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Antiques and collectibles have become the delight of buyers and sellers
around the world. It's fun to visit the flea markets and garage sales
and see what treasures have been dragged out of attics. We are all
experts in our own way, but sometimes it's easy to misidentify an object
and to overestimate its value. Read up on the subject of your choice
before taking any collecting seriously enough to spend your hard earned
wages. But at the same time, have fun and let your sense of enjoyment
be your guide. And if you have a few moments to spare, remember that
antiques can be a subject for amusing quotations.
It's not all serious stuff.
Furniture has been produced in great quantities throughout the
centuries. Styles have changed radically and dramatically with the
needs and attitudes of society, and have been significantly influenced
by the coming of the machine age. In earlier years social status and
economics were dominant influences. High-backed chairs with wide seats
and arm rests were initially made for judges and royalty. Even as they
entered the common household, seating with sides and backs were intended
for the head of the house, everyone else having to sit on stools,
benches, or the floor. As time progressed, the demands for comfort
increased, seats became softer, and the furniture makers rose in
stature. Demand for their products increased, especially for the more
ornate and comfortable pieces, ensuring regular employment. As machines
became more capable of creating stronger and lighter pieces, mass
production was the norm. These outputs were influenced by styles of
construction that roamed the centuries and the globe. This meant that
individual items that survived time and usage, marked historical periods
and locations, giving rise to identifiable units. As the better-made
pieces survived longer, early furniture examples became rare. The
recent dramatic increase in the popularity of antiques, has led to
eyebrow-raising value for many early examples. At the same time it has
resulted in the production of fakes. The wise collector must do his
research before he puts his money on the table. Skilled forgers often
re-use old wood and parts to emulate desired antique furniture.
This can include unfinished furniture that has been artificially aged,
or niche collectibles like baby furniture. If prices indicate discount
furniture that claims to be antique, then look for signs of aging
applied to contemporary furniture. Know your subject well before you
leap to purchase the next golden opportunity you encounter.
