It’s a really simple process. The market for furniture of any era goes up and down like a roller coaster. Aside from its age and authenticity, one of the most important factor's to consider is the furniture's condition. All of these things can affect the value of your antique or collectible. How Our Experts Value Your Antique Furniture. There may be a multitude of reasons why they have established this policy. Also keep an eye on the latest superhero movies when digging through your vintage comic books. If you do not know about the antique furniture market then you will want to consult a specialist. Get antique furniture appraised by a professional. If the wood is a soft wood your fingernail will leave an indention. But don't fret: More common books could still make you hundreds. When it comes to furniture value, ... however, the value of handmade antiques … The condition matters too: an item in exceptional condition is typically worth more than an item that has become a bit wobbly or has some conservation issues. At no charge, our specialists review submissions and provide auction estimates for any antique furniture we believe we can sell at a live auction or online sale. When identifying antique chairs, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. Yes, it's possible to score a deal on more high-end pieces through sites like eBay or Craigslist, but don't expect the furniture to be in the pristine condition you … As Drexel furniture products were largely factory manufactured, there are sure to be a multitude of pieces just like yours on the market, and if the condition of your … So, if an antique dealer says they do not purchase privately, do not take it personally. A quick and easy-to-use calculator to determine the approximate value of used furniture! Run your hand along the edges of the furniture. I get a lot of questions about how to antique furniture. Follow these 6 steps to restoring old furniture, and your family heirlooms will stay in tact for years to come. Examine Edges and Corners. If it’s less than 100 years old, you can strip, sand, and stain away without fear; it’s officially not an antique and is likely mass-produced. You could find out just by asking them. When valuing a piece of furniture, our experts consider the item's age, style, size and origin. On the outside chance you have a true antique table, the value would be different than if it is a vintage piece. You should look at the screws, nails, wood, joining and hardware. This article will briefly describe recent production, list a history of Stickley marks and compare some typical new and old pieces. Table $100. If there’s no date, the style of the piece can be a good indicator of age. Look for … Estimate the value of your used furniture Calculate the value of your used furniture: Note: Most auction houses have a furniture specialist on staff and will usually do a verbal assessment and valuation for free. Once the furniture is painted I use Caromal Colours Toner to age or antique the paint. However, their value is usually significantly lower, so it's important to know whether you have an original or a reproduction if you want to know the value of your antique furniture. - There is a way to tell whether an antique has been refinished, and this is very important, because antiques with an original finish are worth more than the same antiques that have been refinished. Antique furniture is evaluated to determine if it is a real antique or if it is a reproduction. What constitutes a rarity? Identifying Antique Furniture or Good Reproductions When trying to identify antique furniture, dedicated antique hunters search for beautifully preserved pieces, armed with pins, magnifying glasses, spirit levels and all sorts of testing equipment. A good way to tell these two types of wood apart is to press your fingernail into the wood (usually in a hidden place). How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. In fact, a rare copy could be worth millions. Best advice is to take a lot of pictures of the furniture including close ups … The best way to evaluate an antique is to take it to an antique appraiser. How To Tell Whether "Antique" Furniture Is Really Antique With a bit of research and a close inspection of wood and hardware, you can roughly determine the age of antique furniture… It fits so well, it looks like it was made for the space. Antique furniture shows age; it won’t have any sharp edges where constant usage has worn it … A good place to start when identifying furniture is often to figure out what period it's from. MB: The best thing you can do when shopping for vintage furniture is to really examine it. The term "gueridon" was a word describing the African servants of the time, which were also sometimes used as the bodily figures in the table design. If no one in your zip code has one, it might be worth even more. Of course, as with anything, rare comic books hold more value than common editions. Another case where you should not refinish wood furniture is if the piece is a valuable antique or a unique designer piece that, although not an antique, nevertheless has a lot of value. If there is a model or ID # on your furniture,which there should be a tag somewhere or stamped on the piece. Antiques are often worth much more than their original price. The piece might be too large, too loud, or too ugly. In the entry area of our living room, in our 100 year old house by the stairway, is a small sectioned off part of the room. Prices vary widely for patio furniture—many sellers don't know what they have since it has not been well documented. Try Christie's or Sotheby's auction houses for recent sales of … Your furniture is not old enough to be considered antique, but it may be considered "vintage" furniture, depending on the style. Significant … […] Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science, but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture. And if no one in your area code has one, chances are, you have a piece that’s pretty valuable.Of course, something might be rare because it just didn’t make it in the marketplace. If no one else on your block owns one, you know that it’s worth something. Restore old furniture and get those antique pieces back in vogue. Turn it over, touch it, open the drawers, look at it from 360 degrees. The appraiser is knowledgeable in furniture styles and time periods. Turn the piece upside down or on its back and look for the telltale drips and runs that indicate the piece has been worked over. Provenance means that a paper trial has followed the item throughout the years. Finding an antique piece of Stickley furniture today is akin to winning the lottery. How To Antique Furniture. If they do not care for your furniture or think it is valuable, they’d rather not have to tell you. If an appraiser isn’t an option, consult antique furniture guides and match the style of your buffet or sideboard with photos and descriptions. Miller's Antiques and Collectables Guide lists a lot of European furniture with prices and auction houses. Your area could be in a slump. The prices go back a number of years and some are out of date, but the clear photographs will help in your searches. 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