Maintaining Antique Furniture

Investing in Antique Furniture

Owing antique furniture is most definitely an asset. Anyone owning a piece of antique furniture may be able to get thousands of dollars, if it is in good condition. The value of your furniture piece depends on how old it is, where it was made, the level of craftsmanship and the condition it is in. There are things you can do to guarantee your furniture piece stays in a good condition and as a result maintain a high value.

Keeping your antique furniture clean

When cleaning antique furniture make sure that it becomes part of your regular cleaning routine; do not neglect your antiques. Dust your antiques every few days, once a week at the very least. Use a soft cloth to avoid scratches. Avoid using sprays of any kind especially those that include furniture polish. Chemicals used in the manufacturing of these sprays for the purpose of repelling dust and grime can actually damage your investment by staining the wood or causing weak spots. Cleaning antique furniture should be about preserving it rather than adding to the wear and tear. What you can use to clean your wooden antiques is orange oil; use it once a week. Consider waxing every few months as well. Applying a thin coat of wax to the wooden surface of your antiques will allow it to shine.

Protecting the wood

Cleaning antique furniture can damage the wood if it is not done correctly so make sure you use all the protection necessary. Clean any liquids that fall on the wooden surfaces immediately and do not allow the fluids to sit. Cleaning antique furniture in this instance would require dabbing the stain with a soft cloth until all of the solvent has been removed. Avoid wiping it away, because it could cause more damage. To maintain wooden antiques in the best possible way, keep them away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can contribute to discolouration and irreversible damage.

Maintaining a clean environment

Always keep in mind that antiques are old and sensitive. To avoid damaging your antique furniture, make sure that you keep your antiques in a clean room with constant temperatures. Large variations in temperature throughout the day can be damaging to your antiques. Some antique collectors use humidifiers in antique storage rooms to guarantee the best return for their investment in the long run.

Always remember, that antiques are primarily valuable because of their age and condition. What will add more value to your antique are factors such as quality, distinctiveness, splendor and period. Antique collectors are always looking for the best age to condition/quality ration antique.

Antique pieces are generally very expensive and not affordable by the common man. Acquiring an antique will set you back a few dollars. To ensure that these dollars don't go to waste you should follow the above tips on a regular basis. Keep in mind that antique furniture can add style to your home and surroundings; incorporating distinctive antique furniture pieces in your home layout ads class.

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Antique Furniture Values: Tips On Buying Antiques

Collecting antiques can be very fun and enjoying especially if you have the passion for art and designing. When talking about antiquing, what commonly enter into a person's mind are artifacts, relics, or any item that is unique and rare. Although this may somewhat be true, but there is a deeper and a more accurate meaning for antiques. Antiques are known to be any kind of thing or object that is more that a hundred years old in existence. Meaning, it could be any item that exists for centuries already. Commonly, items such as pottery, china, glass, and furniture are being collected by antique hunters. And, one of the most sought after are antique furniture. The question is; how can you determine antique furniture values?

If you want to make your room or the interior decoration of your house look elegant and historic, then investing in antique furniture can be a very good option. The only problem is; there is also a lot of what are known as "genuine reproduction". As you know, "genuine reproduction" is also another name for "fake" in the world of antiquing. But, not all "genuine reproduction" items are worthless or have no value at all, though. There are also some instances where these items have value, but not as high as compared to real or original ones. This is one ground why knowing how to properly determine antique furniture values is very important if you really are aiming on getting the valuable ones.

Another reason why is it important for an antique collector to be able to determine antique furniture values is that there are a lot of sellers who take advantage of buyers whom they think are not aware about the real value of an antique item. They try to sell invaluable items at an expensive price because they know that the buyer won't have any ideas that they are being tricked. But, there are also instances where the sellers do not have ideas about the true value of an antique item. They sell valuable antiques at a cheaper price. This is one reason why knowing the real value of an antique item is very important in antiquing as you can either be tricked, or you can get valuable items at a cheaper price.

Margaret W. Moore is an art enthusiast and loves collecting antique items very much. She had been onto antiquing for decades and continues to share all her knowledge and expertise about successful antiquing through specific antique furniture values. She also compiled all her knowledge and expertise about antiquing and authored the book "The Hidden Secrets Of Antiquing" for the benefit of those who want to know more about successful antiquing. To discover more secrets behind successful antiquing, please feel free to visit her site http://www.superantiquingsecrets.com.

