Days Gone

French antique furniture in the UK provides a surprising attraction for antique and bargain hunters from all over the world. Stores in London especially stock a wide range of antique furniture that any collector would love to extensively examine! However, shopping for French antique furniture in the UK can prove problematic if you live elsewhere in the world. Any good collector of antiques would know better than to buy French antique furniture in the UK without actually viewing it first. After all, images on websites and in brochures do not show up weaknesses and scratches as well as a personal viewing will. Images can hide all manner of sins, but the human eye can reveal them just as quickly! If a...

The increased awareness of decoration among the homeowners has led to the increasing popularity of the antique pine furniture. The antique pine furniture is actually made up of country pine and it gives a unique look and appeal to any kind of furniture settings. There are wide varieties of options available for the different kinds of the furniture. They are available in variety of models and styles. They can be selected based on the theme and décor of a particular house. If you are wondering what kind of furniture would be suitable for your home, the furniture is the ideal option for you. The major advantage of the antique pine furniture is that they are perfectly suitable and complement well with...

As the urge for decoration and decorative items are on a rise in every household, people are more and more opting to use antique pine furniture in their house. The furniture that is made up of country pine brings a stunning look to the entire house thereby increasing the décor of the room to a great extent. Country pines are found in plenty in the hilly regions of the deciduous and the coniferous forest. It has soft woods and a very unique quality. It is due to this reason that pine has stood as one of the best raw material for different kinds of furniture since time immemorial. In fact, the antique pine furniture never seems to go out of fashion and it is expected to bring in more craze among...

So, you think you know your stuff? It seems that while so many of us arewonderfully obsessed with collecting antiques, we're really not all thatclear on the meaning of some of the pieces of furniture that we do obtain. For example, that 'dresser' in your room, would you call it a highboy, achest of drawers, or perhaps a chiffonier? Why? Such is the sometimesdreadfully confusing task of classifying antique objects. Before an explanation of highboys, let's first consider the differencebetween a sideboard and a buffet. Often, the two terms are usedinterchangeably, and for good reason, as they are more or less the samething. As defined by the French, a buffet is a small sideboard for storingdishes...

Doll house furniture is easier to find these days because of the internet. You can choose from the classic to modern to antique doll house furniture. The price range also varies from one store to another. For an antique doll house collector, finding a good bargain is an advantage. The products could either be reproductions or they could be original trade-ins from previous owners. You may find good bargains from both online and offline stores and it is advisable to buy when items are for sale and when you buy in numbers. When you are planning to buy antique doll house furniture online, make sure to check for the store's legitimacy. Look for certifications and approval from the Department of Trade...

Women have collected and worn vintage jewellery for many decades now, a vintage brooch, necklace or earrings makes a welcome and popular gift and is sure to be kept and admired for many years to come. But what about the gentlemen? There is plenty of vintage jewellery around for them too and with films like Holmes popularising vintage gents clothing like caps and waistcoats the men in your life would appreciate a piece of vintage jewellery too. You could give your man a ring, earring or neck chain but here are a few pieces of vintage means jewellery you may not have thought of: Stick pins, Ties pins or Lapel pins - three different name for the same piece of Jewelry more regularly worn by men than...

If you want to add style and charm to your looks and set a fashion statement, costume jewelry is there to help you. It refines your personality and highlights the special features in your costume. Costume Jewelry is also called as the fashion jewelry or junk jewelry. This kind of jewelry is worn to complement a particular type of garment or costume. It is very inexpensive, disposable jewelry which is meant to be worn with a particular dress. Though it is fashionable to wear it for some time but it outdates itself. The main purpose of this jewelry is following a fashion style unlike the fine gold jewelry or diamond jwelry jewelry which is meant for keepsakes or investments also. Costume jewelry...

What Are Antique Brooches? Brooches are the jewelry pieces that are used with different type of clothing to enhance the looks of the outfit. These jewelry pieces have been around us since time immemorial, as they were worn by ancient kings and queens. Preserved by their generations, these antique brooches are among items that are collected by many individuals as part of their hobby.  Variety of Brooches Antique brooches are available in variety of forms, like costume brooches, antique pins, antique brooch clips, shawl clips and many more. Most of these jewelry brooches are made up of gold and silver and thus, are no less than expensive jewelry pieces. Apart from these precious metals, antique...

