FAQ ABOUT ANTIQUES.......
How old does a piece have to be to be considered antique?
Opinions on this vary widely. Most experts only consider it antique if it's 100 years or more. But this shouldn't discourage the average antiques shopper. Many things are considered collectibles if they're at least 25 years or more, and can be worth quite a bit of money at auction or through private sales.
How do I tell a genuine antique from a reproduction?
This is where so many people are taken in. A word of advice....if it looks pretty new, it probably is. A true antique will show some kind of wear and tear somewhere--even the best kept pieces will show some sign of age. Reproductions are mass produced and usually sold by disreputable dealers who will think nothing of selling you one for a quick buck. Knowledge is always your best defense against these type of dealers. If something that is supposedly "hard to find" becomes plentiful in your search, then it's a good bet its a reproduction. Also, ask questions of the dealer. Are they well-versed on the piece? If they don't want to talk much about it, then move on. True experts don't mind discussing the product and are often happy to help others learn about it. Join collecting clubs, handle and discuss as many genuine pieces as possible. Lastly, learn about the reputable dealers and only buy from those.
How can I tell a quality piece of furniture?
There are several ways of doing this. First, get a GOOD look at it. Get the piece under some good light. Look at how solid it is. Wiggle it, jiggle it--if it wobbles, it probably needs to be glued. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something you want to take into account. Look for dirt in crevices not easily cleaned, wear and tear around knobs and on drawers. Of course, the absence of such may mean the piece has already been refinished. Look underneath for stain dribbles which may indicate a shoddy refinishing job. Examine drawers. Pieces made before 1900 will most likely have dovetail joints. Precisely done dovetails will signify a date after the 1830's and 1840's, dovetails before that will be uneven and done by hand.
How do I tell if a certain antique would be a good investment?
Number one rule in buying antiques.....DON'T BUY FOR INVESTMENT, BUY BECAUSE YOU LIKE IT! Too many times inexperienced antique shoppers get taken in by the whole investment aspect of thier hobby. Plenty of things will increase in value, but plenty more won't. Buy an item you can live with for a long time, because most of the value is based upon rarity, accessibility and to some extent desirability.
Okay, I've bought my piece of antique furniture, now how do I take care of it?
There is alot of advice on this and alot of it is based on myths. First off, don't use oils on antiques. Antique wood doesn't need to be feed with oil. The idea that the wood will dry out from oil is a myth. Wood dries out from lack of moisture and as such should be kept out of direct sunlight and out of hot dry places such as an attic. The preferred way of maintaining a varnished finish is a coat of high quality paste wax applied annually. In between dusting should be done with a soft, damp, lint free cloth and turned several times in the wiping.
So, the BIG question...do I refinish my piece or leave it as is?
Alot of times the finish on a piece of furniture is as important as the piece itself. That's why an expert in antique restoration should be consulted when making this decision. Stripping and refinishing removes the original finish coating and can damage the patina as well. Patterns of wear indicating the history are also sometimes lost during refinishing. This is not to say however that refinishing a piece is never an option. An expert in the restoration process will be able to tell you if it's worth more refinished or left as is. Many antiques increase GREATLY in value after being refinished and repaired. ALWAYS CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL.