Antique and Flea Market Information » Furniture

Start an Antiques Business

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:00:42 +0000

By Aidan James

How about another great home business idea? One that is rewarding in more ways than just the profit (and there is lots of profit potential!). An antiques business is full of opportunity to learn, make friends and earn some serious coin. It is also one of those great businesses that can be as little or as large as you want or need it to be.

The skills required are some knowledge of antiques and the antiques trade, the eye for a bargain and maybe some handyman skills if you plan on doing some restoration. Because the market is so broad its often best to specialize in one area of the business. This can also be a smart idea if you are keeping this to very much a work at home business and so have limited space. You can then become expert in your particular field very quickly.

The market sectors range from the obvious to the obscure but no matter how obscure, someone is looking to buy the pieces and someone else is making a mint by serving the sector. This might seem obvious but you would be surprised how many enterprising souls start their antiques business in say furniture or porcelain where there is much less opportunity to break through successfully as sectors like those are very crowded and thus competitive. Best to find yourself a less crowded sector like antique toys and dolls or other specialty.

You can source your goods from house clearances, deceased estate sales, advertisements and notices in local newspapers and boards and of course by word of mouth. Your sales can be by private sale through classifieds, markets or of course auctions including online auctions like ebay. You don’t have to be a dealer of course, there are many interested folk doing very nicely out of restoration for example, so if you don’t fancy the dealing part of the business that might be an avenue for you.

Most who get into antiques actually thrive on the thrill of negotiating a purchase or a sale and are always on the lookout for a bargain either way. You want to buy at as low a price as possible while selling as high as you can to maximize profit. This is where specialization can be particularly handy. A good knowledge of the subject to hand will allow you to spot the bargain. It is even possible to get bargains from long established traders if you know more than them about a particular item.

You can also make good money teaching others about antiques either at community college type classes or on a website, you are not likely to be short of an audience as the interest in antiques seems universal and millions of people are looking online for information on antiques.

Possibly the greatest thing about the business though is the ability to choose just how deeply you want to get into the antique business, a little or a lot, some extra cash or a whole living, its all completely up to you.

About the Author: See more on this lucrative home business idea at An Antique Business at Home or see lots more honest ways to make money at home and get free downloads at Work at Home Ideas

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Why to Decorate With Antiques

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:54:23 +0000

By James1984 Thompson

Many individuals are collecting antiques as their hobby. Some do this because they want to know the culture of the people who made these antiques. Other individuals collect antiques because of the age of the item, the uniqueness of the item, or the rarity of it. There are different reasons why collectors love to have antiques, but why to decorate with antiques.

One of the main reasons why to decorate with antiques is that it can highlight different parts of the house. If you put an antique piece in your living room, it can add elegance to the living room. This is a good idea especially if you want to make the room look more special. If the room looks boring, you can spice it up by simply decorating it with the antiques that you are collecting.

Also a reason why to decorate with antiques is that it can compliment other furniture in your house. If the furniture in the room makes it look dull, it is a great idea to compliment the furniture with an antique. This will make the room and the furniture more attractive than it was before. Some furniture really needs some item to compliment them in order for them to be noticeable.

This also goes the other way around with other antique items and furniture. If the antique furniture is too noticeable for the room, you may want to add an antique painting, vase, rugs, or figurine near or on top of the antique furniture. By doing this the antique furniture which earlier was too noticeable for the room will blend in perfectly. This is due to that the attention that might be given to the furniture will be redirected to the antique ornaments.

Other reasons of why to decorate with antiques is due to that if you display such an item you will be showcasing the art and culture of the people who made it. This is a great idea especially if you have kids. Because when you display antique items to showcase the arts and culture of the makers of the antique item, you are teaching your children about the history and culture of certain peoples.

If you really just want to see and appreciate fine and rare arts, it is a great idea to have your antique collection on display in your room. Also, decorating your room with antique will not only satisfy you but it will also satisfy the taste of other people that visits your room.

