Antiquing

Antiques -> Architectural and Garden -> Doors

Antique doors have much to offer the private collector and many of these, depending on the materials used, and the designer may actually be worth quite a lot of money. Whether you are looking for a collectible that you can put to good use right in your own home, or you are seeking an antique door to complete a period house, there are many different types of doors available.

Pocket Doors

These were very popular in the Victorian era and were commonly used to separate parlors and dining areas from the rest of the house. Typically made of wood and highly ornate, they would slip into a recess in the wall when they were not in use. If you do plan to purchase pocket antique doors to use in your home, be advised you will need to have a niche carved out of your wall and a track system installed in order for it to work properly.

Stained Glass Window Doors

During the arts and crafts period and particularly several hundred years before that era took place, having stained glass windows in doors was incredibly popular. The antique doors you can find today range from simple and elegant to incredibly ornate. The stained glass may even be worth a small fortune in its own right. These doors can add value to any home and they are a beautiful example of craftsmanship.

Carved Doors

The Victorian era and the preceding eras brought us ornate carved wooden antique doors and many of these are still available today. Typically quite large and heavy, some range over twelve feet high, depending on the house where they were installed. These are a beautiful collectible and many are very valuable, especially the ones that are more ornate.

Bar Doors

Believe it or not bar doors, or saloon doors as they were commonly called are actually very popular. These swinging antique doors may have once graced a saloon from the 1800’s when the west was wild. These are a fun collectible, and very useful if you want to block your kitchen off from the rent of the house, but don’t want to go to the trouble of installing a brand new door system.

French Doors

A common fixture in homes in the South and throughout Europe, French doors are a great collectible to have if you are interested in antique doors. Many will still have their original glass panes still intact. These are a great solution for homes where the owner needs to block off a room from the rest of the house without breaking up the visual flow. Commonly, these are used in bedrooms, dens and offices.

These are just a few examples of the types of antique doors you can find today. Head on over to a second hand store, a garage sale or you can go online to find some great deals and rare finds. You never know what you may come across and you may end up with a very valuable antique door.

Originally posted 2008-09-27 05:29:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 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......
• Antique Lighting Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Lamps Whether you are trying to restore an older home and would like to keep it in the period style, or you just appreciate older light fixtures, antique lighting has much to offer. There are many different styles from Victorian, to Art Deco to Modern......
• Antique Mirrors Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Mirrors Antique mirrors are a highly collectible item, with many of the frames boasting decorative carving and detail much like elaborate, wooden picture frames of old. A mirror itself is little more than glass covering a reflective surface and not very impressive—many of us carry......
• Stained Glass Windows Antiques -> Architectural and Garden -> Stained Glass Windows-> Pre-1900 Stained glass windows are more than just functional windows, they are works of art that can express exalted meanings or simply beautify a room. When you are shopping for antique stained glass, it’s important to understand the amount of time......
• Mantle Clocks Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Clocks- Antique mantle clocks are a wonderful investment that not only beautify your home, but also provide you with a great conversation piece. Many antique mantle clocks are true works of art and with careful shopping, you may even end up with one that used......

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• Personalized Shot Glasses Collectibles -> Barware -> Shot Glasses For the person who has everything, personalized gifts can be some of the most thoughtful, so why not choose personalized shot glasses? There are many advantages to this type of collectible item, both as a gift, and as something you collect yourself. Personalized shot......
• Antique Car Parts Collectibles -> Transportation -> Automobilia For car lovers, one of the best collectibles you can find are antique car parts. These unique items come in nearly every shape and size, and the ones that are particularly valuable are the ones from car makers that are no longer in business. There......
• Chicken Coops For Sale A quick web search on chicken coops for sale quickly yields a long list. The bright side , however , is that a buyer will be able to select from many alternative sizes and designs that best fit their requirements. Before selecting one of the many coops for sale,......
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Antiques -> Periods and Styles -> Art Deco

Art deco furniture antiques are highly sought after and are often very unique pieces. If you love this time period, or if you are simply looking for furniture that transcends the every day mundane design, art deco furniture is the perfect choice. Many of these pieces are actually quite valuable, which is a testimony to the craftsmanship and design that went into creating them. Many of the techniques that were used to create these furniture pieces are no longer used, but it only takes one look at a piece of true art deco furniture to know that a lot of love and care went into its construction.

If you are not familiar with the art deco period, it was a time when a lot of black lacquer, mirroring and brass finishes were brought in. These pieces are usually a study in contrasts, with light colored upholstery being used with darker pieces of wood. The designs were very modern for the times and you’ll usually find pieces with more defined edges or rounded edges, fan shapes and arches. Let’s take a look at some of the best art deco furniture that is also highly collectible.

1. Club Chairs

One of the hottest types of art deco furniture is a club chair. These are usually made of leather and will be rounded in appearance. They are typically black in color, although you can find the occasional red or brown piece. This art deco furniture is very comfortable and the chairs will usually come with a matching ottoman. The rise of popularity in club chairs was spurred in part by prohibition and the introduction of many new nightclubs and speakeasies. These chairs were considered to be the ultimate in luxury for many years and the ones that are still available today have not lost any of that original charm.

