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.
Beresford Antiques Ltd
C19th Set of Eight Mahogany Balloon Back Dining Chairs by a London Maker
£ 695
C19th Set of Eight Mahogany Balloon Back Dining Chairs by a London Maker
£ 695
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Town House Traders Ltd
Arts & Crafts Faux Bamboo Table
£ 140
Beresford Antiques Ltd
C19th Mahogany Circular Tilt Top Centre or Breakfast Table
£ 475
chapmanpugh modern antiques
Rare Frank Gehry for Vitra "Easy Edges" Chair C1980s. Designed 1972
£ 750
Rare Frank Gehry for Vitra "Easy Edges" Chair C1980s. Designed 1972
£ 750
chapmanpugh modern antiques
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Arts and Crafts Oak Side Table in the Style of EW Godwin
£ 695
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Mahogany Tripod Wine Table
£ 140
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Mahogany Tripod Wine Table
£ 140
£ 575
Founders Antiques
1920’s Art Deco Walnut Cane Back Easy Chair / Cocktail Chair
£ 275
Aion Classique
Edwardian Arts & Crafts Hammered Silver Card Case
£ 155
Founders Antiques
Antique Georgian Mahogany Small Chest of Drawers
£ 545
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Large Victorian Pine Farmhouse Table
£ 895
Founders Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Blue Tub Chair
£ 245
£ 495
Founders Antiques
Antique 19th Century Inlaid Rosewood Occasional Table
£ 345
£ 600
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Victorian Aesthetic Movement Pier Cabinet
£ 750
Founders Antiques
Vintage Ancient Teak Root Bench
£ 745
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Victorian Aesthetic Movement Burr Walnut & Ebony Dumbwaiter
£ 750
Victorian Aesthetic Movement Burr Walnut & Ebony Dumbwaiter
£ 750
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
£ 1,500
£ 17,750
£ 395
£ 3,250
Old Painted Furniture
Early Victorian Painted Mahogany Linen Cupboard
£ 525
Antiques-Interiors
Titchmarsh & Goodwin Oak Dresser Ref67h96
£ 985
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair Geo III Mahogany Console Tables Side Tables
£ 480
£ 600
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Brazilian Walnut ‘sabara’ Trunk by Sergio Rodrigues
£ 2,250
£ 1,450
Marylebone Antiques
Large 1960’s Vintage Walnut Desk
£ 2,250
Hingstons Antiques
Early Victorian Mahogany Extending Dining Table 14 Seat
£ 3,875
£ 1,950
£ 500
£ 2,750
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Leather Bound Military Campaign Chest of Drawers
£ 950
Martlesham Antiques
18th Century Mahogany Irish Silver Chest
£ 1,650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Oak Mule Chest
£ 595
£ 1,250
Hawkins Antiques
Antique French Kingwood & Ormolu Bureau / Desk
£ 1,600
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.