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.
Wilsford Antiques
18th Century Yew Wood Dresser Base
£ 1,890
Wilsford Antiques
Pair of 1920 Demi-lune Side Tables
£ 1,050
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Farmhouse Kitchen Welsh Dresser
£ 450
£ 395
The Chelsea Bijouterie
Edwardian Cluster Ring Old Cut Diamond 18ct Gold & Platinum Antique Daisy Ring
£ 950
Edwardian Cluster Ring Old Cut Diamond 18ct Gold & Platinum Antique Daisy Ring
£ 950
The Chelsea Bijouterie
Trade Antiques
Table Top Chest of Drawers Dutch Marquetry 1820
£ 1,650
Deco Original Ltd
Victorian Rosewood & Brass Mounted Jewellery Box
£ 265
Middleton's Antiques
18th Century Oak Childs Wainscot Chair
£ 1,450
The Vintage Interiors
Tall Oak French Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
An Early 20thc Bentwood Armchair by Mundus and Kohn Vienna
£ 345
An Early 20thc Bentwood Armchair by Mundus and Kohn Vienna
£ 345
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
LT Antiques
Victorian Mahogany 4 Door Sideboard
£ 1,250
Tony Youll Antiques
Small Painted Sofa
£ 595
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
An Indian Brass Tray and Stand
£ 345
Millers Antiques
19th Century Irish Side Table
£ 795
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Regency Mahogany Scroll End Sofa Circa 1830
£ 595
NS Vintage
Victorian Gipsy Table Dark Wood
£ 85
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Super Mahogany Pedestal Table
£ 695
The Sitting Place
Aesthetic Period Carved Sunflower Chair
£ 845
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Light Oak Dresser Base with Folding Shelves Above
£ 345
Beresford Antiques Ltd
C19th Waisted Ottoman Stool in Liberty Fabric
£ 295
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Superb Georgian Mahogany Sidetable
£ 995
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Excellent Georgian Mahogany Side Table
£ 995
Barnaby's of Battle
Old Pine Wood Box with Lid Japanese 1960s
£ 90
Barnaby's of Battle
Vintage Japanese Tea Chest 1960s
£ 90
Barnaby's of Battle
Mid Century Japanese Tea Chest 1960s
£ 90
Church Street Antiques
Late 19thC Mahogany and Satinwood Crossbanded Serpentine Fronted Bookcase
£ 1,450
Late 19thC Mahogany and Satinwood Crossbanded Serpentine Fronted Bookcase
£ 1,450
Church Street Antiques
Church Street Antiques
Late 19thc Mahogany Neo-Classical Revival Bowfront Serving Table
£ 1,950
Late 19thc Mahogany Neo-Classical Revival Bowfront Serving Table
£ 1,950
Church Street Antiques
Tony Youll Antiques
Pair of Burr Wood Bedside Tables
£ 550
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Chest of Drawers Very Rare Primitive Miniature Welsh Maetwrog c.1800
£ 385
Chest of Drawers Very Rare Primitive Miniature Welsh Maetwrog c.1800
£ 385
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Chest of Drawers Rare Arts & Crafts Miniature Apprentice c.1880
£ 425
Chest of Drawers Rare Arts & Crafts Miniature Apprentice c.1880
£ 425
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Table Refectory Farmhouse Dining Sycamore Victorian c.1880
£ 1,450
Table Refectory Farmhouse Dining Sycamore Victorian c.1880
£ 1,450
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
William Rand Antiques
Tulip Stool by Arkana Furniture / Maurice Burke
£ 185
£ 1,450
Tony Youll Antiques
Restauration Period Console Table in Figured Walnut
£ 750
MebleinUK
Vintage Glazed Bookcase & Cabinet by Jaycee Furniture / Dark Brown / Made in England / Dated 1970s
£ 349.99
Vintage Glazed Bookcase & Cabinet by Jaycee Furniture / Dark Brown / Made in England / Dated 1970s
£ 349.99
MebleinUK
MebleinUK
Vintage Glazed Bookcase and Cabinet by Jaycee Furniture / Dark Brown / Made in England / Dated 1960s
£ 319.99
Vintage Glazed Bookcase and Cabinet by Jaycee Furniture / Dark Brown / Made in England / Dated 1960s
£ 319.99
MebleinUK
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Characterful French Oak Farmhouse Dining Table
£ 3,250
£ 439.99
£ 489.99
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Super Pair of French Tub Chairs
£ 995
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.