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.
Vintage Garden UK
C18th Oak Sidetable
£ 495
Vintage Garden UK
Good Window Seat
£ 495
Victoria Antiques
4 Door Glazed Bookcase
£ 650
Victoria Antiques
Oak Break Front Open Bookcase
£ 395
Victoria Antiques
Quality Light Oak Bookcase
£ 550
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique French Giltwood Armchairs
£ 2,450
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of French Antique Card / Console Tables
£ 9,750
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Mahogany Grill Front Marble Top Sideboard
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Style Walnut Open Bookcase
£ 775
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Edwardian Solid Oak Swivel Desk Chair
£ 690
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Settee
£ 950
Marylebone Antiques
Danish Vintage Leather and Chrome Sofa by Ebbe Gehl and Soren Nissen
£ 1,650
Danish Vintage Leather and Chrome Sofa by Ebbe Gehl and Soren Nissen
£ 1,650
Marylebone Antiques
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
French Brass Mid Century Coffee Table
£ 695
Old Painted Furniture
Mid Victorian Painted Mahogany Bedside Cupboard
£ 165
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
French Faux Bamboo Cupboard
£ 1,050
Old Painted Furniture
Late 19th Century Painted Pine Boot Bench
£ 165
Old Painted Furniture
Vintage Painted Pine Kitchen Hanging Shelf with Drawers
£ 145
Richie Perrott Antiques
A Small 18th Century Chestnut Bureau
£ 995
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Stunning French Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
Old Painted Furniture
Late 19th Century Painted Country Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 385
Hingstons Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Cupboard
£ 1,250
FB Antiques
Ox Blood Red Leather Wing Back Armchair
£ 675
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Superb French Bleached Oak 3 Plank Farmhouse Dining Table
£ 3,950
Superb French Bleached Oak 3 Plank Farmhouse Dining Table
£ 3,950
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Slim Burr Walnut Bureaux Bookcase
£ 390
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Mahogany & Leather Spiral Library Steps
£ 365
Georgian Antiques
George III Mahogany Breakfast Table
£ 1,750
Georgian Antiques
Carved Oak Swinging Crib on Stand
£ 3,500
£ 1,250
FB Antiques
Edwardian Walnut Wardrobe
£ 275
Trade Antiques
2 Carved Oak Panels Scottish Thistles 1860
£ 175
Graham Deakin Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Drawers
£ 450
£ 850
Graham Deakin Antiques
Victorian Walnut Chair
£ 200
Graham Deakin Antiques
French 19th Century Boulle Jardiniere Table
£ 1,200
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Pine Glazed Cupboard
£ 450
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Set of Four Antique Elm Kitchen Chairs
£ 395
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Lathe Back Windsor Farmhouse Chair
£ 225
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Pine Side Table
£ 225
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Large Antique Stripped Pine Cupboard
£ 695
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.