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.
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Arts and Crafts Oak Refectory Table Circa 1910
£ 395
Beau French Boutique
Vintage French Large Single Tambour Fronted Filing Cabinet
£ 425
Harry Raine Antiques
George III Style Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 340
Harry Raine Antiques
19th Century Victorian Rosewood and Marquetry Centre Table
£ 425
Harry Raine Antiques
Large Pair of 17th Century Style Carved Oak Armchairs
£ 625
Harry Raine Antiques
GT Rackstraw Oak Draw Leaf Extending Dining Table
£ 650
Harry Raine Antiques
English Campaign Style Pedestal Desk by Baker Furniture Collectors Edition
£ 1,250
English Campaign Style Pedestal Desk by Baker Furniture Collectors Edition
£ 1,250
Harry Raine Antiques
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Mahogany Large Chest of Drawers 1900s
£ 350
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Set of Eight Queen Anne Style Mahogany Dining Chairs Circa 1920
£ 595
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
A Late 19thc French Provincial Walnut Dresser
£ 2,575
The Vintage Interiors
Pair of French Oak Bedside Cabinets
£ 695
Barnaby's of Battle
Tall Antique Pine Kitchen Cupboard in Original Worn Varnish 1920s
£ 395
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Regency Flame Mahogany Twin Pedestal Sideboard Circa 1825
£ 525
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Antique Hand Carved Kang Opium Bed Coffee Table
£ 495
Sunnyside Antiques
Welsh Pot Board Dresser - 18th Century
£ 3,950
Sunnyside Antiques
Vintage Singer Treadle Sewing Machine
£ 595
Athey Antiques
Art Deco Mahogany Desk
£ 895
Tony Youll Antiques
French Gueridon or Cafe Table
£ 650
Athey Antiques
Large Cherrywood Serving Table
£ 995
Tony Youll Antiques
Serpentine Fronted Display Cabinet
£ 1,950
Athey Antiques
Large 8 Door Pitch Pine Cupboard
£ 1,695
Tony Youll Antiques
French Restoration Walnut Commode
£ 1,350
Monticole
Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose
£ 6,000
£ 89.99
£ 135.55
£ 399.99
£ 379.99
Antique Carver Oak Dining Chairs / Set of 4 / Barley Twist Detail / Late 19th Century
£ 379.99
MebleinUK
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Set 6 Mid Century Kitchen Dining Chairs
£ 895
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Set 8 French Bleached Oak Farmhouse Dining Chairs
£ 1,250
LT Antiques
Small Mahogany Wardrobe
£ 975
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid Century Stainless Steel Bowl
£ 225
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
19th Century Mahogany Writing Table or Desk
£ 370
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Mouseman Style Table & 6 Dining Chairs
£ 2,320
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Small Carved Ipswich Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 370
Hawkins Antiques
Antique Chinoiserie Decorated Corner Cabinet / Cupboard
£ 1,800
Hingstons Antiques
19th Century Oak Pot Board Dresser
£ 2,575
£ 2,650
Very Nice French Sleigh King Size Bed with Delightful Low End – Includes Bed Base
£ 2,650
Bedsteads
£ 275
Martlesham Antiques
19th Century Mahogany Pembroke Table
£ 1,350
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Style Windsor Bench by Stewart Linford
£ 2,450
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.