The basics of antiques
Antique furniture is becoming a hot topic recently. Many are collecting, and more are trying to identify what they have to determine what a piece is worth. Those who are looking to buy a piece have probably found that it can be expensive when visiting dealers and don't want to spend their hard earned cash for a small piece of home decorating. You may also have thought of visiting yard sales or estate sales to find a nice piece for a low cost. Unfortunately estate sale dealers are professionals at discovering the worth of something, and yard sales rarely see antique pieces.
How to find out what it is worth
If you own a piece of furniture it is recommended that you find the worth. There are many websites out there designed to help you identify a piece. You could also get it appraised. If you're looking to buy an antique piece, you could bring along a friend who is knowledgeable or bring an expert with you to inform you of the value of a piece you have located.
What is an antique?
Antique furniture is defined as any piece that is one hundred or more than one hundred years old from the time it was created. The more nicks and scratches it has, the more value it potentially has because it is free from refurbishing and is in it's original state. Antiques will not be assembled from machine-cut wood creating furniture that is made solely by hand and imperfect. Small imperfections such as rungs and spindles may not be uniform. Wood shrinks with age so a true antique piece will not have uniform dimensions.
The finish on an old piece of furniture consisted of Oil and wax whereas shellac was used later.
How do I take care of it?
Any antique is an investment and will continue to accumulate value with time. By taking the time to look carefully and learning how to properly care foryour antique furniture, you could establish an expensive collection you could share or make a living of. Another option would be to pass the pieces down into the family through generations to become even more valuable.
The condition of an antique will certainly affect its value. The more flaws it has, the better. This means it is likely to be in its original state. If it is lacking flaws, it may have been refurbished diminishing its value.
I have provided 9 points from my article to help you identify and care for your investment.
1. If you have a special piece of antique furniture in the room it will probably become the central feature, so organize your room around it.
2. Look for flaws and scratches increasing the value.
3. Look for imperfections and lack of uniformity.
4. Avoid over-cleaning of your antiques as this may gradually strip the natural chemical formation of it and damage it.
5. Avoid fluctuations in humidity and temperature. A humidifier is a an excellect tool that can be purchased at a low cost.
6. Aviod excessive sunlight exposure. The antique can be placed in a room that gets minimal or no sunlight directly on it. Even placing it in the corner of a room that receives no direct sunlight will benefit.
7. Avoid insect infestation. There are professionals that can fumagate your piece to protect it from termites and other such damaging insects.
8. Handle your items with care and infrequently. This will help preserve your antiques.
9. Use an antique piece of furniture to help you start your decorating process for a room.