| Owning and collecting antique furniture is the closest | | | | each different period and the style that characterized |
| way to recreate the atmosphere of the period it | | | | it. |
| came from. That is why there is such an interest in | | | | During the 1300s the main style what "Gothic" and it |
| collecting antiques furnishings either through | | | | was characterized by benches, seats, cases and beds |
| purchasing it if you are a keen collector, or | | | | produced by nailing wooden boards together. Soon |
| researching the information for yourself if you are | | | | after followed the renaissance period characterized |
| interested in the styles of the generations of the | | | | by the beautiful work of the Florentine furniture |
| past. | | | | makers. |
| Collectors like to own different furniture spanning | | | | Those of you that love lushly decorated wood will |
| through different periods to compare and admire the | | | | have a particular affection for the Baroque style |
| different changes of style between them. Not | | | | which is becoming more and more popular with its |
| everyone is well off enough to buy or have the | | | | lush decorations and frames featuring from little |
| space to own every period piece of period furniture, | | | | angels and masks to cornucopias of fruits and |
| so if you are interested in antique furniture the best | | | | flowers. You then have the Rococo and Neoclassic |
| plan is to buy specialist magazines, visiting museums, | | | | styles and then the Imperial style which is |
| visit your local antique shops, go to antique fairs or | | | | characterized with decorations usually depicting |
| even to specialist auction houses. By doing so you will | | | | swans. |
| gain a deeper understanding of antique furniture and | | | | More and more shops are selling antique furniture of |
| the changes that occurred through the ages that | | | | the 19th century and this is what attracts most of |
| gave that period its own particular style. | | | | the aficionados of furniture, them being either |
| Antiques and antique furniture can indeed help us to | | | | collectors or furniture enthusiasts in general. Following |
| understand history in the way that styles and | | | | this period the Liberty style follows and following that |
| fashions changed to reflect the needs and general | | | | the styles closer to our present time. |
| living conditions of the time. Style changes are never | | | | You could literally spend hours reading up on the |
| sudden but they are progressive never the less, and | | | | styles briefly outlined above. Each style represents a |
| finding out how these changes occurred is an | | | | small mirror of a bygone age as well as enriching our |
| interesting journey. If you are interested in finding | | | | current lives by filling our houses with beautiful |
| out more, there are lots of books that specialize on | | | | furniture. |