Buyer's Guide

The vintage and antique home furnishings and accessories found in this catalog have been acquired from many sources -- auctions, private homes, flea markets and other dealers. Originals in good condition are hard to find. They often need some degree of repair or restoration. But carefully redone, these pieces will not only hold their value but will continue to grow while you are living with and appreciating them.

Antiques can be replicated today, but they cannot be duplicated because their individual pasts make them unique.

If antiques and vintage furnishings are new to you, here are some pointers:

Definitions

What is "antique", "vintage", or "collectible"?

In America, "antique" generally refers to pieces that were made prior to 1870, when the Industrial Revolution converted the production of most furniture from handmade to machine manufactured.

"Vintage", although a general word to describe the best and most characteristic of a given period, now is commonly applied to many items made from the 1920s through the 1950's.

A "collectible" can be considered any item being collected now that it is no longer being produced.

Authenticity

Antique furniture reveals clues about its age rather easily at first. For starters, learning to distinguish between the marks made by hand and machine tools will give you an immediate advantage in dating a piece.

Keep in mind that furniture can be crafted by hand in any era, but if it is age you are looking for, you have to look for more clues.

Many furniture styles just do not exist anymore and have not been reproduced. If you come across one of these styles, chances are it is authentic. Reproductions are being made in increasing numbers all the time to meet the demand for "antique style" furniture -- all the more reason to get the real thing.

Value

Each original has a unique history based on its age, care and craftsmanship. You won't find any two pieces exactly alike. Antiques can be replicated (reproduced or copied) but not duplicated in today's stores.

In general, the older the antique, the more valuable its original condition becomes. Any damage, wear and tear, or alterations can greatly affect its monetary value. Especially prized is an original "patina", a naturally aged finish that has a certain "depth".

So, take condition into consideration if investment is your goal. However, if it's beat up but not too expensive, and you like it, enjoy.

Shop Around

If you like old stuff, look at a lot of it over a period of time so you can better tell what is "ordinary old" and what is special. Just because it is old doesn't necessarily make it good.