The beauty of the antique chairs or furniture lies in maintaining its originality with the historical importance attached to it. The original designs, stains, and paintings on it often reveal the times in which the chair was crafted. Some of them are of the view to make the antique craft whether chair or furniture presentable and usable. This brings into the picture the act of stripping and refinishing. But, then it is possible that the originality of the design and the chair is lost. However, technology has advanced so much that it is possible now to refurbish the antique chairs while preserving the historical importance and the accuracy. Thus, both the purpose is served of restoring an attractive appearance and preserving its antiquity.

As many antique chairs are made out of wood, it is necessary to preserve these wooden chairs from damage or any other type of defects. The major causes of damage to wooden furniture are casual handling and environmental conditions. Damage can be caused due to light. Light is especially harmful for wood, as it can fade out the dark finishes and darken the faded shades. It can also affect the finishing, and paint by leaving it discolored, opaque, brittle or cracked. The prevention can be done by not placing the chair in direct sunlight. It should not be placed near the fireplaces, or baseboard heaters. Basements and garages are not good places to store furniture and antique chairs because of fluctuating environmental conditions.

The antique chair helps in beautifying the room’s atmosphere. Proper care should be taken to maintain its condition so that the richness and the elegance is not lost after some days. One of the best ways to clean wood is to keep dusting it regularly with a soft and smooth cloth. The care should be taken that un-finished wood should not be wet-cleaned. The micro crystalline wax can be useful to increase the gloss of the finish, thus helping in removing the fingerprints. This should not be done very frequently, just once a year. Metal hardware on the antique chairs should be removed before any polishing as the ammonia present in it can damage the surrounding wood and finish.

The collection of antique chairs can be also considered as an asset and it serves to be a good investment also.

About the Author

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Antiques for Years. For More Information on Antique Chairs, Visit His Site at Antique Chairs  Post Your Views On Antique Chairs At My Blog here   Antique Chairs

ShareThis

Rather than spending a fortune on a true antique, you can search for antique type desks at modern prices. Such desks are made to look antique, while offering modern amenities. They include large work spaces, room for a keyboard, and ample drawer space. At less than a tenth of the price, you can purchase the same classical elegant antique design; and, these desks are fully functional. This means that even children and teenagers can work and study on desks that are inexpensive, yet durable, well-designed, and attractive. And you can enjoy the delicate, sophisticated look of antique type desks without spending a fortune to do so or worrying every second that it will get ruined.

The rich dark wood in these classic antique writing desks radiates warmth and stately sophistication. Ideal for any home or office, these desks will give a plain area an entirely different look that speaks of grace and style. Antique type desks at modern prices are the perfect combination - they beautifully satisfy the modern needs of an office while offering a look of timeless sophistication.

About the Author

Get great tips for furnishing every room of your house. Leah Perry provides insightful advice on purchasing the right patio furniture, caring for your cedar furniture, and much more. Review hundreds of creative ideas at PatioandHomeFurniture.com

ShareThis

Start Small

When beginning to work with refinishing antique dresser sets it is best to start small and work your way up. Your first couple of jobs probably will not go as smoothly as you would like nor will the end results be exactly what you are looking for, so start with something inexpensive and see how it goes. Many dresser sets in a state of disrepair can be bought for very little money, and once restored this antique dresser sets can worth many times your initial investment.

Also, it is almost impossible to document all the different tools and stains you will need to complete the job you are embarking on so for the first couple of sets you can expect a heavy investment on your part. But, if you are careful and find inexpensive sets that you think you can fix up, you can more than make your money back. In addition to being able to sell these antique dresser sets you will also be able update the sets in your home.

A good rule of thumb when looking for sets is to figure out whether or not you would put it in your own home. Chances are that if you would not, you probably will not get the value back from restoring the set that you need to fund your hobby. That is the real beauty of restoring antique dresser sets as a hobby, it pays for itself. While your friends throw away thousands of dollars on hobbies that do not pay anything back, you can be secure in the knowledge that what you are doing not only will give you a valuable skill you can use into retirement, but the entire learning process will pay for itself. As your skills and tools set grows you will be able to take on more challenging jobs that will in turn give you even more profit.

ShareThis

It is not so much how old a piece of antique furniture is that makes it valuable, rather its condition and appearance. A 200-year-old table for example, may be beyond repair with water damage or missing a leg or two that cannot be restored, turning that old hunk of wood into firewood. However, there are some basic construction tips that can help people determine the quality of the piece as well as the period in which it was made.

Beyond age and functionality, the piece of antique furniture should still be serviceable, meaning if there is an antique chair, meeting the requirements in all aspects, a person should still be able to sit on it without fear of it breaking. Since nails and other metal fasteners were rarely used on most furniture, the means with which the different pieces are held together can be an indication of its age.

Antique Furniture Restoration Is An Art Form

With many pieces of antique furniture requiring some sort of repairs, it takes a qualified person to restore accurately the piece to near original condition. The amount of wood that has to be replaced will affect the quality and the values of the piece. Typically, collectors look at about 20 to 25-percent as a limit of replacement wood in a piece of antique furniture before they begin to lose interest in the piece.

Most antique furniture was made of mahogany, oak, pine, walnut and rosewood and the type of wood used will affect its value among collectors, and restoring antique furniture requires the same species of wood to be used as in the original construction. Persons with the ability to replicate a table leg with the same species of wood and have the same grain pattern show as in the other legs, can be hard to find.

Today, many factories pump out replicas of antique furniture using laminates to recreate the pattern and grain of some of the most popular woods used in antique furniture. However, with these pieces it is easy to spot the difference between the original construction and today’s mass-produced items.

ShareThis

An antique dealer is trying to sell their pieces to whoever walks in the door. When the dealer gives you the value of the piece be sure and ask him questions as to where he got the information from and then when you get home check the internet and get the name and phone number of an antiquities expert and find out exactly how much the particular piece you were interested in is really worth. If the dealer was spot on the mark in his antique value, then return to his establishment and purchase your item. If you want to sell an item then check the intended price before you go see the antique dealer so you have a frame of reference to start your bidding.

Markings

There are particular marking on an antique piece which will give its antique value. These markings can either be the initials or name of the maker of the item or it can be a date on the inside or bottom of the item. Antique value always goes up when a piece is dated and signed by the original maker. Books in their first printing are very valuable as are paintings that are signed by the original painter.

Jewelry that has the designers mark on it somewhere is always a good sign of antique value as is a piece of antique furniture that has the artisan’s markings on the bottom or inside of the piece. Some glassware will have antique value if it has the name of the factory of its origin on it. Having a very old antique can have quite a bit of value even without markings if it is made in a particular manner. In some centuries only certain types of furniture were made and with all of the copies made in modern day it is hard to determine which is the real thing. But an antiquities expert will know the difference because he will know what to look for and the antique value can be high or non-existent depending on which century the piece was made.

ShareThis

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.

ShareThis

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.

ShareThis

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.

ShareThis

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.

ShareThis

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.

ShareThis