More about Antique Furniture.

a. What is a piece of furniture’s age, old enough to be antique ?

An antique is an item with at least 100 years of age under its belt. That means that genuine Victorian pieces are now true antiques. However, the term antique is used rather loosely and often ends up reflecting the age of the person using it. To a teenager, a toy from the ‘50s seems “antique.” From a personal standpoint, I tend to view items less than 75 years old as “collectible” rather than antique. So, anything with collectible value can show up in an antiques shop regardless of the age.

b. How do we know something is old?

This is one of those learn as you go things. The more you look at, handle and learn about real antiques, the easier it is to distinguish old from new, after that you can just know which is new, old or antique pieces. Some general things to look for are materials not often used in modern production, hand applied ornamentation that may be machine applied today and styling that might be indicative of a certain time period such as the Art Deco period or Arts & Crafts movement. Antiques and older collectibles are not going to be absolutely new looking in most cases. This is why people pay so much more for items in "mint” condition, because they don’t crop up as often as pieces with telltale signs of aging and wear.

c. Watch out with reproduction !

How can we fiqure out a piece of furniture is a kind of reproduction not real antique one. The thing that we can do is to learn as much as possible about your collecting preferences and pay attention to details that indicate something isn’t quite right. Buying more expensive pieces from a reputable dealer is another good way to avoid being taken.

There are many ways to determine if a piece of antique furniture is a true piece of history or a clever reproduction.

· Signs of age: Since wood shrinks over time, look for signs of cracking, warping, and fading, as well as slightly ragged edges (a sign of the old-fashioned, pre-motorized handsaw). Mirror glass should be very thin and slightly warped. Look for notes of this in seller descriptions.

· Imperfections: From your review of the listing’s images, try to determine if the piece’s boards are of varying widths. Uniform board widths are a fairly modern invention.

As always, it’s important to get all the facts. If you have questions about a specific piece, ask the seller. Most antique furniture sellers are happy to provide you with additional details or photos of the piece to help you make an informed decision.

How to buy an Antique Furniture ?

Most people get started collecting antique furniture through inheritance -- You know, an older person in your family passes on and their furniture is passed on to the relatives. Most of the time the passed on goods are not quality antiques, but on occasion great pieces can be procured this way and it is absolutely the cheapest way to get started.

Once you have decided you may have an interest in antique furniture, feed that interest. Visit all types of antiques shops and auction houses. Listen carefully to other people as they discuss a particular piece. Don't' just glance at furniture - watch as experienced people turn it over, feel it and examine it. The more you LOOK and LISTEN, the more you learn.

Becoming knowledgeable about antique furniture takes research, even if you’re focusing on only one aspect of this wide-ranging subject.

• Establish value: Many collectors prefer specific eras, styles, and makers, while others have more eclectic tastes. In either case, an authentic piece’s value is most influenced by its condition, rarity, and history.
• Get an expert opinion: A trained eye is more likely to find an undervalued treasure (or a clever masquerade) than a novice. Stay informed about trends in the antiques market by consulting important trade publications.
• Consider practical matters: Carefully review the size and weight of each antique furniture piece you consider purchasing. Shipping furniture can be a pricey proposition. To reduce these costs, search for eBay sellers in your region. Also, look for sellers who use blanket-wrap shipping services.

Find a reasonably priced piece and BUY IT! This definitely helps feed one's interest. People are often reluctant to become involved in a purchase, but this is the best way to build interest and accelerate the learning process for the next purchase.

Remember, buy what you like and chances are that someone else will like it too when and if the time comes to sell.

This is a list of a few places to begin your search for antique furniture. Our other pages in this area cover these in greater depth.

• Advertisements
• Auctions
• Antiques Shops
• Online Store or Mall like eBay
• Junk Shops
• Fairs & Markets
• Flea Markets

What is Antique Furniture ?

If we want to complete our home’s interior with style and valueable things, a fine antique , especially a carefully selected piece of antique furniture that's both functional and beautiful, will ring o’ bell in our mind. We can imagine if we will see our comfortable home decorated not only with a good interior design, but also with the elegan and high taste antique furnitures.

What is the antique furniture ? is the old carved wood furniture or a piece which the old man inherited to their child and grandchild. So what is anyway ? The Antique furniture is the term for collectible interior furnishings of considerable age; often its age, rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features makes the furniture desirable. Antique furniture may support the human body (such as seating or beds), provide storage, or hold objects on horizontal surfaces above the ground. Storage furniture (which often makes use of doors, drawers, and shelves) is used to hold or contain smaller objects such as clothes, tools, books, and household goods. Furniture can be a product of artistic design and is considered a form of decorative art. In addition to furniture's functional role, it can serve a symbolic or religious purpose. Domestic furniture works to create, in conjunction with furnishings such as clocks and lighting, comfortable and convenient interior spaces. Furniture can be made from many materials, including metal, plastic, and woods, but mostly wood. Cabinetry and cabinet making are terms for the skill set used in the building of furniture