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.
LT Antiques
Walnut Cylinder Bureau Bookcase
£ 1,250
Hingstons Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Campaign Chest
£ 2,950
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Burr Walnut Cocktail Cabinet by Epstein
£ 4,500
London City Antiques
Set of 8 Antique Quality Mahogany Dining Chairs
£ 4,850
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Large Antique George III Irish Mahogany Wake/dining Table H 72 x D 151 x W 235cm
£ 21,500
Outstanding Quality Large Antique George III Irish Mahogany Wake/dining Table H 72 x D 151 x W 235cm
£ 21,500
London City Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Marble Top Dining Table
£ 795
London City Antiques
Antique George I Quality Figured Walnut Bureau
£ 3,285
London City Antiques
Antique Quality Walnut Oval Stool
£ 785
London City Antiques
Magnificent Quality Large Antique George III Inlaid Mahogany Sideboard
£ 10,995
Magnificent Quality Large Antique George III Inlaid Mahogany Sideboard
£ 10,995
London City Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Inlaid Walnut Etagere
£ 595
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique 18th Century George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 3,450
Outstanding Quality Antique 18th Century George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 3,450
London City Antiques
Wilsford Antiques
Mid Century Bronze & Glass Coffee Table by Maison Jansen
£ 2,050
£ 285.55
£ 235.49
The Old Pine Shop
Wow! Old Pine Double Knock Down/ Sectional Wardrobe
£ 949
Phoebes Finds Antique and Vintage
Vintage Rosewood Double Back Spoon Sofa, Hand Carved Antique
£ 799
Vintage Rosewood Double Back Spoon Sofa, Hand Carved Antique
£ 799
Phoebes Finds Antique and Vintage
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Set of 4 Victorian Elm Hoop Back Chairs
£ 450
Graham Deakin Antiques
French 19th Century Marble Top Bedside Cupboard
£ 225
Graham Deakin Antiques
19th Century French Marble Top Bedside Cabinet
£ 220
Elmgarden Antiques
Victorian Brass & Iron Small Double Bed (4ft Wide)
£ 495
Carse Antiques
Pleasing Georgian Ladder Back Arm Chair
£ 325
Carse Antiques
Unusual Early Ladder Back Armchair
£ 324
Elmgarden Antiques
Small Arts & Crafts Wall Cabinet
£ 250
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair of Antique Burr Walnut Bedside Tables
£ 495
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair of Brass Bound Mahogany Military Campaign Bedsides Chests
£ 550
Graham Deakin Antiques
Original J.S. Fry & Sons Ltd Display Cabinet
£ 725
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Victorian Wing Armchair
£ 750
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Large Victorian Mahogany Open Bookcase
£ 950
Whites Antiques
French 1940s Art Deco Style Oak Armoire
£ 2,150
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
18th Century Oak & Elm Chest
£ 475
London City Antiques
Fine Quality Set of 4 Antique Victorian Carved Rosewood Dining Chairs
£ 1,885
Fine Quality Set of 4 Antique Victorian Carved Rosewood Dining Chairs
£ 1,885
London City Antiques
Philip Hunt Antiques
William IV Split Base Mahogany Extending Dining Table
£ 3,850
Philip Hunt Antiques
Georgian Mahogany Lowboy
£ 895
Millers Antiques
19th Century Hall or Window Seat
£ 795
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Leather Top Pedestal Desk
£ 1,750
Whites Antiques
Italian 1940s Daybed Window Seat Attributed to Paolo Buffa
£ 2,600
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Yew Wood Military Campaign Bedside Chests
£ 1,150
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Leather Top Writing Table / Desk
£ 885
Whites Antiques
Mid Century Mahogany Display Cabinet in the William IV Style
£ 2,150
Penderyn Antiques
Two Rustic Pine Bookcases
£ 995
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.