2. Armoires

These are beautiful pieces that are usually quite large and very heavy. Typically made of solid hardwood, most art deco furniture pieces that were produced during this time feature a lighter wood inlaid with a darker wood. Burlwood was a very popular type of hardwood that was used during this time period and the finish on these pieces is high gloss. They are very functional and were typically custom ordered by the wealthy during this time period.

3. Entertainment Cabinets

As radios became popular forms of entertainment, households needed cabinets to store them. Victrolas and record players were also in use and needed housing as well. This led to the rise of the first entertainment centers and in art deco furniture, these are usually the most ornate. They will feature intricate inlays, contrasts between light and dark wood and usually contained inventive doors and handles. These are tremendously valuable pieces and can go for high prices at auction.

These are just a few examples of the types of art deco furniture that can still be found today. You can also find bedroom sets, couches, mirrors and many other great pieces that can enhance any home.

Originally posted 2008-09-04 14:00:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 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......
• Antique Goblet Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Stemware How do you tell an antique goblet from an antique cup or mug? Goblets are stemware, with the earliest goblets made from earthenware and then expanding to other stronger materials as the years passed. The use of goblets pre-dates the Roman Empire, though the......
• Silk Screen Dealers -> Antiques -> Asian For anyone who enjoys Asian art, an antique silk screen can make a gorgeous addition to your home. Paintings and even silkscreened prints with an Asian theme can give a room a distinct atmosphere, but there’s nothing quite like a paneled screen that can be......
• Antique Mirrors Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Mirrors Antique mirrors are a highly collectible item, with many of the frames boasting decorative carving and detail much like elaborate, wooden picture frames of old. A mirror itself is little more than glass covering a reflective surface and not very impressive—many of us carry......
• Purchasing Antique Rings for an Engagement If you are looking for the perfect engagement ring, you just may want to consider antique rings and the sentimental value that can be associated with them. Antique rings are capable of being purchased through reputable dealers in second hand jewelry stores. You may even be able to find antique......

• Golf Memorabilia Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original -> Golf - PGA While the sport of golf may not be quite as popular as football or baseball, it still has its share of rabid fans and when you’ve got a fan base like that, you’re guaranteed that there will be a demand......
• Brief History of Violins The violin is the smallest in size of all the stringed instruments. This compact size also gives the violin the highest pitch of the string family of instruments, with the viola and cello both having a lower tone. Almost any musical style can be played on the violin, from classical......
• Types of Furniture Fabric If you are looking to purchase new furniture or if you are thinking about having a piece reupholstered, you will need to decide upon a fabric type for the furniture.  And, if you have never shopped for furniture fabric before, you need to know that this involves a great deal......
• Do Away With Litter Box Smells And Get Cat Furniture! by Bella Holly Does the thought of a litter box make you cringe? Most people have the same sentiment towards litter boxes, as their reputation is a stinky and dirty one! Why not consider buying cat furniture to hide the kitty box? A great way to hide your litter box......
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Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Mirrors

Antique mirrors are a highly collectible item, with many of the frames boasting decorative carving and detail much like elaborate, wooden picture frames of old. A mirror itself is little more than glass covering a reflective surface and not very impressive—many of us carry tiny mirrors with us, they’re one of the most common items found households today. But antique mirrors are set apart by their frames and the work and artistry that went into them.

Mirrors began as hand mirrors, used to look at one’s reflection, and were quite common in households by the end of the middle ages. The first large mirrors, big enough to reflect a person’s entire body, weren’t used until the 1st century AD. Often the mirrors were silver or polished bronze during their surge of popularity in the middle ages. Venice mirrors produced in the 12th and 13th century were of exceptional quality and craftsmanship, with their mirror-making secrets leaking to London and Paris, who became centers of mirror production in the 17th century. Few antique mirrors had survived, but even the new mirrors that were produced were very expensive, particularly the large ones used in places like the royal palace at Versailles.

From then on, mirrors became more than reflective pieces of glass, but rather were prized as decorative items. Frames were typically made from silver, ebony, ivory, tortoiseshell or veneered wood, though other frames like those from beads or crafted with needlework were produced, too. Carved frames became popular thanks to craftsmen like Grinling Gibbons, and soon it because vogue to put mirrors, often those in glass frames, above mantelpieces. Robert and James Adam are recognizable names from this period, as antique mirrors they designed usually stretched from the mantelpiece to the ceiling.

Antique mirrors from the late 18th century will often have painted frames rather than carved ones. And the movement began in France to creative oval or round mirrors with spots for candles on each side. Dressing mirrors made from cheval glass that stood alone also appeared as mirror-makers skills improved. The 19th century saw mirrors used in other furniture like wardrobes, because it was becoming less expensive to produce mirrors. Composition frames became common in less expensive mirrors. These were plaster frames on wire bases, that unfortunately didn’t hold up to long term use because of he easily damaged nature of plaster.

Antique mirrors that you can find today are typically valuable, especially those that are part of antique furniture. Things to watch out for are online auctioneers who use the world “antique” to describe a technique used in making the mirror, like antiquing as a finish. Ask about the history of the piece, and how they know it’s antique, because modern furniture can be made to look surprisingly aged and vintage. If you’re shopping flea markets or antique shops, be aware that a true antique mirror was made with more expensive materials than mirrors today. The glass is thicker, so antique mirrors weight much more than modern pieces.

Originally posted 2008-10-18 14:00:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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