Not too bad. 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. If the wood is a hard wood your fingernail will leave no mark. MB: The best thing you can do when shopping for vintage furniture is to really examine it. Antique furniture is evaluated to determine if it is a real antique or if it is a reproduction. A good place to start when identifying furniture is often to figure out what period it's from. I gave this dresser a two-tone antiqued finish using the toner. If no one else on your block owns one, you know that it’s worth something. Provenance means that a paper trial has followed the item throughout the years. Run your hand along the edges of the furniture. If no one in your zip code has one, it might be worth even more. - 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. Restore old furniture and get those antique pieces back in vogue. What constitutes a rarity? Follow these 6 steps to restoring old furniture, and your family heirlooms will stay in tact for years to come. 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. 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 condition … It’s a really simple process. How To Antique Furniture. 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. But don't fret: More common books could still make you hundreds. If there’s no date, the style of the piece can be a good indicator of age. If an appraiser isn’t an option, consult antique furniture guides and match the style of your buffet or sideboard with photos and descriptions. Having said all the above, here's how I'd value your pieces, sight unseen (except for your photos). 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. Also keep an eye on the latest superhero movies when digging through your vintage comic books. On the outside chance you have a true antique table, the value would be different than if it is a vintage piece. Significant … Determining the age of antique furniture is the first step in establishing a proper valuation, as well as verifying that the piece is indeed an authentic furnishing from the era in question. Wood has two kinds of grain, a … In the case of a very valuable antique, significant art, or a historically significant antique, you may want to establish provenance. Guéridon table: These mid-17th century French small tables were originally used as candle stands, many times in pairs, and often with columnar or bodily figure pedestals.They usually have a circular or oval tray-like top. The market for furniture of any era goes up and down like a roller coaster. How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. The best way to evaluate an antique is to take it to an antique appraiser. It also depends on the supply and demand in your town. This article will briefly describe recent production, list a history of Stickley marks and compare some typical new and old pieces. The value of antique furniture can vary widely, even when dealing with very old pieces. Your furniture is not old enough to be considered antique, but it may be considered "vintage" furniture, depending on the style. 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. Of course, as with anything, rare comic books hold more value than common editions. The piece might be too large, too loud, or too ugly. All of these things can affect the value of your antique or collectible. Note: Most auction houses have a furniture specialist on staff and will usually do a verbal assessment and valuation for free. Try Christie's or Sotheby's auction houses for recent sales of … Antiques are often worth much more than their original price. Get antique furniture appraised by a professional. The prices go back a number of years and some are out of date, but the clear photographs will help in your searches. 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 … […] When valuing a piece of furniture, our experts consider the item's age, style, size and origin. 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. The appraiser is knowledgeable in furniture styles and time periods. 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 … Turn it over, touch it, open the drawers, look at it from 360 degrees. When identifying antique chairs, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. If they do not care for your furniture or think it is valuable, they’d rather not have to tell you. Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science, but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture. How to Know If Your Parents' Stuff Has Value. How Our Experts Value Your Antique Furniture. Unless you're an expert in antiques, or willing to do a lot of research into similar items, past selling prices, and restoration possibilities, you should contact an expert. If you want to sell the piece as an important artifact, you will have to do so. Compared with the heyday of antiques collecting, prices for average pieces are now “80 percent off,” said Colin Stair, the owner of Stair Galleries auction house in Hudson, N.Y. “Your typical Georgian 18th century furniture, chests of drawers, tripod tables, Pembroke tables,” he noted, can all be had for a fraction of what they cost 15 to 20 years ago. Visit furniture resale stores and antiques markets in your area and determine if furniture of this era is selling. Antique furniture shows age; it won’t have any sharp edges where constant usage has worn it … In fact, a rare copy could be worth millions. The present furniture company using the name of Stickley has made virtually exact replicas of original Stickley Arts and Craft designs. Since I can't see it and touch it, I suggest having a vintage furniture reseller/store owner look it over and confirm what you have. Examine Edges and Corners. Aside from its age and authenticity, one of the most important factor's to consider is the furniture's condition. 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… 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. 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. 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. It fits so well, it looks like it was made for the space. There may be a multitude of reasons why they have established this policy. How to determine the value of antique furniture. 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. A lot of the value will depend on condition. Look for … You could find out just by asking them. 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! Finding an antique piece of Stickley furniture today is akin to winning the lottery. If you do not know about the antique furniture market then you will want to consult a specialist. Best advice is to take a lot of pictures of the furniture including close ups … A good way to tell these two types of wood apart is to press your fingernail into the wood (usually in a hidden place). If the wood is a soft wood your fingernail will leave an indention. You should look at the screws, nails, wood, joining and hardware. Estimate the value of your used furniture Calculate the value of your used furniture: Value is hard to gauge. I get a lot of questions about how to antique furniture. When it comes to furniture value, ... however, the value of handmade antiques … If there is a model or ID # on your furniture,which there should be a tag somewhere or stamped on the piece. How To Antique Furniture. 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