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.
Worboys Antiques
Solid Oak Open Bookcase
£ 260
Worboys Antiques
Matched Pair Of Mahogany Pedestals
£ 525
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique French Burr Walnut Bedside Cabinets
£ 1,250
Worboys Antiques
Small Proportioned Oak Writing Desk
£ 350
FB Antiques
William IV Rosewood Dining/breakfast Table
£ 895
Marylebone Antiques
Set of Eight Antique Mahogany Shield Back Dining Chairs
£ 1,575
Marylebone Antiques
Large Danish Vintage Marble Top Coffee Table
£ 1,950
FB Antiques
Antique Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Marylebone Antiques
Danish Vintage Marble Top Coffee Table
£ 1,450
Marylebone Antiques
Danish Vintage Teak Sofa / Day Bed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-nielsen
£ 3,250
Danish Vintage Teak Sofa / Day Bed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-nielsen
£ 3,250
Marylebone Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Italian Marble Occasional Side Table
£ 595
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Style Birds Eye Maple Open Bookcase
£ 1,650
Marylebone Antiques
Danish Teak Vintage Sofa Bed by Arne Wahl Iversen
£ 2,650
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Edwardian Mahogany Salon Couch or Sofa
£ 275
Camden Antiques
Victorian Figured Walnut Open Bookcase
£ 995
Worboys Antiques
Edwardian Cream Upholstered Armchair
£ 795
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Pair of 17th Century Carved Italian Chairs
£ 720
Timeless Furniture UK
Edwardian Mahogany Side Table With Drawer
£ 235
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Orkney Chair in the Liberty Style
£ 990
Camden Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Waterfall Bookcase
£ 1,295
Story Antique Clocks
Victorian Inlaid Walnut Three Decanter Tantalus & Games Box
£ 895
Worboys Antiques
Solid Oak Corner Cabinet
£ 265
Town House Traders Ltd
Inlaid Mahogany 3 Draw Writing Table Desk
£ 225
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Ash and Elm Windsor Chair
£ 450
Whites Antiques
18th Century English Oak Side Table in Oak - Later Painted
£ 495
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Trunk
£ 395
MebleinUK
Vintage Old Charm Wood Bros Style / Small Bedside Cabinet / Light Oak / Made in England 1970s
£ 210.99
Vintage Old Charm Wood Bros Style / Small Bedside Cabinet / Light Oak / Made in England 1970s
£ 210.99
MebleinUK
£ 245.55
Vintage Flamed Mahogany Extendable Drop Leaf Side Table / Made in England c.1940
£ 245.55
MebleinUK
£ 1,650
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Carved Mahogany Chaise Longue
£ 2,650
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Carved Mahogany Chaise Longue
£ 2,650
London City Antiques
Worboys Antiques
Late 19th Century Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 575
Worboys Antiques
Edwardian Mahogany Writing Desk
£ 575
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Inlaid Mahogany Armchair
£ 895
The Old Pine Shop
Big Old Pine & Painted Vintage Industrial Dining / Kitchen Table
£ 739
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Marquetry Inlaid Centre / Dining Table
£ 8,250
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Marquetry Inlaid Centre / Dining Table
£ 8,250
London City Antiques
£ 699
Old Grey / Black Painted Pine 'Hungarian' Storage / Box Bench / Settle
£ 699
The Old Pine Shop
FB Antiques
Small Victorian Walnut Inlaid Coffee Table
£ 395
FB Antiques
Small Victorian Walnut Inlaid Coffee Table
£ 395
Worboys Antiques
Oak Arts & Crafts Open Bookcase
£ 295
Oakfield Gallery
Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers c.1780
£ 495
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.