There are different reasons why to decorate with antiques. But, the entire effect on decorating your room with antiques is the same. You want to make that certain room more beautiful. However, you must consider several things when decorating the room with antiques. One of the things you must consider is that the room should compliment with the antique. You don’t want to place an antique together with a digital appliances or gadgets. Also, you don’t want to decorate the room with so many antiques because the room will not look great if it’s swarming with antiques. It is best to have the appropriate number of antiques to display.

About the Author: Looking for more antiques? Online Antique Auctions.

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Helpful Guide in Buying Antique Furniture

admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:54:16 +0000

By Benedict Smythe

The aesthetic value of antique furniture pieces is one of the
reasons why many antique collectors prefer these items. There is
a wide variety of styles and era to choose from. Antique
collectors have, in some ways, mastered the skills in knowing
what a good buy is, but as novice, you may need more time and
experience.

If you plan to buy antique furniture piece to add glamour to
your home, be on the lookout for reproductions. The following
helpful information will guide you on the basics of buying
authentic and practical antique furniture.

Observe the dimensions. Authentic antique furniture does not
have uniform dimensions since wood, which most antique furniture
are made of, shrinks with age. Otherwise, there is a strong
possibility that what you are eyeing for is not genuine at all.
To clearly see the various angles of furniture, take the time to
view it in broad daylight.

Test the solidity of the item. Antique furniture has no real
value if it loses its functionality. What use is an authentic
antique chair when you cannot actually sit on it? Antique shops
allow buyers to sit or move items for verification. Antique
experts also suggest this method.

Make sure that parts are available. Good quality antique
furniture has complete functional or decorative parts as well.

Look for proof of antiquity. Since the age of an antique is one
of the major determinants of authenticity, you should have the
assurance that the item for sale passed the age definition of an
antique which is at least a hundred years old. One way to verify
this is to look for signs of depreciation in the item such as
dust accumulation in its corners which are hard to reach by
regular dusting. If these simple signs are not available,
experts say, the item might not be as old as an antique should
be. You must also consider whether a piece of furniture has been
restored or refinished. Restoration on antique pieces may
decrease the value of the item especially if done poorly.

Examine the surface colour. The surface finish of a piece of
antique furniture is also a significant detail to observe. A
quality piece of antique furniture should show flat colouring
except for some shades which might have naturally occur due to
age. The back side of a piece may differ in appearance with the
surface but it should have unvaried shades as well.

Interview the antique shop owner. You will get more details
through a one on one interview with the shop owner. Ask about
the era and style of the furniture which you may later research
on to be more familiar with the item. You may also request for a
warranty of the item.

Consider antique restoration. While some would no longer
consider unstable antique furniture, you may choose to have the
item restored to its former glory through the help of a
professional antique restorer.

Antique restoration is the art of restoring an antique to its
natural appearance with the purpose of making it appear new. In
some cases, antique restoration refers to the process of
restoring an antique for preservation or conservation of its
features to avoid more wear and tear.

Get a second opinion. If you are hesitant about the value of
your target antique piece of furniture, you may hire the
expertise of antique experts. What’s more, you may also have the
furniture appraised to determine its actual value.

About the Author: Driscolls Antiques is a leading supplier of
quality antiques and antique furniture. Benedict Yossarian is a
freelance Internet Marketing Consultant that can help maximize
your exposure online. www.driscollsantiques.co.uk/
yossarian.co.uk/

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Essential Knowledge About Antique Paine Furniture

admin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:28:09 +0000

By David Faulkner

Anyone who has a minimal interest in antique furniture will
know that there are many types of furniture to choose from. If
you are seriously considering investing in antiques as a source
of profit then you really should do your research. A specific
kind of antique that you should look into is antique Paine
furniture.

Antique Paine furniture was made by the Paine company and has a
number of unique characteristics that make it a beautiful
addition to any home. It was made in Boston in the late 1800s
and is highly sought after today.

