Antique Bench

January 23rd, 2012 | Antique, Antique Bench

Antique Very Old Rare Bench Great Details Has Seat Storage Made Of Wood Metal

US $30,000.00

Sale

ANTIQUE BUCKET BENCH CA 1900 TIGER MAPLE

US $25,000.00

Sale

Antiques -> Furniture -> Benches, Stools: 1800-1899, 1900-1950, Post 1950

One great way to add function and beauty to any home is by purchasing a unique antique bench. There are many different types of collectible benches that can be found in antique stores around the world, but it is important to know what you’re looking for so that you can certain you are getting a true antique and not just a run of the mill bench. Here’s what you need to watch out for.

1. Is there a story with the bench?
Most small town antique stores will be staffed with knowledgeable people that know the history of the items that the sell. You can also find this with online antique auctions, especially if you are dealing with the actual owner of the bench. The more history there is behind the item, the greater your chances are of discovering a great antique.

2. Are there any maker’s marks or signatures on the piece?
Furniture artisans would typically sign their pieces and this is a true mark of an original and collectible bench. Always search the underside and underneath the arms to see if you can find any seal or sort of mark that was left behind by the furniture maker. Not finding one doesn’t necessarily mean that you are not dealing with an antique, but it could mean that the antique bench may not be that valuable.

3. Look at the style of the piece?
Is it too perfect? Is it too modern looking? You can tell a lot about an antique bench just by looking at it. If it is too perfect, that could be a sign that it is a reproduction. Even the best handmade antique benches will have some flaw since they are made by real people and by hand. True perfection may be a sign that the bench was made by machine or constructed recently.

The same is true of the style of the bench. If it is not consistent with the era that the seller is claiming, then you have a major warning sign that it may not be an actual antique. It’s not very difficult to take a new bench and distress its finish to make it look older than it actually is, but the style is always a dead giveaway. It’s best to read through old furniture books to get an idea of the time periods and styles.

4. When in doubt get an appraisal.
If the seller is asking a lot of money for an antique bench, your best bet is to get it appraised. This will help you determine the authenticity with a lot greater accuracy. If the asking price is relatively low, you should be able to skip this step, especially if you truly like the antique bench and are more interested in it for aesthetics than as a collectible.

Remember, when buying antique benches it is best to do all that you can to make sure that they are authentic. Otherwise, you can end up with a very nice bench that really isn’t worth all that much.

Photo Credits: David.R.Carroll

Originally posted 2008-08-13 05:00:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

Using the Internet for Antique Appraisals Do you know how to use the internet for the purpose of obtaining antique appraisals? There is no reason why you cannot make good use of the internet in order to determine the value of your collectibles and your antiques. Keep reading. So, do you think that you may have......
Antique Tube Radio Collectibles -> Radio, Phonograph, TV, Phone -> Radios -> Tube Radios: Pre 1930, 1930-49, 1950-59, 1960-Now If you are in the market for an antique tube radio to restore, or you are looking for a working model, there are a few things that you will need to know before making......
Antique Collection Some people falsely believe that the passion for accumulating a variety of antique treasures in an antique collection is an addiction, such as being a pack rat, but this is not actually true. The truth about going antiquing is that while it may be infectious, it is certainly not a......
Buying Antiquities on Ebay Antiquities and antiques are separate entities all together. Antiquities are ancient objects that are most commonly at least 800 years of age or older. There are a number of truly nice antiquities on eBay if you know where to look. For every authentic piece that you can find when it......
Curio Cabinet Dealers -> Furniture -> Cabinets-Armoires-Cupboards A curio cabinet is a piece of furniture that encompasses so many different varieties that it's hard to sum up in a short space. The thing each one has in common is that it allows for “curios” to be displayed. Knick-knacks, trinkets, collectibles and other......

Related Websites

Stamp Collection Stamp Collection -> Worldwide -> Collections, Lots Building up a stamp collection is a hobby for thousands of people and it is one of the oldest forms of collectibles. For those that are just getting started with their stamp collection, there are a few things to remember to make sure......
Old Street Signs Collecting old streets signs is a hobby for many people. If you choose to deal in old street signs, there are some collection tips and tricks that you'll want to follow. Avoid collecting modern/current street signs. Collecting them is a crime, as is selling them, so stay away from teens......
History and Coin Collecting When people think of coin collecting they think of the values of the coins they are interested it or the overall look of the coin. Most fail to sit down and think about the history behind the various pieces that they are starting to collect. There is plenty of history......
Paper Money Chinese Collections There are several different types of paper money a person can collect. People become attracted to certain types of paper money over others for various reasons. Some people may find that they are attracted to the look for certain type of currency over another. Some collectors may find that they......
4 Mistakes You Can Make While Collecting Paper Money Paper money and paper currency is a theme and genre of coin collecting that is avoided by some of the most seasoned collecting professionals. Paper money is a completely different beast than coin collecting. With that being said, those who work to master the art of collecting paper money have......