September 25th, 2009 — Antique, Antique Bench
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
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September 20th, 2009 — Antique, Antique School Table, Antiquities, Furniture
If you’re looking for antique furniture like an antique school table or desk, one great place to find these items is estate auctions. While you can find antique furniture in online auctions like eBay, you need to be very savvy about the purchases you make–just because something looks antique doesn’t mean it is. There are entire stores where you can purchase antique reproductions, after all, and own something brand new that looks like it was crafted 100 years ago. So those auctions that claim to be for antique furniture and antique school desks should be able to offer more than just the claim of “antique” to prove that the item really is an authentic antique.
Your reasons for wanting to find an antique school table have much to do with how you should go about purchasing one. If it’s merely the look you’re after, a certain style or type of manufacture, then you might decide to buy a reproduction. Reproduction antiques are less expensive and have an appearance very similar to the originals they’re modeled after. If it’s a sentimental quest because you remember how something looked or felt, or because maybe a grandparent or older relative had one that has become lost and you’d like to have that same piece, consider purchasing a reproduction.
But if you’re set on a real antique school table, then you’re going to need to do some homework. You can probably walk into most antique stores today and find something to suit you, but if you’d rather pay less than the antique store price and enjoy the hunt for a piece that speaks to you personally rather than just purchasing what happens to be available in the store, then you need to shop around for some time before purchasing so that you can do a price check.
Visit many antique stores to get a feel of the average cost of an antique school table. While some stores might not have one, you’re sure to find at least a few. And even if they’re not exactly the item you’re looking for they should be similar in price to the one you’re hoping to find. This will help you know how much cost you’ll probably look at when you find the piece you want.
It will also help you become more familiar with the look of an authentic antique school table. Sometimes during estate auctions or even in online auctions, you’ll see piece for sale that looks antique but you’re not sure, and it seems the seller really doesn’t know that much background about the piece. That doesn’t necessarily mean the seller or auctioneer is trying to cheat you by passing off something too new as an antique. Often, the history of antique pieces, especially antique furniture, becomes muddied through the years.
Become familiar with the look, and you might spot an antique school table when no one else recognizes the treasure. Beware of refinished furniture unless the purchase is purely sentimental. Refinishing often completely destroys the antique value of the item.
Originally posted 2008-10-21 14:00:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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