Antique Paine furniture is more valuable than a lot of other
antique furniture types purely because it is in demand. Paine
himself was a master craftsman and made the most beautiful
furniture. It is steadfast, reliable and still serviceable over
a hundred years on. Although your initial outlay can be quite
large, you would be comforted to know that it actually becomes
more and more valuable as the years go on so a piece in good
condition can actually double in price within the space of a few
years.

Antique Paine furniture can be obtained for any given room in a
house. The family business made patio, dining room, bedroom and
living room furniture amongst other items and so it is viable
that you could fill your home with antique Paine furniture. It
would certainly be a different and expensive theme, but a theme
nevertheless!

It is worth taking time over the antique Paine furniture pieces
that you will eventually choose because they will prove to be
focal points of your home. They automatically attract attention
because of their gorgeous color and fantastic design. You should
exercise patience if you on a limited budget because there may
be several items that take your eye when you can only afford one
or two.

Antique Paine furniture is extremely valuable so it may be
worth assessing the value independently from the store that you
plan to make a purchase from, just to double check that the
value is actually as advertised. You should also check for any
imperfections, as just one would significantly lower its value.
A given price should reflect the condition and age of each
individual antique Paine furniture piece so beware of any
problems before handing over cash.

Buying any antique furniture is an investment today, whether
you mean it to be or not. Antique Paine furniture is one of the
types of antique that is worth ever penny. Beautiful and
powerful, it can fit into any home and enhance it significantly
with few problems. Have patience, buy the right piece and make
the most out of it!

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!

About the Author: You can also find more info on
www.antiquefurniturersource.com/Antique_Furniture_For_Your_Room
on Antique Furniture For Your Room and
www.antiquefurniturersource.com/Antique_Furniture_Hardware
on Antique Furniture Hardware.

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A Quick Guide To Cleaning Antique Furniture

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:31:29 +0000

By David Faulkner

Antique furniture is most definitely an asset. Anyone owning a
piece of antique furniture may be able to command thousand for
that one individual item of furniture, which is why more and
more individuals are choosing to invest in it at the moment. Of
course value and worth all depend on a number of factors that
are associated with the furniture itself.

The type of word, design, style and the era in which it was
made are just a few of those factors. However, you can do
something to preserve your investment by cleaning antique
furniture correctly and at the right intervals. This is
therefore your quick three-step guide to cleaning antique
furniture.

Step One: Avoiding Dust Degradation.

When cleaning antique furniture, ensure that it becomes part of
your regular routine quickly so that you do not neglect it in
any way. You should always dust it every few days, once a week
at the very least. You should never use any kind of dusting
device though, lest it scratch it. A soft cloth is perfect for
this purpose. Do not use any sprays of any kind on it and that
includes regular furniture polish because the chemicals that are
used in those formulas to repel dust and grime can actually
damage your investment by staining the wood or causing weak
spots. Cleaning antique furniture should be about preserving it
rather than adding to the wear and tear!

There are certain polishes that you can use when cleaning
antique furniture. Orange oil is good for cleaning antique
furniture once a week. You should then polish it with furniture
wax once every couple of months. Applying a thin coat will
encourage it to shine without causing a wax build up.

Step Two: Protecting The Wood

Cleaning antique furniture can damage the wood if it is not
done correctly so make sure that you protect it at all times.
For example, mop up any spillages immediately and never rest
anything on it directly that could possibly scratch it. If you
spill water, simply wiping it off immediately would protect the
wood but solvents should be treated with care. Cleaning antique
furniture in this instance would require dabbing the stain with
a soft cloth until all of the solvent has been removed. Wiping
it away would cause more damage.

Also, protect your wood by ensuring that it never stands in the
glare of direct sunlight. This can discolor it and cause it to
fade, and no amount of cleaning antique furniture will be able
to solve that problem.

Step Three: Optimum Environmental Factors

Always make sure that your home provides the optimum
environment for your pieces. Cleaning antique furniture is all
well and good but will not be able to protect it against the
elements. Ensure that your house is a constant temperature all
year round. If that means investing in a humidifier then so be
it. It is worth that little bit extra to protect your own larger
investment. This will stabilise the air and make sure that
cleaning antique furniture will have the desired effect of
preservation throughout the years.

About the Author: You can also find more info on
www.antiquefurniturersource.com/Antique_Furniture_Collections/English_Antique_Furniture.php
on English Antique Furniture and
www.antiquefurniturersource.com/Antique_Furniture_Collections/Italian_Antique_Furniture.php
on Italian Antique Furniture.

Source: www.isnare.com

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Buying Antique Chairs: Advice For Beginners

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:07:54 +0000

By Patrick Slater

Many people like to buy antique furniture, including antique
chairs, because of the blend of style and history. Antiques have
a story to tell about the people who owned them and how they
were used, even if you have to imagine what that exact story is.
Whether you buy antiques because of their style, as an
investment, to preserve a piece of history, or for sentimental
reasons, beginners should educate themselves about the pieces
and the time period they come from.

One of the biggest issues for beginning antique buyers is that
it can be hard to know when you’re getting the real thing and
when you’ve come across a reproduction or imitation piece. In
addition, pieces that have been fixed or changed in some way can
have a reduced value if the fix wasn’t done correctly or if the
piece wasn’t restored properly.

Beginners should try to learn as much as they can about
particular areas of antiques. If you are interested in antique
chairs, do as much research as you can about the period or style
that you’re interested in. It’s often easier to start with one
particular item and increase your knowledge from there. Study
how the antique chair was made, what materials were used, and so
on. In addition, research the issues that individuals can run
into in buying the particular style or chair so that you’ll have
a better idea of what to watch out for.

Sometimes you can find a class or workshop covering the antique
chair period that you like which will help you learn not only
about its construction but also its history. Check with local
universities, community centers, or larger auction houses to see
if they offer any classes on the topic. Buy a few books on the
topic and read online sites as well. The more knowledge you
gain, the better able you’ll be to buy good pieces.

Hands on looking will greatly improve your skills at spotting
the real deal. If you know of an expert in the area, have them
help you. Otherwise, try to find a good dealer or restorer that
knows the topic and will work with you. Although books and
research are helpful, you’ll need to be able to work with and
recognize actual pieces.

If you focus on pieces that you love, you’ll be less frustrated
when you find that you’ve paid more for something than it’s
worth. Even with the most careful research, sometimes it will
happen and you need to be ready for that. Do all you can to
ensure that you’re getting an authentic piece, but recognize
that sometimes you’ll miss something, particularly as you’re
starting out.

Finding antique chairs can be great fun for treasure hunters.
When you start out, it’s important to gain as much knowledge
about the topic as you can and to practice looking for good
pieces. Soon, your hard work will pay off in amazing finds.

About the Author: My Chair Pro is your complete information
resource for chairs. Visit www.mychairpro.com/ to learn
about everything from Lazy Boy chairs to ergonomic office
chairs.

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Refinish Antique Furniture: Enhance Your Investment

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:05:12 +0000

By Wade Robins

If you happen to own or are looking to own antique furniture as
an investment then it would be prudent to learn how to refinish
antique furniture in general. This is simply protecting your
investment because you never know what may happen. Damage and
degradation actually result in items of antique furniture being
scrapped every year. The only way to protect it is to refinish
antique furniture as and when needed!

The steps you need to take to refinish antique furniture are
easy to learn and easy to follow, so here is your first class.
Refinish antique furniture for dummies!

1. Ensure that you have all of the necessary materials to
refinish antique furniture on hand or at least know where to lay
your hands on it quickly. There is nothing that devalues antique
furniture more than doing a botch job on a piece that can be
spotted by experts at 10 meters away. You will need tools and
supplies to achieve the correct finish.

2. Make sure that all tools you need to refinish antique
furniture are well maintained and in tip top condition because
using rough tools will usually make damage worse and scratch the
surface beyond repair.

