| When you antique furniture shop, you'll find wonderful | | | | needs and interests. If they don't have what you're |
| unique pieces that will work with any style and interior | | | | looking for at the time, keep in mind that they have |
| design...from rustic to country to sleek modern | | | | sources and associates in other areas of the country |
| contemporary. However, you need to be careful as | | | | and world who can assist in finding the right piece for |
| there are a great many fakes and reproductions in the | | | | you. They will also help you recognize a real antique vs |
| marketplace. The best way to avoid being tempted to | | | | a fake. |
| buy a fake or reproduction is to do some research | | | | Tip#7 Visit auctions, and to be assured of the best |
| first... | | | | quality, select an auction house that will guarantee |
| Tip#1 Research and become familiar with style/period | | | | what it sells. Country auctions are a great option if |
| names of those you like best. Sellers categorize | | | | you're not looking for museum quality pieces. And, who |
| furniture mostly by style ie: Victorian, Queen Anne, | | | | knows... you could even find a real bargain, at that! |
| Chippendale, Louis XVI, etc... | | | | Tip#8 Check the newspaper and/or the internet for |
| Tip#2 Visit the antiques department in bookstores or | | | | estate sales. You may find a family member at the |
| check the library for books and reference material on | | | | sale who can tell you something about the piece's |
| your chosen style/period. The Internet is also a great | | | | history. |
| source for information and pictures of different | | | | Tip#9 Look through antique publications for ads, or |
| furniture styles. | | | | search on the Internet for antique furniture shows and |
| Tip#2 Learn what the various terms mean, like bow | | | | flea markets that specialize in furniture. |
| front, broken pediment, reeded leg, etc. You'll most | | | | Tip#10 Any desire you may have for perfection, in a |
| likely run into these terms in antique listings, sales tags, | | | | piece of furniture that might be more than 100 years |
| ads and auction catalogs. | | | | old, needs to be "checked at the door". It is normal, and |
| Tip#3 Study the names (there can sometimes be | | | | appropriate, for genuine antique pieces to show signs |
| more than one, depending on the country) of the styles | | | | of age with wear in expected places ie: chair arms, |
| you like best. Sellers will usually classify their offerings | | | | table tops, bottoms of chair legs and underneath |
| by style - Louis XV, Queen Anne, Chippendale, and so | | | | drawer runners. |
| on. | | | | Whenever you antique furniture shop, be aware that |
| Tip#4 Make visits to museums and historic | | | | definitions can vary. However, it's accepted in the |
| homes...actually seeing genuine antique pieces in person | | | | industry that, to be considered antique, a piece must be |
| will greatly help you to identify authentic pieces when | | | | at least 100 years old. Everything more recent would |
| you come across them in the marketplace. | | | | be considered vintage or modern. And, always buy |
| Tip#5 Learn to recognize any feature that could | | | | pieces you will use...very few of us have rooms in our |
| affect a piece's value or authenticity such as damage | | | | home that we can fill with an "untouchable" collection |
| to the surface or structure, or replaced hardware. | | | | of antique pieces that can only be looked at and not |
| Tip#6 Become acquainted with antique dealers and | | | | used. |
| visit an antique furniture shop to discuss your particular | | | | |