Antique Furniture Research

Whether you want to buy antique furniture because it is valuable or simply because you like the way it looks, it is important to do a little antique furniture research before you purchase any items. Conducting research is important in determining the value of a piece as well as how to properly care for the item. Many people have ruined their antique furniture pieces because they did not know how to properly clean, polish or repair them. Another common scenario is someone who has bought a piece of antique furniture without knowing whether or not it was valuable and therefore, did not take special care of the item, allowing it to age or become ruined due to heavy use.

Antique Furniture Research Categories

As you dive into your antique furniture research, you will find that this category of antiques is broken down into four main sub-categories:

• English
• European
• American
• Far Eastern

Picking one or two categories to begin your antique furniture research will give you some general knowledge about furniture pieces. Once you have gathered enough general information, move on to styles such as: Gothic, Rococo, Baroque and Early Colonial. Once you have chosen specific categories and styles, you will want to conduct more in depth research on furniture items made in categories and styles in which you have chosen.

True antique pieces are relatively pricey, but offer a great return on investment over time, not to mention, the beauty and charm they add to any home décor style. Conducting adequate research will help you know what to look for when you are browsing through antique stores, eBay, flea markets or even your grandma's attic.