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.
Mark Seabrook Antiques
Antique Country Furniture Regency 19thc Fruitwood & Elm East Anglian Armchair. English
£ 975
Antique Country Furniture Regency 19thc Fruitwood & Elm East Anglian Armchair. English
£ 975
Mark Seabrook Antiques
FB Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Bowfront Chest Drawers
£ 650
FB Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Bowfront Chest Drawers
£ 495
Worboys Antiques
Edwardian Mahogany & Inlay Timepiece Mantel Clock
£ 495
Worboys Antiques
Edwardian Mahogany Duet Stool
£ 475
Hawkins Antiques
Antique Flamed Mahogany Side Cabinet With Painted Panels
£ 1,600
Hawkins Antiques
Antique Satinwood Display Cabinet With Porcelain Plaques
£ 2,450
Richie Perrott Antiques
A Swedish Birch 19th Century Chest of Drawers.
£ 995
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Small Mahogany Open Library Bookcase
£ 290
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Black Chinoiserie Tripod Wine Table
£ 140
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Small Oak Open Bookcase
£ 175
Hawkins Antiques
Antique Satinwood Painted Serpetine Cabinet / Bookcase
£ 1,850
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Slim Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 250
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Walnut Pedestal Desk Writing Desk
£ 450
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Farmhouse Kitchen Table
£ 1,650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Hallstand
£ 795
Penderyn Antiques
Antique George IV Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen Table
£ 795
Elmgarden Antiques
Pair of Oak Coffee or Side Tables
£ 750
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Georgian Oak Welsh Dresser
£ 2,450
Georgian Antiques
Quality Chippendale Style Freestanding Burr Walnut Writing Desk
£ 1,095
Georgian Antiques
George IV Mahogany Side Table
£ 1,050
Georgian Antiques
George III Mahogany Chest with Brushing Slide
£ 2,500
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 18th Century Oak Linen Press Cupboard
£ 1,650
Georgian Antiques
Tortoise Shell Toilet Mirror
£ 1,450
Hawkins Antiques
Antique French Kingwood & Ormolu Mounted Side Table
£ 1,450
LT Antiques
William IV Rosewood Chaise Longue
£ 1,250
£ 1,295
Low Antique Salon Chair, English, Nursing Seat, Aesthetic Movement, Victorian
£ 1,295
London Fine Ltd
Hendle's Hoard
Georgian Mahogany D End Console Table
£ 165
£ 1,295
Set of 4 Antique Station Chairs, English, Country House Kitchen, Seat, Victorian
£ 1,295
London Fine Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Fantastically Painted Arcadia Pear Pine 4 Door Dresser Base
£ 995
Antiques et Cetera
Bargain Collection - Lot of Six Items
£ 60
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Fantastically Painted Putty Pine 4 Door Dresser Base / TV Stand
£ 995
A Fantastically Painted Putty Pine 4 Door Dresser Base / TV Stand
£ 995
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Swedish Walnut Leather Top Writing Table / Desk
£ 1,375
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique French Inlaid Marquetry Marble Top Bedside Chests
£ 885
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Danish Vintage Rosewood Cabinets
£ 2,450
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Rosewood Console Table / Desk
£ 1,500
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Italian Velvet Wing Back Armchairs
£ 1,450
Worboys Antiques
Good Quality Solid Oak Chest Of Drawers
£ 595
Worboys Antiques
Poplar & Cherry Wood French Farmhouse Table
£ 1,695
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.