There are many reasons why people purchase antique furniture. Some simply like the designs and the craftsmanship that came with the antique furniture. Most antiques are discontinued, which means that you will not find another just like it. Some others purchase antiques so that they can resell them. Here are the basics for anyone who wants to purchase antique furniture.
1.Terminology. First of all, you need to acquaint yourself with the terms that are regularly used to refer to antique furniture. You need to know the various types of furniture there are, the various parts of the furniture, and the various features of the furniture. Also know the various styles of antiques. These factors will help you determine whether a particular piece of antique is worth your money or not.
2. Research. One of the easiest ways to know the terminology and know more about furniture is simply by doing some research on the furniture. Visit your local book shop or the local library and look for books on antique furniture. Apart from books, however, make sure that you use the Internet to your advantage. There are many websites and online communities that are dedicated to antique furniture collecting. Check out the standards that antique collectors use to determine the worth and value of a particular piece of furniture.
3. Damage. Next, check the damage that has been wrought on a given piece of furniture. There are structural damages and there are also superficial damages. Superficial damages are those that refer to the paint job on the furniture, or the upholstery. These are usually considered superficial since these damages can easily be remedied and repaired. Structural damages, however, are those that affect the integrity of the furniture itself. For example is furniture that are missing a leg, or which have scars, scabs, or gashes on the wood surface.
4. Local Dealers. Once you know what to look for in a particular type of furniture, the next step is to acquaint yourself with the local furniture dealers and antique sellers. Almost every community has a few dealers and collectors. Making friends with these people will help you learn more about the best places where you can buy the antique furniture. Sometimes, you will even get discounts because of your network contacts. The best thing about local dealers is that they can usually give you contacts about the actual owners of the furniture. You can ask the actual owners about the history or the provenance of the furniture.
5. Auction Houses. Most antiques are sold in auction houses. Before bidding for anything at the auction house, make sure that you check the goods first and look for signs of damage and features that may make the antique furniture valuable or not. Based from your inspection, you should determine the actual price of the furniture, and the ceiling bidding price for the furniture.
Also check out flea markets, where antiques can sometimes be found. Make sure that you also know when to compromise – you cannot expect a century-old piece of furniture to be in pristine condition. With these in mind, you should be able to search for the best antique furniture in town.