The Victorian Era is one of the most remarkable and memorable times in British History. It is the second time, after the Golden Age - otherwise known as the Elizabethan Era, where a British Queen would be accredited and associated with the immense forward movement of a country. The Victorian Era was ruled over by the great Queen Victoria who became the last monarch under the House of Hanover (Her heir took on his father's family name). This amazing queen ruled over the British Isles for over six centuries and was well loved by her people and her family. This era, like the others past it, had its own style and elegance. They are particularly known for fashion and style which was translated and...

If that piece of antique jewelry were just a little cleaner, wouldn't you wear it more often? But the idea of taking chemicals or some other cleaner to your grandmother's broche is just something you don't want to deal with. What sorts of materials are safe for cleaning and what should be avoided? Are there any special tips or procedures I should follow? These are the questions this article will answer, and when you've finished reading you'll be better equipped to take out that piece of antique jewelry and wear it with pride. As you might guess, it is important to read the label of any cleaning solution you intend to use on your piece of antique jewelry. It is important to make sure the cleaning...

For obvious reasons, there is more value in antique jewelry than in modern. Building up a collection can cost a small fortune however, unless you know where to look. The cheapest way to acquire antique jewelry is to buy it wholesale. Although great for a lot of things, don't buy your jewelry from eBay. The sellers will know the value and there are very few, if any, bargains to be had. The best bargains can be picked up on the weekend at garage and estate sales. There is such a high volume of stuff for sale that the sellers won't have had time to do their research and hundreds of dollars worth of stuff can be picked up for next to nothing. A lot of people who go to these sales are looking for the...

Never going out of fashion, antique jewelry is considered as an eternal traditional adornment with the quintessence of heavenly charm. It has its own sole personality which cannot be hackneyed or imitated in the least possible way. There is no doubt, being extremely attractive and exceptional, this jewelry is expensive and has become a subject of curiosity for knowing them better. The present article has laid down some gigs regarding how to know an antique piece of jewelry better. At first you must look for the maker's mark which is generally present either on the back or on the clasp of the antique jewelry and carefully scrutinize each inch of the jewelry piece. You can clarify your doubts...

Jewelry is an ideal way for a woman to accessorize her attire. A woman's appearance is imperfect without an attractive piece of jewelry. One can find a diverse collection of ornaments catering to different tastes and preferences of various women. However, no piece of trinkets can come close to the beauty and elegance of incomparable antique necklaces Antique ornaments are timeless and extremely mesmerizing. A woman cannot resist the invincible charm of the majestic traditional gems. Traditional jewelry is extremely precious due to the uniqueness and exclusiveness. This is beautifully created with intricate designs and magnificent patterns engraved on it. The designing of this type is rare which...

Antique jewelry boxes are some of the more interesting, charming, and affordable objects that can be collected. The fact that small boxes have long been popular to hold jewelry and other trinkets is evidenced by specimens that were found in archaeological sites from ancient Egypt, Babylon etc. and dating from at least 3000 BCE. The boxes were commonly used by people such as the Greeks and Romans and have continued to grow in popularity until the present day today when nearly everyone owns a jewelry box. Before the 19th Century, specialists handmade boxes. These people were fine craftsmen who worked in wood, fabric, and metals such as bronze, silver and gold. Almost any material can be used to make...

If you live in a major city, or even the suburbs of one, you know that 'vintage' clothing is what's in style this season. This is completely understandable, after all with the soaring prices of polo t shirts, preppy plaid shorts, there was bound to be a fashion backlash which would revolve around cheap, affordable, and individualistic clothing. This is where the vintage revolution in our present society stems from. However, let's start with the origins of vintage clothing and see how it evolved into where it lies in the world of fashion today. Surprisingly, most grunge, punk, and emo subcultures in America have no idea where their style of clothing or even their attitude towards the mainstream world...

As clothing styles began to expand in the 1970's, people all over the world started to embrace and search for vintage clothing items from the past to mix into their eclectic wardrobes. The definition of vintage today varies around the world, and often includes the word "old" or is described as something from a specific time era. With the availability to search and buy items on the internet from around the world, people have begun to search for specific used vintage clothing items. Some people search for items that remind them of when they were young. Some people search for iconic clothing pieces that feature items such as: video game logos or characters, movie characters or titles, famous...

