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.
Antique & Modern Living
Pair of French Demi Lune Side Cabinets
£ 1,850
Antiques & Chic
Oak Plan Chest 1920s
£ 725
Marylebone Antiques
Burr Walnut Nest of Tables
£ 475
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Oak Lancashire Mule Chest
£ 1,250
Oakfield Gallery
Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Slide c.1790
£ 940
Kernow Furniture
Edwardian High Back Chair
£ 475
Antiques & Chic
Globe Wernicke Bank of Drawers
£ 725
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 17th Century Style Oak Refectory Table
£ 2,250
London City Antiques
Fine Quality Small Antique Brass Inlaid Rosewood Freestanding Sofa / Side Table
£ 3,450
Fine Quality Small Antique Brass Inlaid Rosewood Freestanding Sofa / Side Table
£ 3,450
London City Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Georgian Period Bureau Desk in Mahogany
£ 975
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Really Pretty 2-3 Seater Antique Old Pine Church Pew to Paint or Wax
£ 495
Really Pretty 2-3 Seater Antique Old Pine Church Pew to Paint or Wax
£ 495
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Planet Antiques
Beautiful Period Art Deco Sideboard
£ 349
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality King Size Antique Victorian Figured Walnut Floral Marquetry Inlaid Bed
£ 5,750
Outstanding Quality King Size Antique Victorian Figured Walnut Floral Marquetry Inlaid Bed
£ 5,750
London City Antiques
Antiques & Chic
Victorian Walnut Country House Library Armchair
£ 695
Sovereign Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Pedestal Desk
£ 1,250
£ 1,499
Megadrobe! Big Old Antique Pine Triple Knock Down Combination Wardrobe
£ 1,499
The Old Pine Shop
LT Antiques
Magnificent George III Mahogany Wardrobe
£ 1,650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 18th Century Joined Oak Mule Chest
£ 695
Planet Antiques
Antique Victorian Library Table Desk
£ 399
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Swedish Dining / Side Chairs by Sven Erik Fryklund
£ 595
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Dining Table
£ 1,585
Marylebone Antiques
Danish Vintage Rosewood Dining Table
£ 1,650
Alain Michel Antiques
Globe Wernicke Bookcase in Oak of 4 Elements with Advanced Lower Part
€ 2,100
Globe Wernicke Bookcase in Oak of 4 Elements with Advanced Lower Part
€ 2,100
Alain Michel Antiques
Antiques & Chic
Edwardian Satin Walnut Painted Tea Table
£ 595
£ 875
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Carved Mahogany Lamp Table
£ 1,085
LT Antiques
19th Century Rosewood Davenport Desk
£ 950
London City Antiques
Quality Antique Set of 6 Victorian Carved Rosewood Dining Chairs
£ 2,650
Quality Antique Set of 6 Victorian Carved Rosewood Dining Chairs
£ 2,650
London City Antiques
£ 950
Victoria Antiques
Miniature Walnut Apprentice Chest of Drawers
£ 220
Millers Antiques
Small Georgian Mahogany Sideboard
£ 950
Rawlings Antiques
Art Deco Deep Door Compactom Gentlemen's Wardrobe
£ 1,895
Antiques & Chic
Chemists Set of Drawers
£ 1,695
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Antique Pair of 19th Century Carved Flame Mahogany Lamp Pedestal Cupboards
£ 975
Antique Pair of 19th Century Carved Flame Mahogany Lamp Pedestal Cupboards
£ 975
Beresford Antiques Ltd
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Bureau Bookcase in Oak
£ 325
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Painted & Parcel Gilt Dressing Stool
£ 225
Antique & Modern Living
Fine Pair of Victorian Rosewood Armchairs
£ 2,450
London City Antiques
Large Antique Victorian Quality Freestanding Kingwood Ornate Ormolu Mounted Partners Bureau Plat-desk
£ 4,950
Large Antique Victorian Quality Freestanding Kingwood Ornate Ormolu Mounted Partners Bureau Plat-desk
£ 4,950
London City Antiques
Hingstons Antiques
William IV Mahogany Chiffonier Sideboard
£ 1,375
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Coffer / Mule Chest in Oak
£ 425
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.