Collecting antique wooden furniture
When it comes to antique collecting, one of the most preferred items are wooden
pieces of furniture.
If you are into acquiring wooden furniture for your antique collection,
familiarize yourself first with the basic information that you need to know.
This includes the basic terminologies of antique trades, types of woods used for
antiques, identifying the age of the wooden piece, and the proper way of
cleaning it to maintain its value.
In your search for antique wooden furniture, visit the family's storeroom first
before shopping for antique pieces online. Family storerooms (the garage,
basement, or attic) can reveal hidden treasures that you can include in your
antique collection. Aside from family storerooms, you can also visit your
neighbor's garage sales, other household stores, and nearby household auctions
to look for pieces that will satisfy your desire for wooden antique furniture.
If you really want valuable and authentic pieces of antique furniture, you can
visit various antique stores. But, you better prepare yourself to pay a higher
sum of money because most of these are authenticated by an organization that
specializes in antiques. Although antique stores are reputable places where you
can find antique furniture pieces, you should be very careful because many of
these stores also offer replicas and reproduced items. If you are well-versed in
antique furniture, it is best to ask the help of an expert to guide you in
buying the real ones.
Tips in choosing antique wooden furniture
There are many types and styles of antique wooden furniture available on the
market. Each piece has its distinct features depending on the era it in which
was made. The most common selections of antique wooden furniture are those
inspired from American and English styles since they are more functional
compared to others.
If you are just starting with your antique wooden collection, here are some tips
that can help you choose the pieces that are truly worth your time and your
money:
1. Determine the age. The age of the wooden furniture is very important
in determining its authenticity. Make sure that the wooden furniture is at least
50 years old or more to ensure it's an antique piece.
2. Check the furniture's joinery. This is one of the easiest ways to know
if the piece is an antique or not.
3. Look for dovetails. Collecting antique wooden furniture is a
meticulous task. To make identifying what's real or not easier, look for the
dovetails. Experts say that dovetails that aren't even are those joined using
bare hands while dovetails that are exact and even are cut using a machine. If
the dovetails are handmade, rest assured that the piece is an antique because
these dovetails were made years before the machine used for cutting was
invented.