French Polishing and Bespoke Furniture
Where to Find Good, Cheap Used Furniture Thrift Stores. For many people, when they think of used furniture , the first thing they think about is thrift stores. The Re-Store. I recently paid a visit to the “Re-Store,” the Habitat for Humanity’s salvage store. Yard Sales. Estate Sales. Flea Markets or Swap Meets. Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Classified Ads.
List of Online Antique Stores Amazon: If you are looking to buy or sell antiques online, one of the best places to start is Amazon. Ruby Lane: Another great place where to buy collectibles online is Ruby Lane. Webstore: Webstore is an upcoming online auctione store.
Here’s how to find out if your old furniture is vintage or financially valuable . Trace Back the Furniture’s Owners. Determine the Age of Your Furniture . Consider the Rarity of Your Vintage Furniture . Check for Vintage Furniture Quality. Look for Vintage Furniture in Good Condition.
Buying Tips Find good sources and pay frequent visits: Explore different vintage furniture stores in your area. Look for gently used: Gently used furniture is always preferable to furniture that has been trashed, vintage or not. Find furniture with good bones: Look for furniture with good bones.
Five Ways to Tell If Furniture Is Actually Antique Look for dovetailing. Dovetailing is a sign of quality craftsmanship in woodworking, used to hold together different parts of the same piece of furniture . Multiple types of wood is a good thing. Beware of furniture that’s made to look old. Do a thorough search for labels or stamps. Shut out symmetry.
100 years old
Vintage and antique goods can often bring you money if you’re selling the right items . In my experience, selling at local antique shops will bring you fast money, but not necessarily the most cash. After all, local antique shops buy with the hope of re-selling at a profit.
The best places to buy antiques online LAPADA’s online marketplace. Auctionata and AuctionMe. The Old Cinema. 1stdibs. Barneby’s. LiveAuctioneers. Circa Vintage. Invaluable.
Here are the top ways to sell antiques and collectibles online : Ebay. Selling antiques on eBay has been one of the go-to ways for dealers to put their collections in front of thousands of people for over two decades. Etsy. Ruby Lane. Other Online Marketplaces. Online Dealers. Social Media. Specialty Sites. Build a Website.
Antique furniture holds its value over centuries – unlike modern reproductions – and dealers are a fountain of knowledge as to what this value is. Always approach dealers from a reputable trade body with years of studying antique furniture under their belt – they should advise you honestly and stand by their word.
If an antique is valuable – say 4 figures and higher – covering an original finish, with the aged patina of years of loving care, painting that piece will affect its value – almost guaranteed, negatively. Do your homework and find out the value of your antique furniture , and whether it’s rare or very common.
Four Ways to Get a Free, Local Appraisal Attend Appraisal Day at a Local Auction House. Go to a Major Local Antique Show. Attend a Visiting Appraisal Show. Ask Antique Shops and Auction Houses. Know the Item’s History. Check Scope of Appraisal Before Going. Remember Free Appraisal Limitations. Selling Your Appraised Antique .
Local places where you could sell your antique furniture are: Flea market. Local Craigslist marketplace. Local Facebook Marketplace. Local antiques dealer. Local auction house. Local newspaper ad. Pawn shop. Yard Sale.
Vintage furniture is anything that’s at least 20 years old . If a piece of furniture is at least 20 years old , but has been restored, it’s still considered vintage . Within the vintage category, newer pieces, especially those dating from the 1950s to1980, are generally considered retro.
An item should be at least 100 years old to be defined as an antique . Generally speaking if the item is no older than an antique but not less than 20 years, it falls under the term vintage . I have heard the term ‘true vintage ‘ as being at least 50 years old.