Antique Furniture - Antiques Mirroring History

Any piece of antique furniture speaks of a country's past. Antique furniture mirrors the history of different nations on the whole. Antique's development is influenced by wars, travels and discoveries of its time.

Antique furniture from China became popular from among the Oriental furniture because of the travels of Europeans to that country and travellers from that country visiting other parts of the world. Other countries in the Orient did not gain much popularity in antiques as the Chinese gained. Korean and Japanese furniture are not considered so much for their antique value as that of the Chinese. From the origins of the Chinese antique furniture that can be traced back to second century BC, the transformation from tatami mats to wooden seats can be traced to the Tang dynasty. The Chinese antique furniture styles of Ming and Qing dynasties are particularly unique for their elegance and daintiness. The Ming style antique Chinese furniture has been considered to be the ultimate model of Chinese furniture, with its exquisite craftsmanship.

The English antique history can be broadly categorized into Renaissance and Restoration periods. Renaissance is the earliest known period in the English antique that represents Tudor style. A lot of influence from foreign furniture styles can be seen in this period. Restoration period or the baroque style was popularized during the rule of King Charles II. Renaissance antique was basic and without adornment. The patterns followed in this type of furniture were medieval and Gothic. The popular wood during this period was oak though later on walnut wood gained some popularity. Baroque or Restoration of antiques saw the use of mahogany and walnut and used less of oak. This period saw a great influence of the French and the Dutch on the antiquea and its accessories as well.

The French antique furniture has been a delight to connoisseurs of antique stuff. From the French furniture the armoires, chairs, chandeliers and tables are the most popular. The French furniture comprises both of the sophisticated items from Paris for the aristocracy and the rich, and furniture from the French provincial cities and towns that showcase talent of the districts. The other popular form from France was the furniture from country side that stayed up to the mid nineteenth century.

The American antique furniture is difficult to differentiate because the American antique furniture is influenced by the French and the English antiques. However, there is a distinguishing feature that defines an American piece which is its practicality. Most American pieces have more practical designs compared to their more lavish and elaborate English and French counterparts. For the American craftsmen, function was the primary concern, followed by decorative details. The American craftsmen differ from their European counterparts in this aspect.

Whichever country furniture you choose from, the best way to buy antique furniture is to walk into the antiques store, stay close to the pieces of furniture you wish to buy, feel it, and allow it to speak to you. Buying antique furniture is a matter of heart and you should buy when the piece relates to your aesthetic sense coupled with a sense of matching to your home.

Inessa Stewart, the owner of Inessa Stewart's Antiques & Interiors lives and breathes antiques. Her passion for all things antique is known all over the world. From a small gallery to the largest importer of European antiques in the USA, she has scaled great heights ?in the world of antiques.

Helpful Guide in Buying Antique Furniture

The aesthetic value of antique furniture pieces is one of the reasons why many antique collectors prefer these items. There is a wide variety of styles and era to choose from. Antique collectors have, in some ways, mastered the skills in knowing what a good buy is, but as novice, you may need more time and experience.

If you plan to buy antique furniture piece to add glamour to your home, be on the lookout for reproductions. The following helpful information will guide you on the basics of buying authentic and practical antique furniture.

Observe the dimensions. Authentic antique furniture does not have uniform dimensions since wood, which most antique furniture are made of, shrinks with age. Otherwise, there is a strong possibility that what you are eying for is not genuine at all. To clearly see the various angles of furniture, take the time to view it in broad daylight.

Test the solidity of the item. Antique furniture has no real value if it loses its functionality. What use is an authentic antique chair when you cannot actually sit on it? Antique shops allow buyers to sit or move items for verification. Antique experts also suggest this method.

Make sure that parts are available. Good quality antique furniture has complete functional or decorative parts as well.

