| Antiques may be of many different kinds and of all | | | | in antique furniture are beech, cherry, chestnut, |
| the antique collectibles and furniture happens to be | | | | ebony, elm, mahogany, pine, oak, satinwood, walnut |
| the most popular and practical choice. Antique | | | | etc. |
| furniture is distinct from other categories of antiques | | | | The following features are significant when |
| in the sense that no one collects the same type of | | | | determining the age, authenticity, quality and worth |
| object repeatedly. It means that you would not want | | | | or price of antique furniture: |
| to buy and collect only tables or chests and fill up | | | | I. Color and Patina: Patina is the glow of the wood |
| your home with everything the same. However, you | | | | after years of accumulation of wax polish and dirt. A |
| may have a specific liking to certain wood or style. | | | | rich subtle color is also an important characteristic of |
| Regardless of your preference, if you are planning to | | | | antique furniture. |
| purchase antique furniture, you need to know the | | | | II. Proportion: A disproportionate piece of furniture |
| basics. In other words, you should have some idea | | | | may well be a "marriage" of different parts from |
| about various styles, techniques of construction, | | | | different furniture. |
| finishes and variety of woods used. You will need this | | | | III. Construction: Before the late 17th century, |
| knowledge to determine if a particular piece is original | | | | furniture was made using mortise and tendon joints |
| (in its original state without any major changes) or | | | | and pegs were handmade. |
| altered (if some major alterations or additions have | | | | IV. Condition: Do not ignore pieces with marks or |
| been made to it.) | | | | blemishes as the wood has not been damaged. A |
| Once you are acquainted with the basics, go to as | | | | good restorer can undo surface spots. Antique |
| many antique furniture dealers and auctions as you | | | | Furniture in it original pristine condition is worth the |
| possibly can. When inspecting the merchandise, don't | | | | highest price. |
| hesitate in pulling out drawers, getting down on your | | | | V. Alterations: Altered furniture is always less |
| knees to look at the underside of tabletops or lifting | | | | desirable than the original piece. Telltale alterations |
| chairs to have a look at their legs. If you don't get | | | | include large pieces reduced in size, freshly cut |
| down and dirty, you will never learn. In the beginning, | | | | surfaces, plugged holes, repositioned handles etc. |
| furniture was crafted from solid wood but with | | | | Now that you know what to look for, the question is |
| improvement in cabinet making techniques, furniture | | | | where to look for antique furniture? |
| decoration by applying veneers (thin sheets of wood) | | | | Well, apart from auctions and dealers, you can |
| was developed. This provided an inexpensive method | | | | always check the classifieds section in the paper to |
| of creating decorative effects from different grains | | | | see if anybody's selling furniture and go check it out. |
| and patterns. It was also an economical technique | | | | You might even find a good bargain this way. Also, |
| that made inexpensive woods look like expensive | | | | you will find many sites that sell antique furniture on |
| hard woods. Such furniture had a solid body called a | | | | the internet or you could use the internet to find out |
| carcass that is made of a different, generally less | | | | where you could go to get good deals on antique |
| expensive wood, like pine. Some of the woods used | | | | furniture. |