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.
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Leather Top Writing Table / Desk
£ 975
£ 445
Fincraigs Antiques
Oak & Leather Upholstered Armchairs c.1900
£ 3,500
Fincraigs Antiques
George III Small Mahogany Tilt Top Table
£ 480
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of French Kidney Shaped Marble Top Side Tables
£ 1,290
Vintage House
Pair of Black & Gold Painted Bedside Cabinets
£ 375
London City Antiques
Superb Quality Antique Edwardian Mahogany Inlaid Wardrobe
£ 1,285
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Victorian Fruitwood Reading / Console Table
£ 445
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Good Sized Antique Oak Silver / Campaign Chest
£ 595
Vintage House
Victorian Pine Larder or Housekeeping Cupboard
£ 695
Fincraigs Antiques
Antique Mahogany Georgian Desk c.1805
£ 850
Adam Wylie Antiques
Mid 20th Century Walnut Two Tier Book or Coffee Table
£ 395
Salisbury Antiques Centre
19th Century Shaped Rosewood Centre Table
£ 1,450
Adam Wylie Antiques
Oak Occasional Table Attributed to Hypnos for Heals
£ 720
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique William IV Rosewood Circular Dining / Centre Table
£ 4,750
Outstanding Quality Antique William IV Rosewood Circular Dining / Centre Table
£ 4,750
London City Antiques
Hingstons Antiques
Antique Oak Dresser Base with Multiple Drawers
£ 2,475
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
19th Century Ash & Elm Splat Back Windsor Rocking Armchair
£ 595
19th Century Ash & Elm Splat Back Windsor Rocking Armchair
£ 595
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Salisbury Antiques Centre
17th Century Oak Table Cabinet
£ 675
Beresford Antiques Ltd
19th Century Flame Mahogany Four Height Chest of Drawers
£ 595
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Period Figured Walnut Nest of Tables
£ 575
Victoria Antiques
Lovely Inlaid Edwardian Armchair
£ 250
Antique & Modern Living
Rosewood & Brass Inlay Side Cabinet
£ 2,250
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Oak & Brass Hall Stand c.1880
£ 1,950
Walton House Antiques Ltd
18th Century Mahogany Silver Table
£ 4,650
Victoria Antiques
Large French Painted Base
£ 395
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique French Large Hardwood Bureau Desk
£ 350
Walton House Antiques Ltd
Matched Pair of 17th Century Oak Side Chairs
£ 850
Victoria Antiques
Good Edwardian Inlaid Display Cabinet
£ 295
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
An Attractive Victorian Pine Dresser
£ 1,250
Rawlings Antiques
Georgian Mahogany Gentleman's Wardrobe
£ 695
£ 995
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Pair of Marble Top Antique Pine Bedside Cupboards
£ 360
Pair of Marble Top Antique Pine Bedside Cupboards
£ 360
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
1930s Antique Pine Partly Glazed Dresser
£ 700
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Regency Brass Studded Leather Camphor Wood Lined Trunk on Hairy Paw Feet
£ 985
Regency Brass Studded Leather Camphor Wood Lined Trunk on Hairy Paw Feet
£ 985
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Large Decorative Antique Pine Double Wardrobe (dismantles)
£ 900
Large Decorative Antique Pine Double Wardrobe (dismantles)
£ 900
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Rawlings Antiques
Regency Rosewood Sewing/lamp Table
£ 395
Country House and Eastern Interiors
Howard And Sons Open Armchair. Fully Restored.
£ 2,995
Victoria Antiques
Art Deco Design Dressing Table
£ 220
Victoria Antiques
Mahogany Georgian Wing Armchair
£ 450
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.