Antique furniture offers a touch of class and distinction in any home provided you choose the right kind. What should you consider before buying special period pieces from antique furniture dealers?

Antique furniture are classified as exceptional period pieces that are more than a hundred years old and have continued to hold its charm to collectors. Various antique furniture such as Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian and Regency period pieces provide their unique flair to match any modern home’s surrounding.

What makes period items valuable?

The scarceness of period furniture dictates the market value of antiques. The rarer the period piece, the higher it is in value. Purchase your items only from esteemed antique furniture dealers. Because the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers (LAPADA) ensures that their members observe their code of practice, you can be assured your purchased antiques are of the highest quality.

An antique furniture’s value is determined by its condition. Some items that some dealers pass as flawless period pieces are actually repaired or restored. Genuine antiques should reveal the physical effects of aging. Well-preserved antiques are best appreciated in their original state. This unretouched and well-preserved condition makes antique furniture truly valuable.

Precautions on online purchase

A slew of valuable information about antique furniture and their dealers can be accessed online. Your web search for Georgian furniture will bring up numerous antique furniture dealers sites selling the item, including its price, depending on its condition. Be aware that when a period item looks too perfect, chances are it might be a clever fake or has undergone an extensive restoration process that may cut down its value.

Online antique furniture sites are great when searching for information but be cautious when purchasing antique pieces over the internet. A website cannot offer you a first-hand and up-close examination of the desired item and web photos can conceal damages or imperfections. Request for detailed pictures from online antique furniture merchants that can expose flaws in the item. A truly reliable antiques dealer will only be too happy to accommodate your request.

Purchasing your period pieces from respectable antique furniture dealers will offer you an assurance that the product you have is the real thing. They will even provide you a certificate of provenance which will show your antique’s place of origin.

Proper care and maintenance of antiques

Antique furniture may last for a long, long time provided they are handled with care and maintained properly. Ask your dealer for information about  its care and upkeep. Avoid using extreme methods of cleaning your antiques as this will remove its patina which forms over time and devalue your antique in the long run.

The appropriate care and maintenance of antique furniture will ensure that it will be admired and appreciated by generations to come.