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.
Millers Antiques
Small 19th Century Secretaire Bookcase 79cm Wide
£ 1,450
Athey Antiques
Arts & Crafts Oak Letterbox
£ 295
£ 1,650
Very Nice Victorian King Sized Bed with Attractive Shaping to the Foot End
£ 1,650
Bedsteads
£ 2,399
18th Century Set of 4 Cromwellian Style Walnut Barley Twist Carver Dining Armchairs
£ 2,399
Leeds Antiques
Millers Antiques
18th Century Satinwood Demi Lune Table
£ 975
London City Antiques
Fine Quality Antique French Kingwood Marquetry & Parquetry Inlaid Marble Top Sideboard
£ 12,000
Fine Quality Antique French Kingwood Marquetry & Parquetry Inlaid Marble Top Sideboard
£ 12,000
London City Antiques
Timeless Furniture UK
Regency Style Mahogany Bow Fronted Side Table
£ 395
Timeless Furniture UK
Empire Style French Gilt Metal Mounted
£ 750
£ 3,650
Timeless Furniture UK
Ercol Dark Oak Draw Leaf Dining Suite
£ 325
£ 2,900
Timeless Furniture UK
Victorian Mahogany Two-door Glazed Bookcase
£ 360
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Book Shaped Inlaid Olive Box
£ 495
London City Antiques
Magnificent Quality Antique George III Rosewood Brass Inlaid Card / Console Table by George Bullock
£ 8,850
Magnificent Quality Antique George III Rosewood Brass Inlaid Card / Console Table by George Bullock
£ 8,850
London City Antiques
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Victorian Mahogany Reading Table by Alfred Carter
£ 475
London City Antiques
Unusual Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Double Secretaire Desk
£ 2,950
Unusual Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Double Secretaire Desk
£ 2,950
London City Antiques
London City Antiques
Set of 4 Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Dining Chairs
£ 1,685
Timeless Furniture UK
Set of Six Regency Style Mahogany Chairs
£ 260
Timeless Furniture UK
Maple & Co Oak Compactum Wardrobe
£ 800
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Mahogany Serpentine Cabinet
£ 1,125
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Pair of 19th Century Elm Elbow Chairs
£ 1,450
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Wellington Chest of Drawers
£ 1,675
£ 1,550
Wick Antiques Ltd
A Mid Victorian Mahogany Three Seater Sofa
£ 7,800
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Writing Table / Desk
£ 1,250
London City Antiques
Large Antique George III Outstanding Quality Figured Mahogany 3 Pilar Dining Table
£ 11,500
Large Antique George III Outstanding Quality Figured Mahogany 3 Pilar Dining Table
£ 11,500
London City Antiques
Antiques-Interiors
Edwardian Mahogany Corner Cabinet Ref68h98
£ 195
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Freestanding Rosewood Whatnot
£ 1,385
London City Antiques
Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Bookcase
£ 3,285
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 990
Wick Antiques Ltd
A Pair of Mahogany Open Armchairs in the Style of Chippendale,
£ 4,800
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Swedish Mid Century Flame Birch Grace Cabinet
£ 2,895
Tom Scott Antiques
Pair of French Kidney Style Side Tables
£ 975
Wilsford Antiques
Bleached Oak Desk 1930s
£ 650
Bentleigh Antiques
Antique Dining Table Refectory Table in Oak with Strong Gothic Style
£ 1,195
Antique Dining Table Refectory Table in Oak with Strong Gothic Style
£ 1,195
Bentleigh Antiques
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Inlaid Burr Birch Oval Occasional Table
£ 1,595
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Good Quality Bleached Oak Farmhouse Dining Table
£ 2,350
Beau French Boutique
Set of 4 French Louis XV Style Cane Dining Chairs
£ 595
Beau French Boutique
Stunning Set Of 4 French Louis Style Oak Cane Dining Chairs
£ 595
Beau French Boutique
Pair Of Chinoiserie Bedside Tables Side Cabinets
£ 975
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.