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.
Tom Scott Antiques
Ebonised & Inlaid Breakfront Bookcase
£ 1,450
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Mahogany Book Table
£ 320
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Brass Bound Mahogany Military Campaign Chest Drawers
£ 950
Georgian Antiques
Scottish Dumfries House Style Georgian Chest
£ 2,250
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Walnut William & Mary Style 2 Door Tallboy c.1930
£ 675
Walnut William & Mary Style 2 Door Tallboy c.1930
£ 675
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Inlaid Sideboard by Edwards & Roberts, London
£ 1,885
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Inlaid Sideboard by Edwards & Roberts, London
£ 1,885
London City Antiques
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Oak Dresser Top
£ 295
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Small Serpentine Burr Walnut Bedside Chest Drawers
£ 250
Georgian Antiques
Willian Trotter of Edinburgh Breakfast Table
£ 2,750
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Fine Burr Walnut & Carved Coffee Table c.1930
£ 675
Georgian Antiques
Exhibition Quality Victorian Burr Walnut Drum / Rent Table
£ 2,650
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Mahogany & Satinwood Inlaid Demi Lune Shaped Card / Console Table
£ 1,975
Antique George III Quality Mahogany & Satinwood Inlaid Demi Lune Shaped Card / Console Table
£ 1,975
London City Antiques
£ 4,125
Alain Michel Antiques
English Tripod Table in Mahogany c.1800
€ 1,100
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Queen Anne Style Walnut Kneehole Dressing Table with Mirror
£ 850
Queen Anne Style Walnut Kneehole Dressing Table with Mirror
£ 850
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Mahogany Waterfall Open Library Bookcase
£ 320
London City Antiques
Antique Chinese Hardwood Display Cabinet
£ 1,285
Whites Antiques
Louis XV Style Giltwood Boudoir Chair
£ 495
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Chinoiserie Decorated Cocktail Cabinet on Carved Silver Gilt Stand
£ 2,800
Chinoiserie Decorated Cocktail Cabinet on Carved Silver Gilt Stand
£ 2,800
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Georgian Antiques
Neat Size Victorian Pedestal Desk
£ 1,350
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Walnut Kneehole Desk
£ 2,850
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
George 1st Revival Burr Walnut Bureau with Well c.1930
£ 750
George 1st Revival Burr Walnut Bureau with Well c.1930
£ 750
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
London City Antiques
Unusual Antique Nest of 3 Quality Burr Walnut Tables
£ 975
Alain Michel Antiques
Open Bookcase in Mahogany & Marquetry - 19th Century England
€ 1,600
£ 4,750
Stunning Kingwood & Marquetry Inlaid Cylinder Bureau / Writing Desk
£ 4,750
Hawkins Antiques
Millers Antiques
Welsh Pollard Oak Tilt Side Table
£ 1,200
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Carved Oak Centre Table
£ 1,785
Graham Smith Antiques Ltd
Georgian Leather Brass Bound Camphor Trunk
£ 1,275
Philip Hunt Antiques
Victorian Mahogany 2 Leaf Extending Dining Table
£ 1,395
Worboys Antiques
Small Minty Style Oak Open Bookcase
£ 225
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Rosewood Inlaid Side Cabinet
£ 1,750
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Miniature Wellington Chest
£ 475
LT Antiques
Queen Anne Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 975
Graham Smith Antiques Ltd
Edwardian Mahogany Wine Table
£ 335
Whites Antiques
Chic Italian Savonarola Chair with Curule Frame c.1950
£ 640
Worboys Antiques
Burr Walnut Low Round Table
£ 255
Whites Antiques
Unusual Edwardian Corner Chair (1903-1910)
£ 425
LT Antiques
Regency Mahogany Secrétaire Bookcase
£ 975
Marylebone Antiques
Sheraton Style Inlaid Mahogany Console Table
£ 525
Worboys Antiques
Pair of French Painted Bedside Cabinets
£ 350
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.