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.
Rawlings Antiques
Victorian Walnut Davenport
£ 695
£ 565
Billy Hunt
Vintage 1930s Oak Chest of 8 Drawers
£ 395
Walton House Antiques Ltd
William IV Figured Walnut Work and Reading Table
£ 585
JSA Silver Flatware
Fine 18th Fancyback Silver Tablespoon
£ 175
JSA Silver Flatware
Handsome 18th Century Bottom Marked Silver Tablespoon
£ 145
Vintage Garden UK
Good Pair Victorian Hall Chairs
£ 295
Vintage Garden UK
Victorian Walnut Desk Chair
£ 195
Vintage Garden UK
Lovely Pair Mahogany Hall Chairs
£ 295
Vintage Garden UK
Wonderful Victorian Rosewood Desk Chair
£ 250
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Victorian Burr Walnut Corner Whatnot
£ 265
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Outstanding Set Ten Queen Anne Walnut Dining Chairs
£ 1,995
Marylebone Antiques
Set of Six Danish Teak Vintage Dining Chairs by Ib Kofod Larsen
£ 3,950
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Super Chinese Low Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Campbell Vintage
Howard & Son Style Armchair with Suzani Kilim Fabric
£ 2,800
The Vintage Interiors
Brass & Mahogany Directoire Bookcase
£ 2,250
The Vintage Interiors
Bleached Oak French Armoire
£ 1,495
Walton House Antiques Ltd
18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Front Panettiere
£ 2,850
Walton House Antiques Ltd
George III Mahogany Bureau
£ 2,150
£ 1,650
Bedsteads
Charming Irish Double No End Bed
£ 1,295
£ 1,350
Martlesham Antiques
19th Century Rosewood Centre Table
£ 2,450
Farm and Fancy
George III Mahogany Pembroke Table
£ 375
Harry Raine Antiques
Victorian Style Pine Bookcase
£ 425
D and A Binder LTD
1920s Bowed Countertop Cabinet
£ 1,080
D and A Binder LTD
Antique Mahogany Framed Countertop Cabinet
£ 900
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Chest of 4 Drawers
£ 1,185
London City Antiques
Large Antique Quality Figured Mahogany Irish Wake / Dining Table
£ 3,850
Large Antique Quality Figured Mahogany Irish Wake / Dining Table
£ 3,850
London City Antiques
Harry Raine Antiques
Timothy Oulton Halo Reggio Tan Leather Sofa
£ 425
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Figured Walnut Floral Marquetry Inlaid Marble Top Washstand/cabinet
£ 2,250
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Figured Walnut Floral Marquetry Inlaid Marble Top Washstand/cabinet
£ 2,250
London City Antiques
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Set of 10 Quality Mahogany Dining Chairs
£ 4,850
D and A Binder LTD
Restored Drapers Counter
£ 3,840
Old Painted Furniture
Victorian Painted Pine Two Door Linen or Larder Cupboard
£ 895
Harry Raine Antiques
Large Brown Leather Chesterfield Sofa
£ 675
Old Painted Furniture
19th Century Painted Mahogany Two Door Cupboard
£ 495
Old Painted Furniture
Mid Victorian Painted Mahogany Writing Table
£ 265
Old Painted Furniture
Very Large Early 19th C Painted Country Pine Dresser Base
£ 2,245
Harry Raine Antiques
Brown Leather Chesterfield Sofa - Three Seater
£ 450
Harry Raine Antiques
Set of Six Oak Windsor Chairs Titchmarsh & Goodwin - Siesta
£ 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.