| Antiques in a Nutshell | | | | determining its uses and its value (both aesthetic and |
| When one thinks of antiques, the first thought that | | | | monetary) |
| would probably come to mind would be its age or its | | | | Solid Wood: The Preferred Choice |
| value. True enough, these are two of the main | | | | Solid wood, as a material, is (and was) the preferred |
| factors for an object to be considered an antique. In | | | | choice of manufacturers or craftsmen now and in the |
| fact, the United States even passed a law (1930 | | | | past. It's considered to be the most appropriate |
| Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act) defining what an antique is. | | | | material to further add to the value or to serve as a |
| Basically, it basically states that these are works of | | | | testament to the quality of an antique. This material |
| art produced before 1830. Other definitions would | | | | usually comes in the form of hardwood and |
| state that antiques are items which are roughly 25-50 | | | | softwood - the main difference lies in the fact that |
| years old, which are attractive and desirable due to | | | | hardwood trees like Walnut, Mahogany and Oak |
| its rarity and its appraised value. What all of these | | | | (which are by the way, all very expensive) lose their |
| say is that antiques are (and must be) old, rare, | | | | leaves seasonally while softwood trees like Pine and |
| valuable and for certain purposes, useful. | | | | Fir trees (which are more commonly used and are |
| Wooden Antiques | | | | less expensive) keep their leaves all year. Though, |
| Arguably, the most popular type of antique is | | | | they may differ in specific characteristics like color, |
| wooden antique furniture. Its collection serves various | | | | design and purpose, solid wood is universally known |
| purposes ranging from sentimentality, practicality and | | | | to be incredibly durable. Of course, a piece of antique |
| of course, aesthetics. Many interior designers would | | | | furniture would not even make it to be an antique if |
| definitely advise to put some sort of wooden | | | | it could not hold up to wear and tear brought about |
| furniture to complete a room's overall appearance. | | | | by humans and nature alike. Though some antique |
| Homeowners usually prefer wooden antique furniture | | | | furniture made of other types of wood like hollow |
| to display a certain sense of style -- may it be | | | | wood or wicker pieces also claim to be durable, a |
| eclectic, classic or modern. Ironically, these pieces, | | | | vital addition to the durability of solid wood is that its |
| despite of their apparent old age, can hold up in | | | | beauty remains throughout the passage of time. |
| terms of usage just like any other ordinary piece of | | | | Though, beauty can be argued to be very |
| furniture. No one will argue that a 1940 Mahogany | | | | subjective, wooden antiques made of solid wood |
| chair is less useful or less beautiful than a 2005 plastic | | | | seem to never be out of style or out of fashion. It is |
| chair. The material or the type of wood used in the | | | | deemed to be timeless by most, if not all, interior |
| creation of a wooden antique, plays a vital part in | | | | designers and antique collectors alike. |