Some people think of thrift shops as carrying grungy old clothes that no one wants because they’re no longer wearable. Although that can be the case with certain thrift shops – I’ve been in some that pile everything into bins you don’t even want to look through because you know the chances of finding anything you’d even consider wearing are next to none - there are millions of beautifully-dressed women all over America that are wearing vintage clothing. How do you become one of the latter? Here are five tips for vintage clothing success. 1. If you’re one of those women who think wearing something that belonged to someone else is unthinkable - get over it. Really. I’ve met many women...

For many of you, vintage may be a way of life. For others, you may be wondering where to find good vintage pieces. For those who have always worn vintage or studied vintage and know the ins and outs of vintage, you are set. For those who are curious about vintage, this article may be perfect for you. Have you ever wanted to wear or sell vintage, but just don't know where to get the good items? If you are lucky enough to live in a larger metropolitan city, you should have no trouble sourcing vintage clothing and/or accessories. First: I recommend going to Craigslist and finding your city or the city nearest to you. In the search bar, enter, "estate sale". See what results pop up. Also do a search for...

If you haven't checked out vintage clothing and accessories lately, you really should. There are some beautiful things out there. You can go hippie or goth, or pair some original circa 70s Italian pumps with a sleek 1920s brocade spaghetti-strapped cocktail dress that catches the eye. Vintage clothing can be hip, stylish and unique. Each one-of-a-kind outfit says 'you', and it often comes at a very good price. With all that cushy indulgence, you wouldn't think you were also doing the earth a good turn. But have you ever thought about how much clothing ends up in the landfill? In the U.S., we throw out about 254 million tons of unwanted items every year. Of that, about 7% is clothing, shoes and...

Swapping clothes is a new trend that is helping to mitigate the waste the fashion industry is responsible for creating. With clothing becoming a throw away commodity across more and more western and developing countries, the waste produced is becoming increasingly draining on the Worlds resources. With the population growing faster than ever our habits our going to have to change. Cotton is one of the most water demanding crops and is something that, moving forwad, will not be able to be wasted on throw away clothing. Swapping websites such as CovertCandy and WhatsMineIsYours are a way to make the best of the clothing that has already been produced rather than waste money and valuable resources on...

Vintage clothing has become very popular recently. This is partly due to the timeless nature of many vintage items and qualities such as the detail and craftsmanship used in the production of vintage clothes. It is also due to trends for vintage styles made popular by celebrities like Dita Von Teese, Kate Moss and Julia Roberts. Each era or decade has it's own styles or vintage pieces which are particularly coveted. Perhaps this is one of the key attractions of vintage clothing. The best of each decade or era is preserved as vintage clothing and the worst falls by the wayside. You could think of vintage clothing as a kind of natural selection of the fashion world where only the fittest or most...

ear has been around for decades now and as its name is a bit of a giveaway it was clothing designed to be worn for playing sport with original garments including tracksuits, whether it be a full tracksuit or just a tracksuit top, t shirts, polo shirts, shorts, trainers etc. A wide variety of sports soon adopted this clothing as their attire. Over the years sportswear became more popular and many sports stars were famous for the clothing they wore. Tennis was one of the most renowned sports for the players looking good in their sports clothing with John Mcenroe and Bjorn Borg being the two players leading the way. Mcenroes brand was Italian Sergio Tacchini and he was always looking smart and cool in...

Vintage clothing has become hugely popular in the last few years as people look for ways to get their own style, customise their outfits and find something a bit different from the usual clothing available on the high street. Vintage clothing is usually sold through vintage boutiques or online through online vintage stores or clothes swapping or selling websites. Before you begin to buy and sell vintage clothing, you need to think carefully about what you would like to achieve. Are you hoping to make money by buying items and selling them on at a higher price or are you looking for beautiful pieces that you can keep and treasure for ever. If you are buying and selling vintage for the purpose of...

