Many people enjoy antiques, because the antiques are really a piece of the past. Perhaps there are certain items that remind a person of their youth, or perhaps there is just a specific collector’s interest. Whatever the reason, many people acquire their antiques through antique auctions.

Antique Auctions are for Buyers and for Sellers

If you are an antique seller, you might be interested to know that if you have some pieces that you cannot sell through your regular store, you can often have them sold at an antique auction. The first thing that you will need to do is go to an antique appraiser, and if they show an interest in the item, they will pay you for it and put it in an antique auction themselves.

They will either do that, or you will pay them to put it up for antique auction, and you will get whatever it sells for. If you are in the antique business, you most likely know a reputable appraiser, but if not, Antiques Roadshow is a popular television show that can be a wonderful resource.

If you want to buy something at an antique auction, you should definitely have some extra money put aside specifically for that purpose. The reason being is that while you can get very unique things, those things will sell for at least a few hundred dollars.

Some people will bid themselves into debt over the right thing. However, what you will need to do is exercise restraint! Have a budget, and make sure that whatever you bid for you can purchase immediately. Remember, you might be able to find certain antiques through other sources.

So, what are those sources for antiques? First of all, make sure that you purchase an antique buyer’s guide, which will list the current prices of items, and places that you might be able to purchase them. Of course, your local antique store might also be of help in finding reputable resources.

When it comes to the internet, be more hesitant. While the internet has many different antique websites, some of them sell fakes. Fakes are unfortunately very prevalent in the antique world, so make sure that you have reputable certificates of authenticity.

Antique auctions can be a lot of fun. You can meet fellow antique enthusiasts and see many different items. So, with the proper research, not only can you find interesting auctions, but also beautiful antiques.

Just like clothing, hats, handbags and shoes go in and out of fashion; the same is true of American furniture in this country. Here are a few quick rules of thumb to help identify the style and age of a chest of drawers:

Rhode Island Chippendale Chest in Cherry CA 1760

Chippendale (CA 1760-1780)

A stack of 4, 5, 6 or (rarely) 7 graduated drawers sit atop a molded bracket base or ball-and-claw feet. The drawer construction will feature bold hand-cut dovetails in front and back. The underside or bottom of the case will be dovetailed as well. The top would also be dovetailed - some blind, some exposed. The handles are simple bails with rosette backs or a batwing type of shield.

Hepplewhite (CA 1780 -1810)

The cabinet-makers of this era make an attempt to streamline their work. Artistic use of veneers and inlays, shaped bowfront drawers and graceful, flared bracket feet are often formed as extensions of the sides. The brasses are typically oval and often are embossed with thistles, flowers, birds or other fanciful motifs.

Hepplewhite Four Drawer Tiger Maple Chest, CA 1810

Sheraton (CA 1810 - 1840)

Oval “pulls” give way to round handles in brass or wood during this time period. Rather than standing on feet that are splayed and tapered, the base is formed by round, turned “legs.” Fine Sheraton pieces have very delicate turnings and fancy veneers glued over native pine.

Empire (CA 1840 - 1860)

These pieces could be described as Sheraton on steroids. Massive drawers with large and showy brass or wood knobs, heavier tunings and carved columns flanking the drawers characterize this style. In the antique business, this style hasn’t seen its heyday yet. Although good Empire sells well, 70% of the pieces are still viewed as cumbersome despite great material and craftsmanship.

English Georgian Bowfront Chest in Mahogany, CA 1810-1820

The guidelines I’ve outlined here just scratch the surface - a little knowledge on any topic can be a dangerous thing. I always tell my customers, buy what you like; you are the person who will live with it. Buy the best you can afford; view it as waterfront property. Do business with reputable dealers who will stand behind what they sell.

These paragraphs deal with the subject of the dilemma, choice when thinking about antique furniture. It provides insight about the furnishing the house for formal or casual reasons. It also talks about the creative abilities of an individual.

When one sets upon fashioning and furnishing a room, the one thought that occurs is the mood setting. The dilemma and confusion between an Empire chair and a Louis XVI chair would all seem same. Then the question about the reproductions and antiques arise, mislead - why would some one do that to me?

The primary aspect that has to be determined when furnishing or rearranging in case of a flat is to know whether you want ultimate comfort or simply aim at formality. The room has to be defined by you mentally for the purpose. It has to be known well in hand if it is for a man’s study or family library, living room or a reception room, a boudoir or a bedroom? Minor issues, but they go along way in confirming the interior décor. It is just like getting to know a game of bridge, you learn it gradually. And if you find all the picking, choosing, arranging and rearranging tedious and you have no singular interest in it, it is better to hire the services of an interior decorator.

