by: Madhu Puri

L ike anything old and of great value (think wine, books, jewelry, art ) , ant ique

furniture can feel l ike a hefty commitment that requires insider knowledge, constant

Photo: Joshua McHugh; Des ign: A l ison Mart in & Jean Per in v ia Architectura l Digest

THE UNDENIABLE ALLURE OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE

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upkeep, and preservat ion to maintain that value. Not to mention, many of us s imply

think the aesthetic is far too specif ic to f i t into a modern day sett ing. But despite any

reservat ions, there’s no denying the sacred presence and sheer beauty of an object

crafted more than a century ago.

From Tony Duquette’s maximal ist inter iors , where the boldest and quirkiest ant ique

furniture v ied for attention, to the sumptuously layered rooms by Sister Par ish, where

nicks and dings infused both character and comfort , our associat ions with aged

pieces are often rooted in those most eccentr ic or supremely tradit ional looks. So

why consider ant ique furniture i f you don’t subscr ibe to either aforementioned

aesthetic? As Par ish put i t , “ innovation is often the abi l i ty to reach into the past and

bring back what is good, what is beautiful , what is useful , what is last ing.” In other

words, the past can inform and actual ly enhance your present.

“You want to introduce antique furnishings into a house so that i t looks l ike i t has

been made over t ime and not in a day,” says decorator Lucy Rose of Lucy Rose

Design. “There is a lso no lead t ime with order ing, so decorators l ike me, prefer

Design: John Yunis ; Photo: Scott Frances v ia Architectura l Digest

antiques for complet ing a space.” Today, with so many shelter magazines and décor

companies touting the importance of an old-meets-new mix to achieve balance and

character , i t ’s easier than ever for onl ine shoppers to f ind inspirat ion and fol low suit

layer ing these pieces in as decorators do.

“ I have furnished the major ity of my home with older pieces,” says Ginette Lospinoso,

the former v ice president of the Inter iors department at Christ ie’s Auction House.

“Not only can you acquire better qual ity , and in many cases a better pr ice, your

inter ior wi l l undoubtedly ref lect a uniqueness and personal touch that is just not

achievable i f your home is f i l led only with new pieces or an entire suite from a

catalogue, retai ler or website. ”

Education on preservat ion and authentic ity is certainly important but to start off that

golden rule of shopping appl ies here: buy what you love. For anyone apprehensive

about invest ing in ant ique furniture because of the maintenance required, the real i ty

is that new items also wi l l need upkeep at some point . “Furniture was often made

better then than it is now,” Rose says. “ I do not think antiques need any more care in

comparison. Trust your gut when you are looking and buy what appeals to you—and

make sure i t is something that serves the purpose you bought i t for. ”

Home of V ictor ia Press v ia New York T imes

So i f you’re ready to incorporate antique furniture into your home, or i f you s imply

want to invest in a piece you’ve fa l len in love with, below f ind the ult imate checkl ist

to help you shop l ike a pro.

1 . Know What Makes a Knock Off

Construct ion most often determines the difference between a real and an imposter.

When shopping for ant ique furniture, the s igns are easy to spot. “Certainly nothing

crafted before the 19th century should be made with metal nai ls , screws, or part ic le

board,” Lospinoso says. “These should be dead giveaways that something is a fake.”

2. Look for Proof of Authentic ity

Stamps can be a key dr iver of value. “ I f you are buying from the 20th century onward,

ask to see the stamps ( i f they exist ) and compare those to one’s by the same makers

onl ine,” Lospinoso says. “ I f you can f ind out anything about the provenance from the

sel ler this can also help confirm authentic ity. ” Unfortunately, i f a piece predates the

20th century, there is a strong chance it wi l l not be stamped.

3. Consider the Level of Wear

Although it ’s true that ant iques are often far more durable than newly fabr icated

furniture, they have been l ived in. Make sure you are comfortable with a bit of wear

and tear but a lways ask about an i tem’s condit ion so you know if actual damage is a

concern. As Lospinoso points out, “some damages are marginal and can easi ly be

restored, but others l ike major damage to veneer in a rare wood, might be harder to

repair.

4. Repairs & Restorat ion Matter

Upkeep is required to br ing antique furniture back to i ts intended functional ity but a

restorat ion that changes the or iginal proport ions can decrease value. You can expect

some level of gluing or ref inishing but look out for hardware or mater ia ls that do not

perfect ly match the or iginals . Also, be weary of complete overhauls . “When I see

something old that is so shiny i t looks l ike a bowling al ley f loor , i t g ives me pause,”

says Lospinoso. “These items are old and their pat ina should ref lect that . ” Another

helpful hint : American furniture col lectors do not favor restorat ion, so i f a more

pol ished piece is preferred, consider shopping for Engl ish or European antique

furniture.

5. Preservat ion is Part of the Purchase

Sel lers are the best source for learning about how to properly care for your ant ique

pieces. The internet a lso offers loads of information on preservat ion with inst itut ions

l ike the Smithsonian Museum Conservat ion Inst itute providing downloadable guides

that detai l everything from care and handl ing to restorat ion. You can also ask sel lers

to recommend restorers in your area.

Design: Gomez Associates ; Photo: Scott Frances v ia Architectura l Digest

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6. Remember It ’s Got Potentia l

We can’t restore every piece back to i ts or iginal use or beauty so consider turning

something on its head. “You may f ind a chair with an amazing frame but horr id

upholstery. Look beyond what s its in front of you and imagine the potentia l of a piece

reupholstered or even lacquered in a different color , ” says Lospinoso. I f done wel l , a

new treatment or fabr ic upgrade can actual ly enhance the or iginal detai ls , whi le a lso

creat ing a piece that actual ly f i ts in with more modern décor.

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