If antiquing is something you enjoy, you have a lot of company. Yard sales and flea markets always draw big crowds. You never know when you are going to find something rare and under priced in the midst of cheap reproductions. If modern decor doesn't interest you and old tables and chairs do, experts have some tips for evaluating country and town house antique furniture Kensington shops have for sale.
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.
Any piece being sold as original should be inspected for damage. If there have been repairs or restoration work done it will be usually be found in the places on the piece that get the most wear. On chairs that is the backs. Center supports are often replaced because they have worn out. You will see replacement feet on dressers because people tend to push and drag to move them, cracking and breaking the feet.
You should expect to see cracks in old pieces. Wood expands and contracts, and that creates cracks. Most experts agree that cracks do not adversely affect value.
There are differing opinions when it comes to refinishing. If you are a lover of authenticity, you will prefer pieces that have their original finish. Original finishes are indicated by a purplish black coloring. The varnish is often crackled from exposure to heat.
There are others who argue that the discoloration and crackling are not what the craftsman intended for his pieces. They would have been shiny when new. The discolorations disguise the beauty of the wood according to this school of thought. Before you refinish any old piece, you have to decide if reducing the value of the piece matters to you. Once a piece is refinished, it may not be as valuable, and it can't be restored.
There are plenty of people who love antiques but don't live in areas where they are easy to find. Shopping online for antiques is perfectly fine according to experts, as long as you know who you are dealing with. There are trustworthy and reputable auction houses that take online bids in the course of a live auction. They can often provide details about pieces that point to their authenticity.
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.
Any piece being sold as original should be inspected for damage. If there have been repairs or restoration work done it will be usually be found in the places on the piece that get the most wear. On chairs that is the backs. Center supports are often replaced because they have worn out. You will see replacement feet on dressers because people tend to push and drag to move them, cracking and breaking the feet.
You should expect to see cracks in old pieces. Wood expands and contracts, and that creates cracks. Most experts agree that cracks do not adversely affect value.
There are differing opinions when it comes to refinishing. If you are a lover of authenticity, you will prefer pieces that have their original finish. Original finishes are indicated by a purplish black coloring. The varnish is often crackled from exposure to heat.
There are others who argue that the discoloration and crackling are not what the craftsman intended for his pieces. They would have been shiny when new. The discolorations disguise the beauty of the wood according to this school of thought. Before you refinish any old piece, you have to decide if reducing the value of the piece matters to you. Once a piece is refinished, it may not be as valuable, and it can't be restored.
There are plenty of people who love antiques but don't live in areas where they are easy to find. Shopping online for antiques is perfectly fine according to experts, as long as you know who you are dealing with. There are trustworthy and reputable auction houses that take online bids in the course of a live auction. They can often provide details about pieces that point to their authenticity.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment