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Helpful Information on
Antiques
Recommended Books :
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BRITISH STUDIO POTTERS
MARKS SECOND EDITION 2005 by Eric Yates-Owen |
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ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH
POTTERY AND PORCELAIN MARKS BY GEOFFREY A. GODDEN
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Identifying and Dating Pottery & Ceramics |
Most books that cover specific makers
will show the markings in more detail
for that company. |
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Why the marks are important:
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The
object of a ceramic trade mark was to enable at
least the retailer to know the name of the
manufacturer of the object, so that re-orders,
etc., can be correctly addressed.
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In
the case of the larger firms the mark also has
publicity value and shows the buyer that the
object was made by a long-established firm with
a reputation to uphold; such clear name- marks
as Minton, Wedgwood, Royal Crown Derby and Royal
Worcester are typical examples.
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To
the collector the mark has greater importance,
for not only can he trace the manufacturer of
any marked object, but he can also ascertain the
approximate date of manufacture and in several
cases the exact year of production, particularly
in the case of 19th and 20th century wares from
the leading firms which employed private dating
systems. With the increasing use of ceramic
marks in the 19th century, a large proportion of
English pottery and porcelain can be accurately
identified and often dated.
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How
marks are applied:
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Ceramic
marks are applied in four basic ways:
Information on the method of applying each mark can
be of vital importance, for instance the early
Chelsea triangle mark must be incised not impressed,
as it can be on 19th-century fakes.
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General Rules for dating marks:
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There
are several general rules for dating ceramic marks,
attention to which will avoid several common errors:
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Royal Arms:
Printed
marks incorporating the Royal Arms are generally of
19th or 20th century date.
The
Royal Arms may only be used by
businesses which are holders of a
Royal Warrant. Nowadays Royal
Warrants are granted to people or
companies who have regularly
supplied goods or services for a
minimum of five consecutive years to
members of the Royal Family.
However in the late 19th and early
20th century many potters who did
not have a Warrant (both in England
and also foreign firms) also used
the Arms (or some similar design) as
part of their mark - to gain some
sense of importance and value.
In the same way many potters use the
name "Royal" as part of their name
or trade mark.
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Pattern Name:
Printed
marks incorporating the name of the pattern are
after 1810.
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Limited
Company:
Marks
incorporating the word 'Limited', or the
abbreviations 'Ltd', 'Ld', etc., denote a date after
1861, and most examples are much later.
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Trade Mark:
Incorporation of the words 'Trade Mark' in a mark
denotes a date subsequent to the Act of 1862.
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Royal:
Inclusion of the word 'Royal' in a firm's title or
trade name suggests a date in the second half of the
19th century, if not a 20th-century dating.
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Registered number:
Inclusion of the abbreviation R N' (for Registered
Number) followed by numerals denotes a date after
1883
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England:
Inclusion of the word 'England' in marks denotes a
date after 1891, although some manufacturers (Thomas
Elsmore & Sons for example) added the word slightly
before this date. 'Made in England' denotes a
20th-century date.
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It was William McKinley (the 25th president
of the USA) who introduced the highly
protectionist McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 -
this imposed tariffs on many imports
(including pottery) in order to make it
easier for the American manufacturers to
sell their products. It was a requirement of
this Act that all such imports carried the
name of the country of manufacture. This
provided well-known marks such as "Bavaria,"
"England," "Nippon," - indicating the
country of manufacture. In 1921 the Act was
amended to require the phrase "Made in"
preceding the country of origin, The
labelling at individual British potteries
varies somewhat from the 1891/1921 dating
requirements described above (e.g., Wedgwood
adopted the "Made in England" around 1908/10
and may have used it on some pieces as early
as 1898)
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Bone China:
Use of
the words 'Bone China', 'English Bone China', etc.,
denotes a 20th-century date.
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Descriptions:
Use of
words of description such as "Ye Olde Willow"
"Genuine Staffordshire Ware" "Victoria Ironstone"
and the like usually indicate modern copies.
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Decorating Styles Using Antiques
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Antiques can really make a house look impressive and
sophisticated if you know what you are doing.
However, there is a chance that you can get it wrong
so you do need to research beforehand so that you
know you are getting it right and that your home
will benefit.
Have you ever thought about using antiques to
brighten up your home? Some people consider antiques
to be a little dated and they would never think of
having them in their own home; however they can add
a sophisticated touch without looking too imposing.
How to Make Antiques Work for You
Antiques are generally associated with old houses.
However more and more people are starting to use
them in their modern homes as they find that they
can really brighten up the living space. You can
purchase antiques from a number of different places
and it is even possible to find them at your local
flea market. So what classes as an antique?
Well generally an antique is old. It may sound
obvious but people do still wonder just how old
something has to be before it is considered an
antique. The best way to find out how old something
is to buy a book which has backstamps, dates and
prices in it and also research prices achieved on
online auction sites. This should also tell you how
valuable it is and antiques are usually fairly
valuable!
So once you start to realize what an antique is, it
is then that you will be able to find various
different things for your home that will add that
little antique look.
The various antiques you can pick up include ones
which are in perfect condition, but sometimes people
prefer something which shows its age. Perhaps
something with a slight missing detail to it will
suit your home more? Perhaps you are looking for a
antique wardrobe or an antique chest of drawers? It
seems to be common these days to have an antique
chair or unit to go in the living room too. You can
pick these various items up from an antique auction
and generally the dark wooden antiques are the ones
which most people prefer.
One of the main things to keep in mind is that
antiques do have the ability to look good in a
modern setting, but they also have the potential to
look ugly. You should never buy something just
because of its antique status. If you do this you
run the risk of putting an antique in your home
which brings down the tone of the room. People will
walk in and instantly be drawn to the ugly, antique
in the corner. So, ensure that it looks good and
that it will fit in with the rest of the interior
design.
Overall with antiques it is easy to get it wrong but
if you spend time researching you have the ability
to make your home look fantastic. Spend time looking
around and going to antiques fairs if you can as
well as auctions. Know what is in and what isn't and
also get a feel for what would go well within your
home. Antiques can look good but you do have to know
what you are doing.
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A
Quick Guide To The World Of Antique Furniture
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Furniture making
and craftsmanship, like any other art, has evolved
through the centuries and has been interpreted in
various eras and countries to form the basis of a
vast array of styles and designs. We are the richer
for it as antiques collectors and as people looking
to spruce up our homes. Antique furniture, pieces
over a hundred years old, have since become status
symbols and forms of investment in the future.
The earliest antique furniture was nothing more than
a pile of logs tied together with twine to perform a
specific function. We have, of course, progressed
since then and now have sophisticated techniques and
crafted antique furniture that looks absolutely
beautiful in the setting of a modern home. No longer
do ornately carved armoires hold a suit of armour.
Instead, they hold clothing, jewellery and shoes,
all of which are abundant in the modern day home.
However, storage functionality was as important for
antique furniture back then as it is now.
A number of antique furniture items still have the
same function as they do within the modern home. The
sideboard is a great example of that particular
fact. It has been used since its invention centuries
ago to hold plates, cutlery and other items whilst
someone is serving a meal. This may be different in
terms of the practices that were exercised then and
are exercised now but the premise behind this item
of antique furniture remains the same.
However, the use of antique furniture does not
define it alone. Instead, a whole range of factors
makes it what it is. Of course there is the age
element. Furniture has to be a hundred years old
before it can be called antique furniture but cars
can be defined as antique after thirty-two years
because they have only been in operation for a
little over a century.
Antique furniture can often be placed in a ballpark
as far as age is concerned but it is very rare that
we can identify the exact year in which it was
crafted. This does cause some debate regarding the
use of the term and also the era in which it was
made. For example, furniture made in Depression
America cannot technically be labelled antique
furniture because it is less than a hundred years
old but some experts do consider it in those terms.
The craftsmanship of an item may also have an impact
on an item’s right to be defined as antique
furniture rather than old!
