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.
Originally posted 2008-08-13 05:00:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Chinese Antique Jade Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese Chinese antique jade isn't just beautiful in its own right, but carries a deep cultural significance for the Chinese people. Historically, it was used for jewelry, in religious ceremonies, culturally, monetarily, and was believed to hold great mystical and healing powers. Today, it's still an...... -
Antique Bird Cages Dealers -> Antiques -> Decorative-Arts Years ago, before the introduction of plastics and resins, even animals’ indoor homes like antique bird cages were considered beautiful pieces of furniture. Of course, some were plain and utilitarian, but many more were actually created in the popular furniture styles of the times. Bird...... -
Antique Books Antiques -> Books and Manuscripts -> American If you are interested in finding a collectible that has a true story to tell, antique books are the ideal choice. These offer the ability to collect something that has value, not only in the actual worth of the item, but in the...... -
The Basics of Collecting Wine: Storage Some people choose to go about collecting wine to earn money, and other people get into the art of collecting wine just because they are passionate about wine. It does not matter why you are collecting, for profit or for pleasure, the art of collecting wine is one that requires...... - Antique Door Locks Antiques -> Architectural & Garden -> Doors The look of antique furniture and hardware can lend such old-fashioned charm to a room, so it's no wonder than an antique door lock is a popular item that can look great in all but the most modern décor. Someone searching for this......
Related Websites -
Cash Registers Collectibles -> Banks-Registers-and-Vending Some of us remember going into the local Mom & Pop shop and having our penny candy rang up on a tall brass cash register. Some of us have seen such registers in dime stores or in antique stores. There are many things to be appreciated about...... -
Marshalls And TJ Maxx Come To The Rescue For Some Last Minute Shopping We got ourselves into this. We were going over to some friends and their family for the holidays. However, we didn't get a chance to get them anything for the holidays (after all they were having us over). Where could we get some great gifts a the last minute?...... -
Collecting Rare Collectibles 102 Rare collectibles are items that are perceived to be hard to find by a collectible, and they may also be antique in nature seeing as many antique collectibles are also rare collectibles. Any item that has a high quality craftsmanship, that is relatively old in nature and that reflects the...... - 1 Network Marketing Article A Day - Secret To Writing Articles That Get Read Instantly One of the biggest questions asked by network marketers looking for a place to start online is "where do I start?" And the answer is always the same..."start by producing attraction marketing articles."Article marketing is perfect for those looking for a low cost high impact attraction marketing strategy because the......
-
Antique Vintage Plastic Collectibles There seems to be a market these days for every type of vintage collectibles under the sun, and Bakelite and antique plastic jewelry vintage collectibles are certainly no exception. These vintage jewelry collectibles include antique and vintage jewelry made from Bakelite as well as from vintage types of plastic include......
