it's been exposed to heat over time.
On the other side are the people who argue that the discoloration caused by age is not what the maker had in mind when he created the piece. When it was new the table or dresser would have been shiny. Without refinishing, they argue, you can't appreciate the beauty of the wood. Refinishing may reduce the value of the piece however. Once you decide to refinish, there's no going back. The original finish will be gone for good.
In rural areas, it may be difficult to find a wide variety of antiques to choose from. When this is the case experts say shopping online is perfectly acceptable. It's important to only deal with reputable dealers and established auction houses. Most auctioneers take online bids in addition to live bidding during an antique auction. Many dealers provide certificates of authenticity as proof of the age of a particular piece.
If you want to know if you're looking at an genuinely old piece, you need to check the construction. The dovetails will tell you a lot. If you see them, the piece was probably handmade. If the dovetails are large, that indicates the rustic workmanship of a country craftsman. Smaller dovetails take more expertise. When you see these, you know the piece was created by a highly skilled craftsman. Pieces that are nailed and glued together are factory made and more modern.
If you were looking at a painting, you would probably see a signature. This is less true of furniture, but it is possible to find some sort of signature, stamp or label that can give you more information. Experts say the best place to look for an identifying mark is on the back or bottom of a drawer or on the backs and bottoms of the pieces if there are no drawers.
You should certainly inspect any piece you are interested in for damage. The areas on a chair or dresser that get the most wear are where you are likely to see repairs or replacements. You should check the backs of wood chairs to see if the center supports have been replaced. On dressers, the feet tend to wear out first.
You should be less concerned about cracks. Old wood has had time to expand and contract. That's what causes the cracks and why experts say they usually don't negatively affect the value.
Experts have different opinions when it comes to the subject of refinishing. If you want pieces that are completely authentic, you won't be buying tables or chairs that have been refinished. Original wood on old furniture is generally purplish or black in color. The varnish is often crackled because it's been exposed to heat over time.
On the other side are the people who argue that the discoloration caused by age is not what the maker had in mind when he created the piece. When it was new the table or dresser would have been shiny. Without refinishing, they argue, you can't appreciate the beauty of the wood. Refinishing may reduce the value of the piece however. Once you decide to refinish, there's no going back. The original finish will be gone for good.
In rural areas, it may be difficult to find a wide variety of antiques to choose from. When this is the case experts say shopping online is perfectly acceptable. It's important to only deal with reputable dealers and established auction houses. Most auctioneers take online bids in addition to live bidding during an antique auction. Many dealers provide certificates of authenticity as proof of the age of a particular piece.
About the Author:
When you are are looking for information about country and town house antique furniture Kensington residents can come to our website online today. More details are available at http://www.philipburkeantiques.net/about now.
If you enjoy spending your free time browsing yard sales, antique shops, and flea markets for old and unusual furniture pieces, you have plenty of company. It's a popular pastime, and sellers are eager to show off everything from rare tables and chairs to convincing reproductions. If you're not a lover of modern styles, and are interested in learning how to spot genuine antiques, the pros have some suggestions for choosing country and town house antique furniture Kensington decorators use.
If you want to know if you're looking at an genuinely old piece, you need to check the construction. The dovetails will tell you a lot. If you see them, the piece was probably handmade. If the dovetails are large, that indicates the rustic workmanship of a country craftsman. Smaller dovetails take more expertise. When you see these, you know the piece was created by a highly skilled craftsman. Pieces that are nailed and glued together are factory made and more modern.
If you were looking at a painting, you would probably see a signature. This is less true of furniture, but it is possible to find some sort of signature, stamp or label that can give you more information. Experts say the best place to look for an identifying mark is on the back or bottom of a drawer or on the backs and bottoms of the pieces if there are no drawers.
You should certainly inspect any piece you are interested in for damage. The areas on a chair or dresser that get the most wear are where you are likely to see repairs or replacements. You should check the backs of wood chairs to see if the center supports have been replaced. On dressers, the feet tend to wear out first.
You should be less concerned about cracks. Old wood has had time to expand and contract. That's what causes the cracks and why experts say they usually don't negatively affect the value.
Experts have different opinions when it comes to the subject of refinishing. If you want pieces that are completely authentic, you won't be buying tables or chairs that have been refinished. Original wood on old furniture is generally purplish or black in color. The varnish is often crackled because it's been exposed to heat over time.
On the other side are the people who argue that the discoloration caused by age is not what the maker had in mind when he created the piece. When it was new the table or dresser would have been shiny. Without refinishing, they argue, you can't appreciate the beauty of the wood. Refinishing may reduce the value of the piece however. Once you decide to refinish, there's no going back. The original finish will be gone for good.
In rural areas, it may be difficult to find a wide variety of antiques to choose from. When this is the case experts say shopping online is perfectly acceptable. It's important to only deal with reputable dealers and established auction houses. Most auctioneers take online bids in addition to live bidding during an antique auction. Many dealers provide certificates of authenticity as proof of the age of a particular piece.
If you want to know if you're looking at an genuinely old piece, you need to check the construction. The dovetails will tell you a lot. If you see them, the piece was probably handmade. If the dovetails are large, that indicates the rustic workmanship of a country craftsman. Smaller dovetails take more expertise. When you see these, you know the piece was created by a highly skilled craftsman. Pieces that are nailed and glued together are factory made and more modern.
If you were looking at a painting, you would probably see a signature. This is less true of furniture, but it is possible to find some sort of signature, stamp or label that can give you more information. Experts say the best place to look for an identifying mark is on the back or bottom of a drawer or on the backs and bottoms of the pieces if there are no drawers.
You should certainly inspect any piece you are interested in for damage. The areas on a chair or dresser that get the most wear are where you are likely to see repairs or replacements. You should check the backs of wood chairs to see if the center supports have been replaced. On dressers, the feet tend to wear out first.
You should be less concerned about cracks. Old wood has had time to expand and contract. That's what causes the cracks and why experts say they usually don't negatively affect the value.
Experts have different opinions when it comes to the subject of refinishing. If you want pieces that are completely authentic, you won't be buying tables or chairs that have been refinished. Original wood on old furniture is generally purplish or black in color. The varnish is often crackled because it's been exposed to heat over time.
On the other side are the people who argue that the discoloration caused by age is not what the maker had in mind when he created the piece. When it was new the table or dresser would have been shiny. Without refinishing, they argue, you can't appreciate the beauty of the wood. Refinishing may reduce the value of the piece however. Once you decide to refinish, there's no going back. The original finish will be gone for good.
In rural areas, it may be difficult to find a wide variety of antiques to choose from. When this is the case experts say shopping online is perfectly acceptable. It's important to only deal with reputable dealers and established auction houses. Most auctioneers take online bids in addition to live bidding during an antique auction. Many dealers provide certificates of authenticity as proof of the age of a particular piece.
About the Author:
When you are are looking for information about country and town house antique furniture Kensington residents can come to our website online today. More details are available at http://www.philipburkeantiques.net/about now.
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