Antique Furniture

There is a certain pride and honor that goes with owning antique furniture. Reflecting the owner's distinguished taste, old furniture is characterized by its rarity and value. The older it is, the more expensive it gets. Thus, having antique furniture in one's home is the mark of a dignified hobbyist who does not spare any time or effort in owning the finest pieces to add to his collection.

Evaluating Authenticity

Most wood materials that are used for pricey furniture during bygone years include mahogany, pine, oak and walnut sourced from Germany, France or the East. To evaluate authenticity, collectors and dealers look at some characteristics to appraise the value.

The first thing they look for is how much of the original components are left intact and to what extent repairs have been made. It is also important to look closely at the finish to indicate signs of wear and tear. If the piece is in top condition, its selling value in the market is high. Thus, old wicker furniture that may look tattered with a leg missing, but if it reaches the auction block, chances are it will fetch a hefty price tag.

Collectors also check the manufacturer's name on the antique furniture, when applicable. Some pieces bear the signatures or name of the maker to speak for its authenticity. The popularity of the maker also adds to the value. Dealers are quite familiar to the number of pieces that came out of production during the period when an item was created. This aspect accounts for the rarity of materials used and the painstaking methods employed by the craftsman, which are all not practical for mass production. If there were five pieces that came out of the artisan's workshop, owning one would be an extreme honor.

Reproductions

You may encounter the word reproductions when topic of antique furniture comes up. It is a legitimate business to create and sell reproduction furniture, which are definitely less expensive than the authentic stuff. Most reproductions depict the elegance of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods or follow different artistic genres as Gothic or Renaissance.

For someone who has a keen nose for sensing authentic furniture from reproductions, the first thing that is taken into account is the wood used. Usually, a reproduction would utilize a mixture of different wood types. As such, when the 'aged' finish is recreated, the effect is very visible on a different kind of wood. Further to this, machines are already involved in the manufacturing process resulting to a perfect finish, carving and so on. There will be no signs of fading or cracking of the wood, unlike in genuine pieces which are made by hand.

Where to Find

You can easily source authentic items from shops, auctions, trade fairs and even yard sales. There is always that possibility that good value antique furniture can be unearthed, dusting away in garage sale or flea markets.