Look for proof of antiquity. Since the age of an antique is one of the major determinants of authenticity, you should have the assurance that the item for sale passed the age definition of an antique which is at least a hundred years old. One way to verify this is to look for signs of depreciation in the item such as dust accumulation in its corners which are hard to reach by regular dusting. If these simple signs are not available, experts say, the item might not be as old as an antique should be. You must also consider whether a piece of furniture has been restored or refinished. Restoration on antique pieces may decrease the value of the item especially if done poorly.

Examine the surface colour. The surface finish of a piece of antique furniture is also a significant detail to observe. A quality piece of antique furniture should show flat colouring except for some shades which might have naturally occur due to age. The back side of a piece may differ in appearance with the surface but it should have unvaried shades as well.

Interview the antique shop owner. You will get more details through a one on one interview with the shop owner. Ask about the era and style of the furniture which you may later research on to be more familiar with the item. You may also request for a warranty of the item.

Consider antique restoration. While some would no longer consider unstable antique furniture, you may choose to have the item restored to its former glory through the help of a professional antique restorer.

Antique restoration is the art of restoring an antique to its natural appearance with the purpose of making it appear new. In some cases, antique restoration refers to the process of restoring an antique for preservation or conservation of its features to avoid more wear and tear.

Get a second opinion. If you are hesitant about the value of your target antique piece of furniture, you may hire the expertise of antique experts. What's more, you may also have the furniture appraised to determine its actual value.

Driscolls Antiques is a leading supplier of quality antiques and antique furniture. Benedict Yossarian is a freelance Internet Marketing Consultant that can help maximize your exposure online.

Why Should You Buy Antique Furniture?

Have you ever wondered why antique enthusiasts pursue and buy antique furniture and other antiques with such great passion, and why they find it so important to learn as much as they can about the subject? What's the reason these items are so highly valued?

Throughout the world antiques are treasured because they symbolize an era that was, and is now gone. These pieces chronicle a previous period of time, a lost generation, or perhaps it's a period of history that we fondly recall. Antiques and antique furniture are objects that make history come alive for us, once again.

Historic value is just one of the reasons antique items have always been highly desired by collectors. Another is, they know that in time, the antiques they possess will be worth an amount far beyond what they originally paid for them. From antique silver to Queen Anne furniture, etc., there will always be avid collectors specializing in the acquisition of various types of antiques.

Collecting antiques is all about one's own personal choice. However, collecting furniture pieces is quite different from any other type of antique because, although you can look at, admire and enjoy possessing your latest treasure, these are items you live with and use daily.

It would be highly unusual for the average collector to amass a large collection of French 18th century armoires/wardrobes, as there certainly would not be room for them in the average home. Although furniture can also be looked at, admired and enjoyed, it is also meant to be lived with and used. When you buy antique furniture, each piece becomes part of your surroundings, your home and your life.

Antique pieces of furniture have been made for every part of the home. Some of the best examples are the living room, This room is where most of the finest 18th and 19th century furniture was designed and made to be used. French and English furniture designers of this period designed some of the most energetic and lavishly upholstered sofas, settees and chairs.

Many of these designs were revived in later years and continue to be stylish and useful today. Victorian furniture can still be found today and the Victorian wing chair is quite handsome and very comfortable. Antique writing desks and desk chairs, both period and revival, are highly desirable pieces of antique furniture to buy, even today.

Also, there are quite a few small, medium and large antique tables that are perfect for both occasional and dining use. And sets of dining chairs, representative of all the well known 18th and 19th Century furniture makers, are sturdy, well constructed and have withstood the test of time.

The unusual character of each piece's origin, style and period can significantly enhance the appearance of your home. And, if you buy only a piece or two (or even a whole house full) to decorate your home, it can be a great investment as well!

So, buy antique furniture for your home, even if it's only one or two pieces, it will alter it's look and feel. And, who knows, you may just find a real treasure for your own future gain...

Click the link below you'd like to visit my antique furniture shop. You'll find a large selection of antique furniture, lighting, accessories and art for your home.

Anita Boyd has been an antique dealer for over twenty years and collector for her entire adult life. She specializes in antique furniture, lighting and decorative accessories for the home. Her website offers a large selection of antique dining tables and chairs, antique writing desks, antique clocks, antique chandeliers and lamps and also vintage antique furniture.

Please visit her blog, it's full of valuable posts all about the magic of antique furniture and why you should own it.

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