If you are the kind of person who has a leaning towards formality, comfort and also own a house in a city and country. The task would be simpler as you could opt for summers, holidays and weekends at the country house while the flat or town house in the city could take care of formality.

Each individual is capable of being creative. The subject of the matter is the deep chairs with wide backs and seats, downy cushions, soft springs etc. Bookcases and tables elegantly placed, lights soft and at appropriate places. Beds too can add to the décor according to the taste of the individual in terms twin, single or double beds.

From among the various tasks, the primary job is to choose the right kind of antique belonging to a certain period or periods while getting the blends and combinations correct. Even if you identify the right subject it is sure to have taken a beating due to age, but the unmistakable craftsmanship, color and the purpose of hardiness is unfathomable. For example, in case you want to buy a desk - preferably an antique desk, you are required to visit an antique dealer and when you are certain you have found the right piece suiting and enhancing your décor, then you could ask for your friend’s opinion who is reasonably experienced. When decided, it is mandatory to know the period to which the desk belongs to. It should be the kind that which would give you delight and the dealer too. Most of the antiques are known to have the unique signature of the maker engraved or marked on it. Purchasing an antique is similar to the purchase of a prized pedigree. Referring to books and periodicals would enlighten and educate you further more on the subject. The seeds as an antique would have been sown. When embarking upon making private collection it is suggested that you would have to be constantly on the lookout for rare unique pieces. Although, most of them would reside with museums and private collections, they would definitely deserve a look to determine the kind of make, usage of craft and the hues and colors used. Some of them guard to their antiques with such care and aggressiveness that it is a matter of envy.

“Certainly, it is sure that we are men with different thoughts and views”.

About the Author

Have you enjoyed this article on minimalist decoration??, Adam Peters is the editor of http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com . Read additional info on minimalist interiors or minimalist decorating

Collecting antique furniture is considered as one of the most expensive hobbies that people can get into because of the high price tags. Given this, it is then important for antique collectors to take the necessary steps that can help them maintain and protect their investments. Among these steps, some of the most important include knowing how to clean and handle antique furniture. However, knowing how to clean and handle antique furniture is not only limited to gaining information on the steps collectors can take to keep their furniture dirt or scratch free. This is because it also involves understanding the factors that cause damage to antique furniture and understanding how they can avoid making their antique furniture vulnerable to damage.

There are a number of risk factors that can cause damage to antique furniture, and collectors need to know about them so they can take the necessary precautions to help them avoid the damage these factors can bring to their collections. One of these includes fluctuations in relative humidity, which means that antique furniture is constantly exposed to changes in weather and temperatures. This can be dangerous for antique furniture because the constant expansion and shrinking of antique furniture as a result of temperature changes can cause cracking and splitting. To prevent such damage, collectors can use a humidifier or they should try to maintain a constant room temperature where they place their collections.

Another factor is sunlight exposure, which can significantly alter the color of the finish of antique furniture. Collectors can prevent such damage by removing their antique furniture from places where there is direct sunlight or by using UV filters on their windows. Another factor that can cause damage to antique furniture is insect infestation, which includes termites. To remedy this problem, collectors need to get outside help, as the only effective solution to this is fumigation. Other factors include the way antiques are handled, the kind of cleaning material and chemical used and on the foreign material that may stain antique furniture such as from liquids.

Given that collecting antique furniture can be expensive. Collectors need to take the necessary steps that can help them preserve the value of their collections. However, doing so does not only involve knowing how to clean or remove scratches on antique furniture. This is because it also involves knowing and understanding the risk factors that can cause damage to antique furniture and also knowing how to prevent exposing their antique furniture to such risk factors. [http://www.z-Antiques.com]Antiques provides detailed information on Antiques, Antique Collectibles, Antique Furniture, Antique Art and more. Antiques is affiliated with [http://www.e-TableLamps.com]Traditional Table Lamps.

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Awareness toward reuse and recycling in the US seems to be at an all time high. I even found myself buying cloth bags at the local Stop & Shop to save paper and avoid using plastics that remain in some landfill for hundreds of years.

Thinking about this and the antique business – reuse and recycling is exactly what antiques are all about. Who in their right mind would throw away an antique anything? You just don’t. For years, people have been visiting flea markets, auctions, estate sales and shops – looking for that special find. Three things usually are true. The piece was at one time cherished by the original owner and handed down in the family. It is made well and has seen generations of service.

Except in a few rare instances when something is all original and functional, it probably needs a bit of TLC or restoration. Once restored, the piece will serve future generations who will continue to admire its beauty and enjoy the added “character” that comes with age. I’m pleased to think that Leonards was green long before it was fashionable.

