How Does Furniture Achieve Antique Status?
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Most of us own some old furniture, perhaps handed down from parents or grandparents. The difference between old furniture and antique furniture depends not just on the age of the furniture but also on a number of other factors, including craftsmanship, rarity and proof of history. The value of an antique, however, is based almost entirely on how many people want it.
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Determine the age of your piece. You may know what ancestor it came from or have a receipt for its purchase. If you don't have certain proof, try to match your piece to a style. Certain styles were common during certain periods. Manufacturing or handcrafting processes such as methods of joining and hardware may also provide clues to the age of a piece. The general standard for antique furniture is 100 years of age.
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Establish the condition of your piece of furniture. An altered or "remuddled" piece that is 100 years old may be a wonderful family heirloom but it probably won't qualify as an antique. The Customs Modernization Act of 1993, Tile VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, defines an antique (for purposes of import taxation) as a piece less than 50% restored or refinished so long as the "essential character" of the piece remains unchanged. Most antique dealers would not consider refinished, altered or overly or poorly restored pieces as antiques.
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Find out how rare your piece of furniture is and the quality of craftsmanship it represents. A reputable antiques appraiser has the education necessary to identify specific clues that identify the craftsmanship and scarcity of a piece.
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Verify the provenance of your piece. An original sales receipt, insurance policies, wills and appraisals are some of the documents that make up the provenance, or pedigree, of an antique.
If a seller tells you a piece is an antique, demand to see its provenance before spending money on it. If you buy your antiques from individuals who tell you that they've always been in the family, demand an affidavit that confirms the provenance.
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Beware of reproductions from any era. They mimic style and generally add elements not seen in the original, mix periods of style, use modern materials or mass-manufacturing methods.
Some mix elements from various eras like the neo-traditionalist homes we call "McMansions." Revival is not the same as reproduction. It reinterprets a traditional style, much like a variation on a theme in music. Some revival style furniture is considered very desirable because of craftsmanship or rarity.
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The final decision as to whether a piece qualifies as an antique is made by its acceptance by a qualified professional and whether it can be sold as one. Antiques, like any art, are defined and valued by the marketplace.
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Resources
- Photo Credit DRW & Associates, Inc.
