Since a house is far more than a home, it requires furniture that is far more than just functional. It requires furniture with soul. Nothing does this better than antique and vintage furniture which combine quality with a warmth and personality only time can bring. These were pieces that were good enough for our ancestors to buy and use and love. And if it was good enough for them, then they probably deserve to join our family too. Furthermore an antique cabinet or antique table will add character to even the most uninspiring room.
So how should you really shop for antique furniture? Well, the simple answer is to have fun with it. Free from the conformity of current fashions you can acquire pieces just because you like them and because they inspire you. Buy an elegant Art Deco chest of drawers because it adds unashamed glamour to the room, buy a deep buttoned Victorian armchair because secretly inside you pretend you are Sherlock Holmes every time you sink down into it. Or simply place a 17th Century coffer at the end of the bed so that every time you wake up you can admire the warmth and wear those 300 years of loving handling brings.
At LoveAntiques we have an amazing and ever-changing selection of vintage and antique furniture for sale online from hundreds of Antique Dealers, catering for all your needs.
Phoebes Finds Antique and Vintage
Antique 200-year-old Tripod Table – Small Dining or Occasional Table
£ 99
Antique 200-year-old Tripod Table – Small Dining or Occasional Table
£ 99
Phoebes Finds Antique and Vintage
William Rand Antiques
Very Large Edwardian Oak Revolving Bookcase
£ 1,650
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Pair French Gilt Bergere Armchairs
£ 1,295
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Huge Burr Oak Gateleg Country Dining Table
£ 995
The Old Pine Shop
Old Pine 'housekeepers' Cupboard-linen/larder/food/wardrobe
£ 739
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Tambour Cabinet In Oak
£ 440
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Ercol Dining Table In Elm
£ 495
The Sitting Room & Heydays Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Wellington Chest
£ 695
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Unusual Desk In Mahogany
£ 325
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Metamorphic Armchair In Oak
£ 325
Jo Brayshaw
Victorian 9ct Bar Brooch. Chester 1898
£ 115
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Good Quality Bleached Oak Farmhouse Dining Table
£ 2,500
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Open Bookcase In Oak
£ 325
£ 375
Vintage House
Green Painted Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 295
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Small Chest On Chest In Mahogany
£ 325
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Display Cabinet In Rosewood
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Good Quality Dining Table In Oak
£ 485
The Vintage Interiors
Carved Oak French Chest OF Drawers
£ 895
The Vintage Interiors
Large Triple French Bleached Oak Armoire
£ 2,495
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Book Shaped Inlaid Olive Box
£ 495
The Vintage Interiors
Bleached Oak French Chest OF Drawers
£ 395
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Tub Chair / Armchair In Mahogany
£ 325
The Vintage Interiors
Carved TO French Bow Front Chest OF Drawers
£ 895
The Vintage Interiors
Painted French Chest OF Drawers
£ 895
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Old Charm Cupboard In Oak
£ 295
The Vintage Interiors
Marble Topped French Chest OF Drawers
£ 595
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Large Stripped Oak Top Country Kitchen Table
£ 1,620
The Vintage Interiors
Bleached Oak French Chest OF Drawers
£ 395
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Good Quality Bookcase In Mahogany
£ 625
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century American Rocking Chair In Beech
£ 365
Barnaby's of Battle
Large Antique French Painted Vitrine Armoire 1920s
£ 1,150
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Bureau Bookcase In Mahogany
£ 385
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Pedestal Desk In Mahogany
£ 685
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Carved Walnut Cabinet
£ 495
Vintage House
Large Antique Black Chest of Drawers with Wooden Top
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Vintage 20th Century Ercol Dining Table With 6 Dining Chair’s
£ 695
ActFurniture LTD
Vintage 20th Century Extending Elm Dining Table By Ercol
£ 425
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Oak Hall Stand with Mirror and Coat Hooks 1910s
£ 250
ActFurniture LTD
Vintage 20th Century Set Of 6 Ercol Dining Chairs In Elm
£ 365
How do I identify antique furniture?
Although most antique furniture is found without labels or dates, genuine antique pieces can usually be identified from a combination of the materials used, the style of the piece as well as the natural wear on the finish or Patina. Patina is something that can only occur naturally over time and is very hard to fake via man-made effects such as staining, sanding and painting. The skill is looking at lots of tiny details which convince you the item is a genuine antique. Much of this skill and knowledge can be built up over time just by observing real pieces and learning from those around you. It is also a good reason to buy from reputable antique dealers such as those on LoveAntiques who can give you the piece of mind that the item is what you say it is as well as offer valuable advice.
How to value antique furniture?
Like any collectable field antique furniture can range in value between nearly worthless to virtually priceless. In the past price guide reference books were a good starting point for valuing different items, but today such books have become nearly obsolete with the power of the internet at our fingertips. In most cases the internet will be the first place to research your item but don’t forget that the values you find can vary dramatically depending on the condition, who is selling them, where the item is located and more. While there are certain furniture items which are less or more fashionable today than in the past, desirability and value really comes down to individual taste and the room it is going into. You can ask your local auction house or antique dealer for a valuation but in both cases the value they give should be considered an estimate only. There are specialist online valuation services which will provide valuations for a fee but again check their location as values can vary dramatically between countries and continents.
Is Mahogany furniture valuable?
The simple answer is Mahogany furniture can be very valuable. It has always been a scarce and prized timber so is usually a sign that the antique item was expensive and well made at the time, sometimes by the very best makers and designers. Mahogany was first imported from the West Indies at the start of the 18th Century and continued to be popular up to the beginning of the 20th Century. It not only has an appealing red tone and grain but is strong and crisp to carve. However, Mahogany has also always been scarce, so almost from the start was also being used as a veneer as well as solid timber. Today antique mahogany is slightly less fashionable overall compared to other timbers (such as Oak) so can be purchased for less than in the past making them great value. In truth if you like the item or it suits the room, then that item is valuable to you either way.
What date is Georgian and Victorian Furniture?
The Georgian era in England (1714-1837) began with King George I in 1714 and ended with the death of George IV in 1830. However, for simplicity most people also include the subsequent reign of William IV from 1830-37 into the Georgian period. The Victorian era (1837-1901) began when Queen Victoria took to the throne in 1837 and until her death in 1901. When describing antique furniture people sometimes use the terms Georgian and Victorian somewhat loosely to also describe items created in the styles popular during those times.
What is vintage Furniture?
The phrase ‘Vintage Furniture’ is commonly used to describe a whole group of furniture that is not yet old enough to be antique. Many people and sales platforms deem that vintage items must be a minimum of 20 years old to be called Vintage and that they finally become Antique when they are at least 100 years old. In principle this is a pretty clear definition, but it is important to recognise that these are only guide-lines and some will use ‘Vintage’ to refer to even newer items in an older style.