Are you looking to buy some old furniture? Here are some tips for evaluating antiques.
With an old table, the leaves will often have a different appearance than the tabletop. This is because the tabletop has gone through decades of cleaning, polishing and exposure to the sun's UV rays. Antique hunters relish the changed appearance, called the patina. They feel that the furniture's new color is richer and more mellow and beautiful. Tampering with this aged affect will, in almost all cases, reduce the value of the table.
Valuable furniture is usually handmade, or "one off." Through the early 19th century, there were no mass production factories knocking out identical pieces of furniture. Each piece was shaped with hand tools, and each piece is, as a result, different and imperfect. Antique hunters look for ripples and uneven markings that indicate handmade items.
Veneer is not necessarily a bad thing. Veneer has been in use for hundreds of years in Europe. However, older veneers are much thicker than veneers of today. Plus, older veneers are glued over wood, whereas veneers of today are often glued over particleboard or other cheaper materials. Look for thick veneer with a wood subsurface.
Try to locate the name of the manufacturer somewhere on the piece. This is an excellent reference point for researching the age, quality and value of the item.
When repairing a piece, try to stay with its original colors and hardware. Painting over or sanding off the old finish and staining with a new color is absolutely certain to destroy hidden value in an antique. If you have any question about the potential value of your piece, have it appraised before you begin your repair.
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