Barbie will be 50 years old in 2009. Wow I wish we all looked that good at 50. Of course she has had plastic surgery over the decades. She has even had a complete body replacement. Barbie was first made in 1959 by Mattel and millions have been sold all over the globe since then. On March 9th 1959 Barbie was exhibited at the New York Toy Fair and that date is her official birthday. She wore a one piece black and white zebra striped swimsuit,high heel open toe shoes,hoop earrings and had white sunglasses with blue lenses. She has blonde or brunette hair pulled back in a ponytail and she has strongly arched eyebrows and white irises. She was made from a type of plastic which has faded to white over the...

Interior design trends over the years have grown and developed. Though classic design will never go out of style, the modern and sleek look of contemporary interiors has largely dominated the industry. There is also the introduction of cross-cultural influences that widened the interior design field even more. With the variety of styles to choose from, antique furniture sometimes looks and feels out of place in a home. Heirloom pieces, in particular, could be difficult to part with, especially if inherited from relatives and holds a particular sentimental value for the family. The dilemma is this: how do you make antique furniture a part of your overall look and design? Is there any way to make an...

The art of clockmaking was greatly refined and mastered during the Golden Age of American Clockmaking (1800-1890). During this time, American clockmakers found a way to reduce the cost of tall clocks by using wooden movement rather than brass. The Golden Age of American Clockmaking was characterized by the introduction of innovative and ingenious designs. Clocks made in the golden age era showcased exceptional designs and functional features. In 1830, a skilled American clockmaker named Eli Terry began mass-producing antique mantle clock models, which he effectively marketed on the global market. The golden age era continued thriving until the early 1900's, which created a great impact on the clock...

Egyptian men used two types of chairs. The first type was made of wood with a slight curved inwards seat. This design was probably to make for more comfortable sitting. This type of chair was built with three wooden legs, which curved outwards. The chair was of a simple design and purposely built for long term use. It could withstand constant daily rough treatment. This type of chair could easily be placed in a present day kitchen, and would not appear out of place. The second type of chair used by Egyptian men had a more elaborate design. This type of chair had crossed supports and could be folded or collapsed for easy carrying. The bottom of the legs of this chair were carved and shaped with geese...

Antique furniture is most definitely an asset. Anyone owning a piece of antique furniture may be able to command thousand for that one individual item of furniture, which is why more and more individuals are choosing to invest in it at the moment. Of course value and worth all depend on a number of factors that are associated with the furniture itself. The type of word, design, style and the era in which it was made are just a few of those factors. However, you can do something to preserve your investment by cleaning antique furniture correctly and at the right intervals. This is therefore your quick three-step guide to cleaning antique furniture. Step One: Avoiding Dust Degradation. When cleaning...

An antique is usually described as a piece that is over a century old. Looking for antique furniture can be a real fun and challenging too. If you find that there is a necessity to shop for this sort of stuff then the first thing you probably have to do is learn what antique-furniture is all about. To add to it you must learn about Oak antique furniture because oak lasts forever. Oak adds a touch of class and the spirit of antiquity to any room. Once upon a time oak wood was cheap and available in plenty and those were the days when a lot of furniture was made out of it. Those are the antiques that we are buying today. Among the Americans, pieces made of oak forms an essential part of their...

Many people unknowingly own or purchase valuable pieces of antique furniture. It is helpful for those who frequently attend garage sales to learn how to recognize an antique piece. Although dealers and serious collectors are best able to distinguish a genuine piece of furniture from a replica, a few small bits of knowledge can go a long way. Handypersons often like to purchase old pieces of furniture for refinishing purposes. Since most antiques are best left in their original state, many experts recommend finding out the value of a particular piece before engaging in any modifications. It is better to spend a few dollars on an expert opinion than to destroy a piece of furniture that could be worth...

The question of whether traditional upholsterers should use tacks or staples when re-upholstering antique furniture is frequently and, often, fiercely debated. So what are the two sides of this argument? Those who are solidly in the Tack Camp argue that all re-upholstery should be authentic and true to the history of the piece of furniture. They argue that staples are a modern invention and should not be used on old pieces of furniture, as to do so results in an unhappy blend of different eras. Some even maintain that using staples will ruin the furniture. To them staples are seen at best as unthinkable, at worst as almost sacrilegious. Those upholsterers who are in the Staple Camp maintain that one...