3. Practice patience. There is nothing worse than rushing any
job that needs to be done properly so take your time and learn
how to effectively refinish antique furniture before commencing
a job. If you do not know what you are doing then the likelihood
is that you will devalue your investment and probably damage the
piece beyond repair.

4. Do your homework and research the piece fully. To refinish
antique furniture, you need the skills and tools but you also
need to have a working knowledge of what each piece looks like
and how to take the best possible care of it whilst you are
working on it. If you refinish antique furniture properly then
the likelihood is that you will not lose any of the original
value because it will blend in nicely with the piece’s original
work.

5. If you think that you cannot refinish antique furniture to
the standard needed to maintain its value then do not even
attempt it! There are hundreds of experts out there just waiting
to get their hands on your antiques. They can refinish antique
furniture with their eyes closed and can do a professional and
invisible job. Paying them is a small drop in the ocean as to
what you would eventually be able to get from the piece.

6. If you do employ someone to refinish antique furniture for
you then make sure that you agree a price up front. Get two or
three quotes to check out prices and get the best possible deal.
Always make sure that the individual you choose to do the work
has a solid reputation and happy clients because you do not want
to pay someone to ruin your furniture for you instead of
refinishing it effectively. For more info see
www.antiquefurniturersource.com/Antique_Furniture_Collections/Chinese_Antique_Furniture.php
on Chinese Antique Furniture.

You should enjoy your antique furniture as well as looking
after it for future generations or as an investment. If your do
need to refinish antique furniture then make the best choice
possible because who know what it may cost you if you don’t!

About the Author: You can also find more info on
www.antiquefurniturersource.com/Antique_Furniture_Collections/Antique_China_Furniture.php
on Antique China Furniture and
www.antiquefurniturersource.com/Antique_Furniture_Collections/Antique_Mission_Furniture.php
on Antique Mission Furniture.

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Antique Furniture: Styles of furniture through the ages

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:35:48 +0000

Owning and collecting antique furniture is the closest way to recreate the atmosphere of the period it came from. That is why there is such an interest in collecting antiques furnishings either through purchasing it if you are a keen collector, or researching the information for yourself if you are interested in the styles of the generations of the past.

Collectors like to own different furniture spanning through different periods to compare and admire the different changes of style between them. Not everyone is well off enough to buy or have the space to own every period piece of period furniture, so if you are interested in antique furniture the best plan is to buy specialist magazines, visiting museums, visit your local antique shops, go to antique fairs or even to specialist auction houses. By doing so you will gain a deeper understanding of antique furniture and the changes that occurred through the ages that gave that period its own particular style.

Antiques and antique furniture can indeed help us to understand history in the way that styles and fashions changed to reflect the needs and general living conditions of the time. Style changes are never sudden but they are progressive never the less, and finding out how these changes occurred is an interesting journey. If you are interested in finding out more, there are lots of books that specialize on each different period and the style that characterized it.

During the 1300s the main style what “Gothic” and it was characterized by benches, seats, cases and beds produced by nailing wooden boards together. Soon after followed the renaissance period characterized by the beautiful work of the Florentine furniture makers.

Those of you that love lushly decorated wood will have a particular affection for the Baroque style which is becoming more and more popular with its lush decorations and frames featuring from little angels and masks to cornucopias of fruits and flowers. You then have the Rococo and Neoclassic styles and then the Imperial style which is characterized with decorations usually depicting swans.

More and more shops are selling antique furniture of the 19th century and this is what attracts most of the aficionados of furniture, them being either collectors or furniture enthusiasts in general. Following this period the Liberty style follows and following that the styles closer to our present time.

You could literally spend hours reading up on the styles briefly outlined above. Each style represents a small mirror of a bygone age as well as enriching our current lives by filling our houses with beautiful furniture.

About the Author: James Ross is the web master of AntiquesAppraisal.info – The Number One Site For Antiques a website totally dedicated to antiques and antique furniture. For more articles and information please find out more at www.antique-appraisal.info

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