In the entry area of our living room, in our 100 year old house by the stairway, is a small sectioned off part of the room. You could find out just by asking them. In the case of a very valuable antique, significant art, or a historically significant antique, you may want to establish provenance. How to determine the value of antique furniture. If your antique is not an appropriate fit for a Sotheby's auction, we will do our best to recommend an alternate resource to sell your furniture or decorative object. Follow these 6 steps to restoring old furniture, and your family heirlooms will stay in tact for years to come. Guéridon table: These mid-17th century French small tables were originally used as candle stands, many times in pairs, and often with columnar or bodily figure pedestals.They usually have a circular or oval tray-like top. The prices go back a number of years and some are out of date, but the clear photographs will help in your searches. A lot of the value will depend on condition. How To Antique Furniture. If they do not care for your furniture or think it is valuable, they’d rather not have to tell you. Having said all the above, here's how I'd value your pieces, sight unseen (except for your photos). I gave this dresser a two-tone antiqued finish using the toner. Value is hard to gauge. When identifying antique chairs, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. A good way to tell these two types of wood apart is to press your fingernail into the wood (usually in a hidden place). If there is a model or ID # on your furniture,which there should be a tag somewhere or stamped on the piece. Your furniture is not old enough to be considered antique, but it may be considered "vintage" furniture, depending on the style. The term "gueridon" was a word describing the African servants of the time, which were also sometimes used as the bodily figures in the table design. If the wood is a soft wood your fingernail will leave an indention. If there’s no date, the style of the piece can be a good indicator of age. Best advice is to take a lot of pictures of the furniture including close ups … Identifying Antique Furniture or Good Reproductions When trying to identify antique furniture, dedicated antique hunters search for beautifully preserved pieces, armed with pins, magnifying glasses, spirit levels and all sorts of testing equipment. Examine Edges and Corners. The present furniture company using the name of Stickley has made virtually exact replicas of original Stickley Arts and Craft designs. How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. Prices vary widely for patio furniture—many sellers don't know what they have since it has not been well documented. Run your hand along the edges of the furniture. Finding an antique piece of Stickley furniture today is akin to winning the lottery. How Our Experts Value Your Antique Furniture. Estimate the value of your used furniture Calculate the value of your used furniture: Miller's Antiques and Collectables Guide lists a lot of European furniture with prices and auction houses. How To Tell Whether "Antique" Furniture Is Really Antique With a bit of research and a close inspection of wood and hardware, you can roughly determine the age of antique furniture… When valuing a piece of furniture, our experts consider the item's age, style, size and origin. Antiques are often worth much more than their original price. The condition matters too: an item in exceptional condition is typically worth more than an item that has become a bit wobbly or has some conservation issues. If no one else on your block owns one, you know that it’s worth something. If an appraiser isn’t an option, consult antique furniture guides and match the style of your buffet or sideboard with photos and descriptions. Look for … It also depends on the supply and demand in your town. Compared with the heyday of antiques collecting, prices for average pieces are now “80 percent off,” said Colin Stair, the owner of Stair Galleries auction house in Hudson, N.Y. “Your typical Georgian 18th century furniture, chests of drawers, tripod tables, Pembroke tables,” he noted, can all be had for a fraction of what they cost 15 to 20 years ago. Since I can't see it and touch it, I suggest having a vintage furniture reseller/store owner look it over and confirm what you have. The value of antique furniture can vary widely, even when dealing with very old pieces. Not too bad. In fact, a rare copy could be worth millions. The appraiser is knowledgeable in furniture styles and time periods. You should look at the screws, nails, wood, joining and hardware. How To Antique Furniture. […] There may be a multitude of reasons why they have established this policy. The market for furniture of any era goes up and down like a roller coaster. How to Know If Your Parents' Stuff Has Value. If you do not know about the antique furniture market then you will want to consult a specialist. And if no one in your area code has one, chances are, you have a piece that’s pretty valuable.Of course, something might be rare because it just didn’t make it in the marketplace. What constitutes a rarity? If no one in your zip code has one, it might be worth even more. However, their value is usually significantly lower, so it's important to know whether you have an original or a reproduction if you want to know the value of your antique furniture. On the outside chance you have a true antique table, the value would be different than if it is a vintage piece. Yes, it's possible to score a deal on more high-end pieces through sites like eBay or Craigslist, but don't expect the furniture to be in the pristine condition you … Turn the piece upside down or on its back and look for the telltale drips and runs that indicate the piece has been worked over. This article will briefly describe recent production, list a history of Stickley marks and compare some typical new and old pieces. All of these things can affect the value of your antique or collectible. Another case where you should not refinish wood furniture is if the piece is a valuable antique or a unique designer piece that, although not an antique, nevertheless has a lot of value. If the wood is a hard wood your fingernail will leave no mark. A good place to start when identifying furniture is often to figure out what period it's from. Restore old furniture and get those antique pieces back in vogue. 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