The condition matters too: an item in exceptional condition is typically worth more than an item that has become a bit wobbly or has some conservation issues. MB: The best thing you can do when shopping for vintage furniture is to really examine it. If there is a model or ID # on your furniture,which there should be a tag somewhere or stamped on the piece. If no one else on your block owns one, you know that it’s worth something. The present furniture company using the name of Stickley has made virtually exact replicas of original Stickley Arts and Craft designs. Guéridon table: These mid-17th century French small tables were originally used as candle stands, many times in pairs, and often with columnar or bodily figure pedestals.They usually have a circular or oval tray-like top. Antique furniture shows age; it won’t have any sharp edges where constant usage has worn it … […] You could find out just by asking them. This article will briefly describe recent production, list a history of Stickley marks and compare some typical new and old pieces. The piece might be too large, too loud, or too ugly. Aside from its age and authenticity, one of the most important factor's to consider is the furniture's condition. There may be a multitude of reasons why they have established this policy. Your area could be in a slump. However, their value is usually significantly lower, so it's important to know whether you have an original or a reproduction if you want to know the value of your antique furniture. The vintage dresser with mirror is a beauty now. Also keep an eye on the latest superhero movies when digging through your vintage comic books. Once the furniture is painted I use Caromal Colours Toner to age or antique the paint. Unless you're an expert in antiques, or willing to do a lot of research into similar items, past selling prices, and restoration possibilities, you should contact an expert. As Drexel furniture products were largely factory manufactured, there are sure to be a multitude of pieces just like yours on the market, and if the condition of your … You should look at the screws, nails, wood, joining and hardware. Turn the piece upside down or on its back and look for the telltale drips and runs that indicate the piece has been worked over. Of course, as with anything, rare comic books hold more value than common editions. It fits so well, it looks like it was made for the space. Identifying Antique Furniture or Good Reproductions When trying to identify antique furniture, dedicated antique hunters search for beautifully preserved pieces, armed with pins, magnifying glasses, spirit levels and all sorts of testing equipment. If the wood is a soft wood your fingernail will leave an indention. If an appraiser isn’t an option, consult antique furniture guides and match the style of your buffet or sideboard with photos and descriptions. Visit furniture resale stores and antiques markets in your area and determine if furniture of this era is selling. Run your hand along the edges of the furniture. On the outside chance you have a true antique table, the value would be different than if it is a vintage piece. Examine Edges and Corners. Compared with the heyday of antiques collecting, prices for average pieces are now “80 percent off,” said Colin Stair, the owner of Stair Galleries auction house in Hudson, N.Y. “Your typical Georgian 18th century furniture, chests of drawers, tripod tables, Pembroke tables,” he noted, can all be had for a fraction of what they cost 15 to 20 years ago. How To Tell Whether "Antique" Furniture Is Really Antique With a bit of research and a close inspection of wood and hardware, you can roughly determine the age of antique furniture… If you want to sell the piece as an important artifact, you will have to do so. Look for … If no one in your zip code has one, it might be worth even more. Table $100. Value is hard to gauge. How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. If you do not know about the antique furniture market then you will want to consult a specialist. It’s a really simple process. I get a lot of questions about how to antique furniture. Best advice is to take a lot of pictures of the furniture including close ups … I gave this dresser a two-tone antiqued finish using the toner. If they do not care for your furniture or think it is valuable, they’d rather not have to tell you. At no charge, our specialists review submissions and provide auction estimates for any antique furniture we believe we can sell at a live auction or online sale. Turn it over, touch it, open the drawers, look at it from 360 degrees. Wood has two kinds of grain, a … Antique furniture is evaluated to determine if it is a real antique or if it is a reproduction. But don't fret: More common books could still make you hundreds. If there’s no date, the style of the piece can be a good indicator of age. Finding an antique piece of Stickley furniture today is akin to winning the lottery. Estimate the value of your used furniture Calculate the value of your used furniture: Significant … Prices vary widely for patio furniture—many sellers don't know what they have since it has not been well documented. In fact, a rare copy could be worth millions. A good way to tell these two types of wood apart is to press your fingernail into the wood (usually in a hidden place). Follow these 6 steps to restoring old furniture, and your family heirlooms will stay in tact for years to come. The value of antique furniture can vary widely, even when dealing with very old pieces. - There is a way to tell whether an antique has been refinished, and this is very important, because antiques with an original finish are worth more than the same antiques that have been refinished. Determining the age of antique furniture is the first step in establishing a proper valuation, as well as verifying that the piece is indeed an authentic furnishing from the era in question. What constitutes a rarity? Since I can't see it and touch it, I suggest having a vintage furniture reseller/store owner look it over and confirm what you have. Antiques are often worth much more than their original price. Get antique furniture appraised by a professional. When valuing a piece of furniture, our experts consider the item's age, style, size and origin. The term "gueridon" was a word describing the African servants of the time, which were also sometimes used as the bodily figures in the table design. How To Antique Furniture. Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science, but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture. Yes, it's possible to score a deal on more high-end pieces through sites like eBay or Craigslist, but don't expect the furniture to be in the pristine condition you … How To Antique Furniture. When identifying antique chairs, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. On the end wall of that space this vintage breakfront secretary with bubble glass now sits. How Our Experts Value Your Antique Furniture. Your furniture is not old enough to be considered antique, but it may be considered "vintage" furniture, depending on the style. A quick and easy-to-use calculator to determine the approximate value of used furniture! All of these things can affect the value of your antique or collectible. It also depends on the supply and demand in your town. The appraiser is knowledgeable in furniture styles and time periods. If your antique is not an appropriate fit for a Sotheby's auction, we will do our best to recommend an alternate resource to sell your furniture or decorative object. In the case of a very valuable antique, significant art, or a historically significant antique, you may want to establish provenance. Note: Most auction houses have a furniture specialist on staff and will usually do a verbal assessment and valuation for free. If the wood is a hard wood your fingernail will leave no mark. A lot of the value will depend on condition. How to determine the value of antique furniture. The prices go back a number of years and some are out of date, but the clear photographs will help in your searches. So, if an antique dealer says they do not purchase privately, do not take it personally. The market for furniture of any era goes up and down like a roller coaster. Provenance means that a paper trial has followed the item throughout the years. Another case where you should not refinish wood furniture is if the piece is a valuable antique or a unique designer piece that, although not an antique, nevertheless has a lot of value. Not too bad. The best way to evaluate an antique is to take it to an antique appraiser. Try Christie's or Sotheby's auction houses for recent sales of … If it’s less than 100 years old, you can strip, sand, and stain away without fear; it’s officially not an antique and is likely mass-produced. In the entry area of our living room, in our 100 year old house by the stairway, is a small sectioned off part of the room. When it comes to furniture value, ... however, the value of handmade antiques … The condition … How to Know If Your Parents' Stuff Has Value. And if no one in your area code has one, chances are, you have a piece that’s pretty valuable.Of course, something might be rare because it just didn’t make it in the marketplace. 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