Keep in mind, only restore when necessary. You don’t want to overdo repairs and devalue your latest investment. However, be mindful of the fact that most of what turns up at auction, shops and estate sales will need or has had attention. When it comes to antiques, reuse and recycling have less impact on the environment and bring value to your home.

Antique collecting is a fun and worthwhile hobby. Many of the items that you collect will appreciate in value and add unique color and ambiance to your home. One of the more neglected areas to collect in is antique hardware. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. The bad thing is that finding truly unique antique hardware can be difficult, but the good thing is that once you do you can be assured that it will increase in value.

Kinds of Antique Hardware

There are tons of different kinds of antique hardware out there, so you want to be a little particular when choosing what to buy. For starters, look at getting an antique rain gauge. These simple devices were used centuries ago by farmers to measure the amount of rainfall so they could adjust how much they watered their crops. Today they make a perfect accompaniment to any garden. These devices have a simple glass vial for collecting rain that is coupled with a metal measuring end to determine how much rain has fallen. As rain collects in the glass vial, the arm moves letting you know exactly how much rain has fallen.

Another neat idea is to look at antique hardware for use in your home. Door knobs, cabinet hinges, cabinet handles can all be replaced with authentic antique hardware to increase the value and appeal of your home. Something that has become more and more popular in recent years is replacing the light fixtures in your home with something more antique looking, but why not go all out and replace them with genuine antique hardware?

Many antiques can be purchased for a little more than their new modern counterparts, but unlike modern materials the value of the genuine antiques will increase in value while adding a unique and authentic feel to your home. If you really want to give your home that true country cottage turn of the century feel, antique hardware brackets and wall mounts for bookshelves are very inexpensive and can improve the overall look of your home.

Spend some time looking on the internet or going to antique stores and bargains are sure to be had. Many times these places do not specialize in antique hardware so they may not even know the value of the items they are selling. In addition antique hardware is not something that is commonly sought after and with a little determination and effort on you part you can incorporate these items into your home significantly increasing the value as well as your own personal enjoyment in your abode.

In these days of United Airlines whisking some 350 passengers at nearly 700 mph through the Doldrums and over the Sargasso Sea, we find it hard to understand how precious sea chests could be afloat. For the captains and some of their officers, chests were the private corner in the enforced intimacy of shipboard life. Whalers could be at sea three years running, clipper ships a shorter, but more hectic time. For these lonely men, sea chests were where secrets were stored and kept safe. Practical things like sail charts and signal flag identification are also found inside the lids.

Canted Chests

Dovetailed Sea Chest in Pine from early 1800’s

Many chests started out their long years afloat as elaborate packing cases to carry fragile silks, scrolls, and other precious trade items back home from the China Trade. The earlier ones were made in a trapezoidal shape with the sides slanting up to the lip. This allowed custom officials to easily open the top, as it lay stowed away against the ship’s hull. The braided rope handles at each end, called “beckets”, were sturdy and easy to grasp when loading a chest from the heaving dory alongside the ship.

China Trade Camphor Wood Box from early 1800’s

Camphor Wood Boxes

Camphor wood was the lumber of choice for sea chests after 1800 because it was plentiful in the Orient. A tall, evergreen tree  with smooth, greenish bark, it was heavily branched, creating numerous knots where the tree’s distinct odor was strongest. The camphor fragrance, which can still be detected in these chests, was believe to repel insects harmful to the silks stored inside. Cedar, now well known for its moth-repellent characteristics, replaced camphor wood in the 1890’s. Camphor wood yields a lush grain pattern, accentuated when finished in a golden honey color. Gradually, the chests became more sophisticated with features such as false bottoms for smuggling and bell alarms that rang when the key was turned in the lock on the chest.

Campaign Chests

Around the 1850’s, the military chest came into vogue, with campaign brass handles that folded flush to avoid being damaged. Brass-bound at the corners, and still dovetailed, they often carried double locks. Many had special drawers, some concealed. Usually made to individual order and lavishly crafted, they were cherished possessions from the start.

Dome Top Trunks

As public transportation became more available, early travelers quickly learned baggage could suffer from handling at the Wells Fargo Depot in Dodge City as much as at a modern day airport. Heavy trunks could be set down onto your personal luggage with the same results we see today. The dome top case was developed because its rounded shape made it difficult to put crates on top of it. An excellent example of a dome top trunk at Leonard’s is lined with the “Republican Standard”, dated March 7, 1861, only 4 days after Lincoln’s inaugural address.

From early sea chests to dome top trunks, the needs of the traveler were being met.

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