The type of wood a piece is made of, its basic
design and even the way it is connected together may
have an impact on whether or not it is called
antique furniture or not. However, the individuality
of an item often has an impact on that and if your
piece is one of a king then the likelihood is that
you have antique furniture on your hands! This is
extremely valuable and will be a worthwhile
investment in the years to come!
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Antique Furniture Restoration: Extend The Life Of
Your Furniture
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Anyone
with even the most minimal knowledge of antiques
will know that they have to be treasured and well
looked after. Being over a hundred years old, they
will need regular restoration as well as routine
cleaning whatever your use for them. Eventually they
will also need antique furniture hardware product
restoration to save them from irreparable damage.
Think of it as surgery for furniture!
Antique furniture hardware product restoration is a
chore simply because it may prove impossible to get
hold of the parts needed to actually complete the
process. Doorknobs, latches, hinges, hooks and chest
lifts are all rare unless you manage to get lucky
and find a dealer with a similar piece that is
irreparable. Despite the availability status of the
parts you need, there are still some essential
nuggets of knowledge you should know before
attempting antique furniture hardware product
restoration.
1. Always search for the materials you need for
antique furniture hardware product restoration from
home. Availability may mean that trawling the
various shops is a complete waste of time. Try
calling local antique dealers and stores and then
contact those further away if need be. You could
also try searching on the Internet. Always narrow
your search to those that specialise in the era of
your particular piece first as they will often yield
more success.
2. Be prepared to travel to pick up the materials
you need for antique furniture hardware product
restoration. You may want to have the parts mailed
to you if they are found in another country, but
always be prepared to do anything to protect your
investment.
3. Ask a professional for advice. Antique furniture
hardware product restoration is a complex process
and it only takes one small mistake to permanently
ruin your piece so make sure that you seek advice
and maybe the services of a professional. Several
experts would be prepared to give you quotes so
check up on them before selecting a man for the job
if you do not want to attempt it yourself.
4. Be prepared to pay out. Antique furniture
hardware product restoration is an expensive
business. It is usually worth every penny to save
your investment but you should be prepared for a
hefty bill.
There is one golden rule when it comes to looking
after your pieces of antique furniture. Prevention
is better than cure. This is the golden rule and
following these tips may just help you to prevent
the need for antique furniture hardware product
restoration arising:
1. Establish a routine and stick to it as far as
cleaning goes. Always use a soft cloth to wipe down
antique furniture once or twice a week.
2. Wax every antique piece you have every two months
with a small measure of furniture wax. This will
prevent build up and keep your furniture healthy.
3. Keep antiques out of direct sunlight because they
may fade.
4. Do not use any harsh solvents, detergents or
polishes because the chemicals may just stain it
permanently.
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Appreciate The Dynasties: Antique China Furniture
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In any
discussion of antique furniture, one of the first
design eras’ pieces to be mentioned is always
antique China furniture. Chinese antiques are of
high interest purely because some pieces go back
thousands of years. Antique China furniture is also
amongst some of the most intricately beautiful
pieces available today.
There are certain things any potential buyer of
antique China furniture should know before making a
purchase though, especially if you do not already
own antique China furniture already:
1. Antique China furniture can be thousands of years
old and is held in high regard in the antiques
business. As a result, it tends to be much more
expensive than other antique furniture. It is
essential you are sure that you want to invest in it
and that your budget will allow for it.
2. Antique China furniture is one of the most
consistent when it comes to increasing value. It
will almost certainly bring you a good return if you
are looking to invest in antique furniture. Antique
China furniture is in demand and so the prices will
always be consistently high. You may actually be
putting in a lot of capital, but you will get far
more out of it in the future.
3. Antique China furniture’s value is largely in the
intricate and unique designs and the hard but
beautiful wood it is made out of. Every piece is
very individuals and highly sought after. This
ensures its value will remain at least stable for
the foreseeable future.
Antique China furniture is not as readily available
as some other types of antique furniture. This is
because it is so popular as well as the fact that it
is extremely rare. Contacting your local antiques
store may give you a good idea of where you can
actually go to purchase antique China furniture. Any
good dealer will have contacts that they can call
upon for advice or help so they should be able to
track down certain pieces for you or tell you the
best places to shop for it.
The Internet is a good research tool if you want to
look into antique China furniture on your own. There
are online stores as well as advice pages that you
can consult. They may also be able to direct you to
the closest specialist antique China furniture
dealer too.
Internet antique China furniture stores can make you
some great savings too. As they are open to a
worldwide market, they have greater business
opportunities and do not tend to take as much
commission. Searching out bargains can become
addictive too so you may spend a happy few hours
browsing happily! All you have to do is log on,
click through to a store make your purchase and wait
for your antique China furniture to be delivered to
your door!
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English Antique Furniture: Make The Most Of The
Masters
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Although there are many types of antique furniture
out there, some types and styles fit more snugly
into their classification as antique as a result of
their age and accepted origin. English antique
furniture is one of the established antique types,
with some pieces being as old as three hundred
years.
English antique furniture is extremely established
as a favourite in the antiques business and thus can
command an extremely high price. Some pieces are
very old and very rare, even going as far as to say
that a number of pieces are one of kind, which
prices them out of the affordable range. However,
the individuality and unique nature of English
antique furniture can add a new and serene
atmosphere to your home.
The craftsmanship of English antique furniture is
astounding, especially if you consider that it
encompasses all of the eras in British history. The
majority of it is from the Victorian, Edwardian and
Elizabethan periods of history and a lot of pieces
are in extremely good condition despite this. Their
condition is largely owing to the fact that woods
such as mahogany and oak were used extensively back
then as a result of their durable and reliable
nature.
Any antique collector should bear in mind that
English antique furniture is extremely functional,
even if some pieces do not have the intricate
designs and carvings present in antiques from other
countries and other eras. The English craftsmen of
those particular times were amongst the best in the
world and made sure that the pieces were of an
extremely high quality.
English antique furniture is valued highly as a
result of age, functionality, materials and the good
condition that most pieces are in. It is possible to
furnish your entire house in English antique
furniture, although it would be highly expensive.
Your home would be more beautiful as a result
though. The sturdy and reliable yet beautiful
designs are highly desirable. You could actually
have a complete dining room in the Victorian style,
a living room in the Edwardian style and a bathroom
in the Elizabethan style. The ironic thing is that
it would all go together extremely well because of
the principles that have endured throughout history.
English antique furniture is readily available from
antiques dealers around the world. This is
accessible to most individuals via the Internet.
There are hundreds of great stores in England that
actually advertise their wares online. They are
usually authentic and can be transported effectively
to any location on Earth. The easiest way to access
them is via a search engine, but you will be glad
that you did when you see the English antique
furniture gems they have in store for you!
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Antique Bedroom Furniture: Decorate Your Home In The
Past
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Many
modern day bedroom décor trends have originated in
days gone by. The four-poster bed has never been out
of fashion, even though it was actually initially
designed in the Elizabethan period. As antique
bedroom furniture has never gone out of fashion, why
not add an authentic feel to your sleeping quarters?
Elizabethan four-poster beds were made of oak and
built to last. They were essentially functional, as
all antique bedroom furniture is designed to be, but
also had beautiful intricate carvings in the wood to
make them more desirable and ornate in often lavish
upper class Elizabethan bedrooms.
Looking specifically at the British Elizabethan era,
antique bedroom furniture in the hundreds of years
since has distinctly followed the designs and styles
set by that period of time. Beds, armoires and
bedside cabinets were all designed to be functional
as well as providing a touch of class to the
bedroom. They were all made of hardwoods, such as
oak, and extremely decorative in nature.
Antique bedroom furniture from that era is extremely
small by modern standards because rooms were so much
smaller than today, as were the individuals.
However, all items of furniture were deigned to be
highly functional and everything served its purpose,
hence why some pieces still survive today. Armoires
often stored clothing in the absence of wardrobes
and were designed specifically for individuals by
master craftsmen.
Antique bedroom furniture was the best money could
buy back then and has a somewhat higher value today,
in comparison with antique bedroom furniture from
other eras.
Other forms of wood took over as the main source
material for antique bedroom furniture in the 1600s,
especially when furniture began to be manufactured
in the United States, where cherry and walnut were
far more readily available than oak. The traditional
designs crossed the Atlantic but took on new slants
in order to make them unique.
Instead of ornate carvings, antique bedroom
furniture from this period has a variety of arches,
shaping and panelling as decoration. These items
were more readily available because craftsmen would
not design them specifically for one individual.
They have a slightly reduced value as a result but
are just as functional and durable as previous
antique bedroom furniture pieces.
Tallboys and other similar chest designs for clothes
storage were born in the 1700s for more practical
dressing spaces. Antique bedroom furniture evolved
to meet the demands placed on it by then modern day
life. The wardrobe, or chiffarobe as it was known
then, was added to the design collection in the
1800s. At this time, various types of strong,
durable hardwoods were used to ensure that the
pieces served their purpose and now we are reaping
the rewards.
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Antique Furniture Dining Room Sets: A Meal Fit For
Investment
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Antique
furniture dining room sets are amongst the most
popular and most sought after antiques around. An
antique furniture dining room set will fit into any
home and can bring a certain character to the room,
as well as providing a serviceable piece that will
last well through the years. There are a variety of
choices available if you are looking to invest in
one, but there are some things you need to know
first.
Antique furniture dining rooms sets are generally
absolutely gorgeous, although they do come in a
variety of styles depending on the era in which they
were produced. Some tend to have intricate designs
and carvings on the panelling and limbs, but others
are just beautifully plain with a character that
defies any decoration. Antique furniture dining room
sets can be made out of a variety of hardwoods in a
variety of finishes but are all extremely durable
and will not really bow to wear and tear over time
if you take care of them properly.
As with most pieces out there, antique furniture
dining room sets actually increase in value over
time. As long as those pieces do not become
subjected to degradation and damage are well taken
care of, cleaned on a regular basis for example,
then you could potentially double your investment.
If you are looking for an investment that will be an
integral part of your home for years to come, then
antique furniture dining room sets may indeed be for
you!
There are several factors you have to consider
whilst looking for antique furniture dining room
sets: 1. Look for authenticity in antique furniture
dining room sets. There are various replicas and
reproductions on the market that are hard to
separate from the real thing for the untrained eye.
If you are in doubt, have a second expert of your
own choice value the piece as well. If they concur
with an original valuation then go ahead and buy it.
If not then just walk away. There are many
unscrupulous dealers out there so always safeguard
your money.
2. Do your research before investing in antique
furniture dining room sets. There is a huge range of
styles and eras that you can get pieces from at the
moment. However, you have to decide which style
would best fit in with your home and household.
Investing serious money in antique furniture dining
room sets is all well and good but will it actually
be an eyesore within your home?
3. Do not settle for anything less than the pieces
you want. All pieces are expensive and require too
much of an investment to decide that you do not like
it further down the line. Be patient and search out
the perfect piece for you. A little bit of time and
effort will always pay dividends so sit on your
investment until the perfect item comes along!
Bear all of the above in mind when you are hunting
for antique furniture dining room sets and you will
be able to enjoy your investment for years to come!
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How To
Look After Your Antique Garden Furniture
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You can buy all
sorts of antiques for your home and garden, from
patio furniture to dining room furniture but one
particular type of antique often slips under the
radar of dedicated collectors. Antique garden
furniture can really make your garden unique and
give it a new lease of life, as well as providing
you with an excellent investment. However, there are
various factors to take into consideration when you
buy antique garden furniture.
Antique garden furniture can provide a new and
different twist for any landscape but, being garden
furniture, they are vulnerable to the elements and
the naturally destructive demands of nature.
Consider also that you are leaving your investment
outside 24 hours a day and thus outside of your
protection. This may disturb some people, and I do
not blame them. You have to be comfortable with
leaving your investment outside and there is nothing
you can do about that, but you can help to prevent
natural damage and degradation of your antique
garden furniture with very little effort.
The most popular antique garden furniture is the
statue. Statues of the antique variety can come in
various different guises, from birdbaths to free
standing structures to urns. The choice is yours
regarding the design but take these steps to protect
them and you will actively help to preserve them for
years to come:
1. To prevent cracking as a result of ice and other
kinds of precipitation, elevate them off the ground.
Antique garden furniture should never be placed
directly on soil because this will encourage damage
from the ground up. Placing them on bricks or stone
slabs will give them the support they need.
2. Remove the bath section of any antique garden
furniture birdbaths that you have in winter. Water
will freeze, but if there is nowhere for it to lie
then that won’t be a problem.
3. You could also cover up any antique garden
furniture you have when the weather starts to turn.
You could fashion a wooden structure or cover them
with a thick cloth to prevent ice and frost getting
at them.
4. Keep all antique garden furniture slightly shaded
so it is out of direct sunlight at all times. This
will protect them from fading and degradation.
Iron antique garden furniture may also prove to be a
problem when it comes to preservation because it is
prone to rusting. There is no possible way that you
can stop the rain from coming down so you should see
to the furniture instead! Some pieces of iron
antique garden furniture may have already been
treated but others will need to be treated as soon
as you get them. Strip the layers of paint off and
treat with a paint that protects iron against
rusting. This should do the trick. Very few pieces
of iron antique garden furniture will have original
paintwork so do not worry about devaluing it.
You should be able to enjoy antique garden furniture
for many years to come so spend time on them and
make every effort to see that they are being
preserved effectively. This will pay off in the end,
but meanwhile you can enjoy your antique garden
every day!
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Invest
In The Unusual: Antique Patio Furniture
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More and more
individuals today are looking to invest in antiques,
viewing the antique trade as an alternative means of
putting some of their hard earned cash away for a
rainy day. If you want to invest in antiques but are
looking for something different, look at antique
patio furniture. There are benefits associated with
purchasing antique patio furniture and it is well
worth considering as an investment. However, there
are other issues associated with it, so read on to
find out more.
Antique patio furniture tends to be absolutely
gorgeous. Intricately designed with a unique style,
antique patio furniture pieces also tend to be
extremely valuable. This taps into the investment
element but will also ensure that they blend in well
with your home and garden. You can find classic
style antique patio furniture as well as more
delicate furniture – whichever option suits your
tastes better.
Even if you do find antique patio furniture to suit
your tastes, you have to realise that the pieces
will generally be kept outside and thus will be
subjected to the effects of pets, children and the
elements. As a result, it may be better if your
antique patio furniture is kept in a garage,
outhouse or spare room rather than being located in
an extremely vulnerable space.
Antique patio furniture is susceptible to damage and
degradation but, if treated correctly, can prove to
be extremely hardy and reliable. Each individual
piece has lasted over a hundred years to date anyway
so bear that in mind. If they do happen to
experience degradation then their value will
plummet. Remember that when you are debating whether
to take care of it or not.
Antique patio furniture is not as well publicized as
household antique furniture so it may be confusing
to know where to look. Before you do trawl around
shops looking for individual pieces, do your
research. Take a look at the antique store websites
on the Internet for style ideas. You will have the
opportunity to look at images and descriptions, and
thus will be better equipped to decide what styles
would suit you best. You would also have the
opportunity to check out the prices you would be
expected to pay.
Antique patio furniture is quite expensive but will
last for years if treated correctly so you have to
weigh up eventual value versus the current cost.
After researching prices, you will be aware of your
initial investment and will be able to put a limit
on the amount that you plan to invest. Purchasing
any antique furniture piece is worth a little bit of
patience. As long as you research your options to
the point that you are absolutely certain of your
purchase then you have made the correct investment.
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Antique Office Furniture: Enjoy Your Special Working
Environment
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The modern
office space is so impersonal and staid that it is
no wonder more and more individuals are setting up
their own offices and working from home. All office
furniture is made with practicality in mind these
days with none of the decoration and elegance of
previous generations’ office furniture. However,
antique office furniture can be used to seriously
brighten up a room and make your working space much
more pleasurable an environment to be in.
Antique office furniture can be quite expensive,
depending on the style and design that you are
looking for. There are antique furniture
reproductions available but they are probably not
suitable for those looking for an investment.
There are various styles of antique office furniture
available for individuals to choose from, but one of
the most popular is the antique office furniture
from the early days of the British Empire. The
British had command posts all over the world and
thus their furniture at the time was very imposing
and grand. They were designed to help individual
army officers to get organised and work efficiently
and can do the same for modern day business people.
They will dominate the whole room, thus ensuring
that you will not be able to do anything but work in
there!
There are also early American antique office
furniture pieces available. In total contrast to the
functional practicality of the British pieces, this
antique office furniture of American colonial times
in greatly ornate and extremely intricate in design
with emblems carved into the wooden sides and
drawers. It was meant to honour their early leaders
and give them a sense of importance. It did just
that and can certainly do the same for your office.
If you are looking for an elegant look rather than
an imposing one, then this is definitely the item
for you.
In total contrast to both British and American early
antique office furniture, French antique office
furniture is unique and has a personality all of its
own. Traditionally made of darker wood, it has
intricate carving with header often added to chairs
to give officials a sense of purpose and to remind
them of their position rather than keeping the
minions in their place. The craftsmen commissioned
to make these pieces were the best in their trade
and did a magnificent job. The compartments in the
antique office furniture desks are roomy and easy to
organise papers in. The atmosphere that they provoke
is also slightly different in that it is more laid
back although equally useful.
Whatever style of antique office furniture you
eventually choose for your home office, you will be
more than satisfied with the results. Choosing
antique office furniture with the right design can
create a productive atmosphere thus deliberate
before selecting the perfect piece for you!
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Italian Antique Furniture: Add A Little Elegance To
Your Home
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Italian antique
furniture is a popular choice for many antiques
collectors today. Like all antique furniture, it is
over a hundred years old and most pieces are unique
or made as part of a collection of items. Of course,
all Italian antique furniture is indeed Italian and
all of them live up to the high standards that
Italian craftsmen are renowned for the world over.
The quality of Italian antique furniture is so high
and this makes it highly collectable today, as well
as ensuring that some pieces are amongst the highest
valued in the world.
Italian designers and craftsmen did not neglect
functionality when producing highly ornate and
absolutely gorgeous Italian antique furniture. All
pieces are usually highly functional and still
serviceable today, despite their age and delicate
quality that makes them seem positively elegant. It
is extremely sought after though so if you do spot
any Italian antique furniture and fall in love with
it then you are best advised to purchase it as soon
as possible because you can guarantee that it will
not be there in a couple of days time!
Italian antique furniture is not confined to one
specific era or style. You can often spot a piece of
Italian antique furniture a mile off because they
carvings and patterning is so beautiful and unique
that you would not mistake it for any other type of
furniture. However, the designs do very slightly
from era to era as a result of changing fashions. As
there is no definitive style, some lucky people may
own a piece but not even realise it! It is possible
to pick up bargains as a result.
The Renaissance era Italian antique furniture is
especially beautiful because craftsmen used
furniture to try out new techniques and vent their
creative energies. They followed in the footsteps of
their ancestors and continued the traditional of the
masters for future generations to pick up later on.
Furniture from Italy is still highly creative and so
these trends also look set to continue in the
future.
Today, the furniture produced by Italy follows the
Italian antique furniture designs of the Renaissance
by having richly upholstered pieces with tapestries
incorporated into the integral work of the piece. It
is definitely designed to draw attention!
You can get Italian antique furniture from many
sources. You could actually go to Italy to procure
some and have a lovely holiday whilst you are there.
This involves shipping it back to your homeland but
it is well worth it. The rich walnut or oak wood and
the beautiful patterns will mesmerize you and you
will soon find yourself addicted! Some store closer
to home will also stock Italian antique furniture so
there is no excuse not to seek it out!
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