Hello my friends. I am very busy right now working on getting my shop finished up, stocked, and painting furniture; but I am glad to have a guest to post today. Pierre Angela Cruz will be sharing some very useful information today. Pierre?
Thank you Peggy I'm so glad to be here today and share with your readers.
Today I would like to speak to those of you who are starting their own antique furniture collection.
Nothing exudes dignity and class quite like
having antique furniture to fill one’s household. For those who want to be part
of that circle that can appreciate the finer things in life, this is the guide
to read.
Brief
History of Antique Furniture
Antique furniture as we know it today can
be traced back to the Renaissance period, which began in the 16th
century among the affluent European countries such as France, Italy, Spain,
Germany and England. Art flourished during these times, and it affected the
designs of furniture as well. As the era’s name implied, the style was mainly a
rebirth of the classical aesthetics of the Greco-Roman period.
Photo courtesy
Italian
designers of the time were one of the main influences in furniture, applying
the simple elegance of Roman architecture to the buildings of their time. The
interiors had the same treatment, and so the tables, chairs and cabinets soon
echoed the same designs. Such furniture pieces would become more elaborate later
on especially in France as highlighted by the royal furnishings of Louis XV in
the 18th century
Photo courtesy egyptianfrenchfurniture.com
Why
Collect Antique Furniture?
People have been collecting antiques as far
back as the 18th century due to the many discoveries being made at that
time of forgotten pieces of art. Having a priceless and beautiful piece that
can appreciate in value over time is one of the major reasons why people
collect antique. Of course, the allure of unearthing rare relics of olden times,
and knowing more about the culture and stories of people from long ago, can be
enough for some collectors.
There are certain issues that can give
would-be collectors pause. There is the practicality of keeping a collection of
antiques when you have limited space due to the size of your house or the
number of people living with you. Maintaining antiques can also be expensive
due to their delicate nature, and using the wrong tools can lead to
devaluation.
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Photo courtesy of etraderplus.com
Starting
Your Collection
Before you start looking for furniture
pieces to collect, you have to first decide on what kind of antique furniture
you want. There are plenty of styles out there to choose from that can satisfy
your taste. Choosing just one will greatly help your search because you can
focus on looking for certain characteristics without getting lost in all the
details.
Determining
Features
Of course, you also need to learn how to
recognize antique furniture. Basically, these are furnishings that are at least
100 years old. They are usually made completely of wood, with only later aged
pieces having any screws or bolts. The material is coarser, certain spots are
lighter, cracks and warps are more common, and the overall shape might no
longer be completely uniform, all of which are due to age. Authentic pieces
made out of metals like bronze and iron will have some discoloration called
patina, and some parts might be bent or scratched.
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Photo courtesy ehow.com
Where
to Look
Once you can detect which pieces are
authentic antiques, start your hunt in a couple of places such as your family’s
own store rooms, garage sales, thrift stores and nearby furniture warehouses. You
can uncover valuable pieces that some people see as nothing more than junk
taking up their space, and you will get great deals in the process.
Photo courtesy google.com
Auctions and antique stores will definitely
offer higher quality pieces, but be prepared to spend more money as the people
running these operations know the exact values of the furniture being sold.
Photo courtesy ehow.com
Building a collection of antique furniture
can be a very rewarding pursuit, but it takes a good amount of patience and
research to ensure you find what you are looking for, whether it’s bringing a
sense of sophistication to your home or adding to your investment assets.
I hope you have found this information useful. Thank you for having me Peggy.
Pierre
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