How to shop for, find and buy that perfect piece of antique furniture...

People frequently ask me how to buy antique funiture and what important points they should look for when they shop for antique furniture. There are styles, periods and price points to accommodate every possible need. These can range from primitive to formal, rustic Americana to sleek modern, fine antique to contemporary, inexpensive to uber expensive. It is important to know various antiques styles, periods and descriptive terminology as this can help you know what to look for in antique furniture. And knowing their market price can help you avoid the mistake of overpaying for antique furniture pieces.
 
Making the decision to buy antique furniture, having it become it the overall design for your home and then finding those perfect pieces cannot be thought about frivolously. Many new or reproduction pieces of are sold as sets and therefore, buying as many or as few pieces of a fixed arrangement is completely up to you. However, when they are buying antiques, purists will want sets of antique chairs only from the same era, design and even the same maker. But finding complete sets of antique furniture that have withstood the test of time can often be a very difficult and expensive endeavor.

There are various ways of doing it though, that are not as difficult, and most people who design their home with antiques will go this route. They buy only antique furniture that they like and do not get stuck on any particular period or designer. If you do this, it will give your home an element of uniqueness and individuality that new furniture will never be able to duplicate. And whatever you buy will be an investment for the future.

Someone said: "An antique is an investment. You’re not going to find something like this in a new furniture store. It might cost you a little bit more, but it also won’t fall apart in three years."

Finding the right pieces is not only a financial investment but is also an investment of your time. Reading and studying about antiques, learning their history, attending auctions and searching through countless antique furniture shops and asking antiques dealers for their opinion and advice will serve to expand your knowledge. Right now it's a buyer’s market and a very good time to invest in antique furniture.

Here are some great tips for you if you're just starting out...

Lets begin with Descriptive Terms: You'll see or hear various descriptive terms used like "ball and claw feet", "bombe" or  "serpentine front". You should become familiar with these because you'll be seeing them used in ads and catalogs or hear them used by auctioneers or dealers. Here are a few more of the most commonly used terms used in the antique business to describe the appearance of a piece. "Original finish", means that the piece still retains its original coating. Another one is "original condition", which means that the antique item still has all its original parts. Other commonlyused terms include "patina", which is the look that antique items have as a result of years of wear and tear, and "povenance", which is the documented history of an antique item.

Once you become familiar with terms used in the antique furniture market, you will be much better able to evaluate some of the prices that you'll actually see in the market. Some of these items, which can include very simple pieces, are really very expensive.

Next you should know which styles you prefer: Items that are for sale are usually identified by style ie: Edwardian, Adam, Chippendale, Queen Ann, Louis XVI, etc.

Then visit the antiques section of your local bookstore and library, or go online for reference guides: The Internet is a great source for information and photographs of various antique furniture styles and periods.

Visit local museums and become familiar with different periods and designs: Seeing antique furniture pieces and room settings in person will help you identify it when you find it at an antique shop or auction.

Then, learn to recognize the defects that could impact the value of a piece such as, damage to the finish, cracks in joints or incorrect or reproduction hardware replacing the original.

Other important characteristics of authenticity you should consider are:

* Dimensions of boards on tabletops, bureaus and dressers...this will also help to tell the item's age.
* Saw marks on backs of chests and under tables...this also shows it's age.
* Secondary wood inside drawers and on dresser backs...specific woods were used during certain periods.
* Original paint finish exposing some cracks and original material...a good sign,sometimes called "patina"
* Glass on antique mirrors should be very thin...this can be easily determined...learn how.
* Wormholes on the surface of any wood piece...learn to recognize them as a definite sign of age.

Meet antique dealers and discuss your wants: They'll have many sources in other areas of the country or even the world and can be very helpful in expanding your search. They can also be helpful in explaining how to recognize the difference between an authentic antique and a reproduction.

Attend auctions: but be sure to select auction houses that guarantees their sales. And, if you're not looking for high end pieces, try country auctions...you may just find a bargain.

Watch the newspaper for local estate sales: Many times a member of the estate may be at the sale and will be able  yoto give you details about the piece's provenance or history.

Scour antiquing publications for ads or conduct your own search on the Internet for antique shows in your area that specialize in furniture. Flea markets are another great source for good buys.

And lastly, do not expect perfection when you buy antique furniture that may be more than 100 years old: Signs of wear should be visible in places where you'd expect it, like the bottoms of chair legs or underneath drawer runners.

I hope this has been helpful and you've gained some knowledge to work with in your quest to shop for, find and buy antique furniture pieces for your home!
 
Please visit our website; we stock a large collection where you can buy antique furniture lighting and accessories.