One thing to bear in mind while searching for your next antique furniture treasure is that this stuff, by definition, has been around the block a few times, and the road has not always been smooth. Sometimes, old furniture, like old cars, tends to shed some parts when the going gets rough. And while some missing pieces are perfectly obvious, others aren’t, and it takes a little detective work to confirm that vague feeling that something is awry.
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A topic that invariably generates a lot of heat and a lot less light is the question of what qualifies as an antique. The use of the word itself is a little odd in that it is one of the few words we use to describe an object that doesn’t have anything to do with the physical characteristics of the object.
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Over at Martin Willis’ blog he delves into the harrowing and e-mail-fight-worthy topic of antique furniture refinishing. If ever there be a subject that draws sharp opinions it’s debating when/if/why to refinish a piece. I give him credit for generously … Read More +
Antique furniture comes in many styles and everyone is different when it comes to decorating their homes. Some may like Mid-century Modern or Victorian styles; while others may enjoy Duncan Phyfe or Georgian furniture. Georgian is a period of design in English furniture from 1714 through the early 1800s. It is also a period rich in the terms of new styles and the craftsmen who invented and brought this era of furniture into every household around the world. The Georgian period is broken down into three stages: early Georgian (1714 to 1740); mid Georgian (1760 to 1790); and late Georgian (1790 to early 1800s). Read More +
Check out this fascinating entry on the differences between period American and English Georgian furniture over at Martin Willis‘ Antique Auction Forum. He writes: “Centennial furniture was born in the traditions mentioned above debuting at the 1876 International Centennial Exposition … Read More +
Beds are of great interest to most people. We spend more time in bed than we do anywhere else, except maybe at work, so where we spend roughly one-third of our lives should be of great interest. In Colonial America, mobility was a key factor in bed design. America has been a nation on the move since before it was a nation, so a bed that could be disassembled, transported by wagon or boat and reassembled was a valuable asset. Read More +
After 32 years and more than $150 million worth of antique furniture sold, the famed Steven-Thomas Antiques and Interiors is closing with a blockbuster auction Feb. 5-6. The prestigious Orange County antiques and restoration firm, became famous fo redesigning and repurposing antiques for functional use in today’s homes. Steven-Thomas also catered to a large celebrity clientele that included the late John Wayne, who resided in Newport Beach. Every article will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price, by Don Presley Auctions.
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A beautiful and varied collection of art, first-rate antique furniture and finely crafted treasures from Russia and the Orient will be featured at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries Feb. 5-6. Bidders also will have the opportunity to obtain estate jewelry, early firearms, furs, gold coins, fine carpets and Native American works.
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Furniture Detective: One of the first things to be looked at when trying to determine the age of a piece of older or antique furniture is the type of joinery used in the construction of the piece. Knowing the history of the technology of various periods goes a long way toward explaining clues about the age of furniture and none is more important (or accessible) than the type of joint used to secure a drawer. Read More +
Behind the Gavel columnist Wayne Jordan says central to gaining more customers and making more sales is building store traffic. Antiques dealers have the same challenges as other retailers: how to build awareness for their business and get more customers in the door. This month, I’ll share some promotions that retailers in other businesses have successfully used; perhaps a few of them will work for you, too. Here are his "11 Promotions for 2011."
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