Since a house is far more than a home, it requires furniture that is far more than just functional. It requires furniture with soul. Nothing does this better than antique and vintage furniture which combine quality with a warmth and personality only time can bring. These were pieces that were good enough for our ancestors to buy and use and love. And if it was good enough for them, then they probably deserve to join our family too. Furthermore an antique cabinet or antique table will add character to even the most uninspiring room.
So how should you really shop for antique furniture? Well, the simple answer is to have fun with it. Free from the conformity of current fashions you can acquire pieces just because you like them and because they inspire you. Buy an elegant Art Deco chest of drawers because it adds unashamed glamour to the room, buy a deep buttoned Victorian armchair because secretly inside you pretend you are Sherlock Holmes every time you sink down into it. Or simply place a 17th Century coffer at the end of the bed so that every time you wake up you can admire the warmth and wear those 300 years of loving handling brings.
At LoveAntiques we have an amazing and ever-changing selection of vintage and antique furniture for sale online from hundreds of Antique Dealers, catering for all your needs.
House of David
Fabulous Victorian Miniature Apprentice Pine Drawers
£ 315
Penderyn Antiques
Set of Three Antique Victorian Upholstered Country Chairs
£ 495
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Large Early 20th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Antiques & Chic
Edwardian Oak Monks Bench
£ 665
London City Antiques
Antique Quality George III Mahogany Inlaid Secretaire Chest of Drawers
£ 2,950
Antique Quality George III Mahogany Inlaid Secretaire Chest of Drawers
£ 2,950
London City Antiques
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Sheraton Revival Circular Adjustable Piano Stool
£ 480
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Sheraton Revival Inlaid Mahogany Card Table
£ 2,595
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Attractive Bleached Walnut Marble Topped Commode
£ 2,395
Tony Youll Antiques
Maison Bagues Table
£ 320
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Early 20th Century Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase
£ 695
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Deep French Bleached Oak Farmhouse Dining Table
£ 2,250
£ 1,400
Rawlings Antiques
Set of 8 Victorian Walnut Dining Chairs
£ 795
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Interesting Painted 19th Century Chest of Drawers
£ 2,100
Merchant House Antiques
Elm Bench / Hall Seat
£ 1,695
Salisbury Antiques Centre
George III Mahogany & Satinwood Chest of Drawers
£ 1,750
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Victorian 19th Century Mahogany Breakfast Table
£ 1,495
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Early 20th Century Oak Dresser / Console Table
£ 375
Merchant House Antiques
3 Metre Long Oak Bench
£ 845
Hingstons Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Cupboard
£ 985
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Burr Walnut Chess Table
£ 1,485
Robert Belcher Antiques
Victorian Pietra Dura Specimen Marble Top Occasional or Games Table
£ 1,985
Victorian Pietra Dura Specimen Marble Top Occasional or Games Table
£ 1,985
Robert Belcher Antiques
Rams Head Antiques
Antique Chinese Lacquered Trunk Chest
£ 875
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Corner Cabinet by Maple & Co
£ 3,650
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Corner Cabinet by Maple & Co
£ 3,650
London City Antiques
Rams Head Antiques
Antique French Dining Table Solid Ash Seats 10 Refectory Style
£ 1,475
Millers Antiques
Fine Oak Writing Desk
£ 1,200
Wick Antiques Ltd
Regency Ormolu Mounted Rosewood Two Drawer Writing Table in the Manner of John McLean & Gillows of Lancaster
£ 18,500
Regency Ormolu Mounted Rosewood Two Drawer Writing Table in the Manner of John McLean & Gillows of Lancaster
£ 18,500
Wick Antiques Ltd
Philip Hunt Antiques
Walnut Queen Anne Style Gillows Desk c.1930
£ 1,550
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Large Antique George III Irish Mahogany Wake / Dining Table
£ 21,500
Outstanding Quality Large Antique George III Irish Mahogany Wake / Dining Table
£ 21,500
London City Antiques
Merchant House Antiques
Scrubbed Burr Elm Coffee Table
£ 895
Merchant House Antiques
Rustic Oak Work Table
£ 895
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Circular Lamp Table
£ 1,185
Philip Hunt Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Edwards & Roberts Open Bookcase
£ 1,250
Merchant House Antiques
Neat Sized 19th Century Farmhouse Table
£ 1,745
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Cherrywood "Chapeau Gendarme"
£ 1,150
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,750
London City Antiques
Antique Quality Carved Mahogany Desk Chair
£ 900
Merchant House Antiques
3 Meter Chestnut Farmhouse Table
£ 6,495
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Leather Top Pedestal Desk
£ 1,950
Philip Hunt Antiques
Victorian Rosewood Pier Cabinet
£ 890
How do I identify antique furniture?
Although most antique furniture is found without labels or dates, genuine antique pieces can usually be identified from a combination of the materials used, the style of the piece as well as the natural wear on the finish or Patina. Patina is something that can only occur naturally over time and is very hard to fake via man-made effects such as staining, sanding and painting. The skill is looking at lots of tiny details which convince you the item is a genuine antique. Much of this skill and knowledge can be built up over time just by observing real pieces and learning from those around you. It is also a good reason to buy from reputable antique dealers such as those on LoveAntiques who can give you the piece of mind that the item is what you say it is as well as offer valuable advice.
How to value antique furniture?
Like any collectable field antique furniture can range in value between nearly worthless to virtually priceless. In the past price guide reference books were a good starting point for valuing different items, but today such books have become nearly obsolete with the power of the internet at our fingertips. In most cases the internet will be the first place to research your item but don’t forget that the values you find can vary dramatically depending on the condition, who is selling them, where the item is located and more. While there are certain furniture items which are less or more fashionable today than in the past, desirability and value really comes down to individual taste and the room it is going into. You can ask your local auction house or antique dealer for a valuation but in both cases the value they give should be considered an estimate only. There are specialist online valuation services which will provide valuations for a fee but again check their location as values can vary dramatically between countries and continents.
Is Mahogany furniture valuable?
The simple answer is Mahogany furniture can be very valuable. It has always been a scarce and prized timber so is usually a sign that the antique item was expensive and well made at the time, sometimes by the very best makers and designers. Mahogany was first imported from the West Indies at the start of the 18th Century and continued to be popular up to the beginning of the 20th Century. It not only has an appealing red tone and grain but is strong and crisp to carve. However, Mahogany has also always been scarce, so almost from the start was also being used as a veneer as well as solid timber. Today antique mahogany is slightly less fashionable overall compared to other timbers (such as Oak) so can be purchased for less than in the past making them great value. In truth if you like the item or it suits the room, then that item is valuable to you either way.
What date is Georgian and Victorian Furniture?
The Georgian era in England (1714-1837) began with King George I in 1714 and ended with the death of George IV in 1830. However, for simplicity most people also include the subsequent reign of William IV from 1830-37 into the Georgian period. The Victorian era (1837-1901) began when Queen Victoria took to the throne in 1837 and until her death in 1901. When describing antique furniture people sometimes use the terms Georgian and Victorian somewhat loosely to also describe items created in the styles popular during those times.
What is vintage Furniture?
The phrase ‘Vintage Furniture’ is commonly used to describe a whole group of furniture that is not yet old enough to be antique. Many people and sales platforms deem that vintage items must be a minimum of 20 years old to be called Vintage and that they finally become Antique when they are at least 100 years old. In principle this is a pretty clear definition, but it is important to recognise that these are only guide-lines and some will use ‘Vintage’ to refer to even newer items in an older style.