| If you love antique furniture, but you are not an | | | | be getting a fake. With furniture, some sellers will |
| expert, you are probably hounded by the fear of | | | | keep the "antique" part, like the tabletop, but replace |
| buying a fake. Your fear is shared in the | | | | the legs to complete the entire "antique" table. Take |
| antique-buying community; even experts and auction | | | | time to inspect the item thoroughly and stand back |
| houses get fooled into buying fakes every now and | | | | to take the entire piece into view. Take a good look |
| then. There are several ways to protect your money | | | | at the joints, handles and the marks on the furniture. |
| and your reputation by observing the following | | | | If there are marks that look out of place, too fresh, |
| recommendations made by antique furniture | | | | or in hard-to-reach areas like the inside of a dresser, |
| collectors and sellers. | | | | be careful. |
| Before you buy a number of pieces from a time | | | | Always take note of how the piece is supposed to |
| period, it is advised to work only with a reputable | | | | be used and where normal marks should be. If any |
| furniture dealer. Take the time to visit old houses, | | | | mark looks unexpected, you are better off not |
| antique fairs and museums too see good quality | | | | buying the piece. Dirt and grime should be where |
| pieces until you get a "gut" feeling for the period's | | | | they are expected to be. If there is no dust in the |
| style and furniture design. Many long time collectors | | | | difficult to reach areas of a tabletop, you know |
| will tell you that their best furniture buys did not | | | | something is amiss. The wear should be uneven and |
| come at bargain prices; you still get what you paid | | | | varies with different pieces. Some have any scars |
| for. Be wary of a bargain. Unless you are an expert, | | | | and others hardly have marks. If you do decide to |
| the piece is too good to be true if the price is. So if | | | | replace a broken part of the piece, like a handle or |
| you see a piece that is extremely cheap or under | | | | leg, remember that this will depreciate the piece's |
| priced, warning bells should ring in your head and | | | | value. Remember that furniture pieces in their original |
| handle the transaction with caution. Dealers do not | | | | pristine condition are extremely scarce and expensive. |
| usually put wrong prices on their items, so getting a | | | | Remember to inspect the underside of the furniture. |
| bargain is quite unlikely. | | | | If these hidden sides have been cleaned, stained, |
| Read up on the current market values of the items | | | | painted, or lacquered when they shouldn't be, do not |
| you are looking at. Fakes are not always cheap; in | | | | buy the item. |
| fact, they can be priced at the same level as the real | | | | All these guidelines may be overwhelming and it looks |
| ones to project credibility. But if the dealer cuts the | | | | like to takes away a lot of the joy in furniture |
| price by a rather large percentage, like selling a $1000 | | | | collecting. But it is still good to know that many |
| chair for $700, look at the item very carefully and be | | | | antique dealers are not crooks and many share your |
| sceptical. | | | | passion too and wouldn't want to destroy their own |
| Don't be fooled by stories that begin with "a little old | | | | reputations by selling fakes. After purchasing, get a |
| lady". Ownership stories like this must be taken with | | | | proper receipt that includes the date of the piece, |
| a grain of salt. If you buy antiques at a furniture fair, | | | | the details and a certificate that describes the |
| look around the fair first before buying the piece. If | | | | antique thoroughly. |
| you see a number of similar pieces around, you might | | | | |