January 24th, 2012 — Antique, Antique Doors, Furnishings
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.
Photo Credits: René Ehrhardt
Originally posted 2008-09-27 05:29:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 23rd, 2012 — 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.
Photo Credits: David.R.Carroll
Originally posted 2008-08-13 05:00:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 1st, 2012 — Asian Antiques, Dragon Statues
Many ancient cultures have their own dragon myths, some that are traced back as far as 4000 BC, but the ancient Chinese believed that dragon statues represented a creature that symbolized strength and good fortune. Other cultures saw dragons as rather wicked and dangerous creatures intent on destruction, but the ancient Chinese saw dragons as symbols of creation, instead. They were revered as protectors of the sacred, able to fly on massive wings.
Where did the dragon stories come from, and how did every ancient culture come up with such a similar representation of the dragon, if they didn’t exist? Unlike today, when an image can be placed on TV and the Internet and half the world can see the same thing, communication was difficult among countries in ancient times. How could they all have claimed such similar stories? The stories might have been used to explain the discovery of dinosaur bones. These would have looked similar no matter where they were found, and can explain the similarity of the earliest dinosaur statues and other artwork depicting dinosaurs.
Dragons, particularly the sea dwelling variety, were fear and said to live at the edges of the sea, when the world was believed to be flat. And not only did adventurous sailors risk sailing off the edge, they risked being eaten by the dragons who lived on the fringes of the world. Ancient maps often said “Here be dragons” at the edges for that reason. These days, the only place you’re likely to encounter a sea monster dragon is in the many different types of dragon statues produced for lawn and garden, or as collectibles suitable for display.
Dragons appeared in Greek mythology, and were a common theme in fairy tales and myths. Who hasn’t heard the story of the young Prince set to slay the fire-breathing dragon to either discover a vast treasure or rescue the would-be-princess? Many cultures feared dragons, and their stories depicted dragons as creatures to be vanquished. But like ancient China, Rome believed dragons were wise and mysterious. Their dragon statues represented knowledge, strength and heroism, though a more sinister looking dragon often represented a threat.
Though dragons were depicted similarly throughout the world, Chinese dragon statues and the dragons of medieval times had marked differences. Chinese dragons often had very long bodies and squared heads that house their massive jaws. Medieval dragons were depicted as less lithe than Chinese dragons. They often had much wider bodies, more resembling some dinosaurs than the Chinese version, and were chunkier in general, with heads that more closely resembled serpents.
Collecting dragon statues today is a highly individual pursuit. Online auctions offer thousands of choices, so you can find something in your choice of materials and styles. Those looking for actual antique statues will have to ask many questions of the seller, as the word vintage is often used to describe the look of the statue, the type of dragon and reproduction, rather than its age or origin.
Originally posted 2008-10-19 14:00:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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