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Unfortunately, the antique furniture that we all love and cherish in our homes and offices is more often than not unprotected. The antique furniture of today has different needs than the antique furniture of yesterday. The antique furniture we buy today will last much longer if we follow some simple rules for preservation. This blog post will introduce you to the basic principles of antique perseveration so that your vintage pieces can be protected for generations to come.
Antique wooden surfaces require specific care to keep them protected and looking new. A soft brush such as a small paintbrush can be used to gently dust antique wooden furniture with a very lightly dampened, clean cloth; avoid using water or soap when cleaning antique wood pieces. A slightly brighter finish can be achieved by using a very soft, dry cloth to buff antique wooden surfaces such as antique dining tables or antique dressers.
Any antique that needs repairs should have them done using antique-style joinery and antique finish materials, which shouldn't be difficult since most antique furniture is made from solid woods such as oak, maple, cherry, or walnut. You can use modern materials to make repairs or refinish your antique; woodworkers commonly use modern adhesives, varnishes, and stains when working on antique furniture. You can touch up scratches or worn spots with an antique stain or finish pencil to give the piece an antique look.
Use a high-quality paste wax polish when protecting antique furniture for storage; wax prevents dust and other particles from settling on the antique's surface and also provides a protective coating. Make sure to get antique furniture wax explicitly made for antique furniture; it'll be easier to apply, won't leave streaks or buildup, and will offer better protection than most modern polishes. Other antique-appropriate cleaners include one part distilled water and one part isopropyl alcohol.
Antique fabrics should be cleaned and allowed to dry completely before any work is done on the antique piece; never use water or solvents on antique fabrics. Clean antique upholstered surfaces using a vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment to pick up dust and dirt, then carefully clean antique upholstery with an antique-appropriate cleaner. Antique slipcovers are fragile, so they should be stored separately from antique furniture when not in use.
Antique wooden doors and drawers should be oiled with antique-style door and drawer oil, not modern wood oils. Apply the antique-appropriate cleaner to a soft cloth, then wipe the antique doors or antique drawers down with that cloth. The knob or pull-on antique doors should have an antique-style sealer applied to them at least once a year to keep them from looking worn.
Antique hardware such as antique door or drawer pulls often need to be polished periodically; antique-style oil will protect the metal without leaving a residue on your antique furniture like some modern lubricants might. Antique hardware should also be kept clean; if antique pull sticks, apply the antique-appropriate cleaner to a soft cloth, then gently wipe the antique pull clean.
Antique furniture should always be stored in a dry place, preferably one where there's no humidity or moisture present; this can cause antique furniture to warp and become damaged. Before placing antique furniture away for storage, make sure it's thoroughly dried out first; if antique furniture has been sitting in a damp or humid area, antique furniture can develop mould that needs to be removed before it's placed into storage.
Antique furniture has always been a popular home decorating trend. With the many different styles available, it’s easy to find an antique piece that fits your style and personality. But how do you know if the piece is authentic? The feet are one of the simplest ways to date an antique piece.
Multiple methods can help to date furniture by its feet. These methods include traditional, and all of them offer you a way to find the age of your table, chair, or other furniture items. One way is identifying the material, styles of nuts and bolts, damage polish/old brands, differentiation between original antiques.
Identifying antique furniture feet can help you research and value old items more accurately. From the Renaissance through the Empire periods, we've compiled a handy list of foot types commonly used across Europe and the United States, to assist in making a conclusion of the age of your antique furniture.
This furniture foot style consists of a tapered cylinder that is separated from the leg by a turned ring. It is usually plain, even if the attached leg is fluted (as shown in this example). A shorter, more squat variation is sometimes referenced as a blunt-arrow foot.
The ball foot is a classic furniture foot design that dates back centuries. It's the most basic type of furniture foot style, with a simple spherical form and the occasional appearance on case pieces such as chests, secretaries, and sideboards.
It was popular in the late 1600s and throughout the 1700s, when it appeared in William and Mary-style furniture. The appeal of this foot design extended into the 1800s in American Federal pieces as well as "country" styles. The ball foot, onion foot, and turnip foot are all different forms of the ball foot.
A furniture foot, sometimes known as a bird's claw clutching a ball, depicts a bird's claw gripping a ball. They are commonly carved entirely of wood, as can be seen in many Chippendale-style pieces of furnishings.
Metal claws grasping a glass ball are yet another frequent motif, particularly on occasional tables and stools. Since it was created in the 1700s, this foot type has been extremely popular, with various versions existing almost continuously since then.
The Block Foot style was popular in the mid-18th century English and American furniture. Although it was created centuries ago, it is still a favorite today. This foot type can be found on tables and chairs of all shapes and sizes. The block foot offers a simplistic, yet elegant appearance that blends well with any decorating theme. It has been seen on many pieces of antique furniture throughout history, making it one of the easiest ways to date an object by its feet. As you may have guessed from its name, this type of foot is traditionally square or cube-shaped with a flat top surface for stability as well as two small front legs for support when standing upright. A single wide leg can also provide support if necessary depending on how heavy the piece is.
Its name comes from the Greek word for "cube" which aptly describes its most basic shape, but there are several variations on the block foot including the ball-shaped version pictured here which sports a single leg and can be found protruding through many of George Hepplewhite's designs. It was one of the first furniture feet to appear in English neoclassical furniture, with William Kent using his own interpretation at around 1720. The block foot style also became popular in American pieces as well with Sheraton designing some circular examples that would later inspire Thomas Sheraton's son, Thomas junior, to continue this trend towards an oval version of the block foot with his own ogee-shaped design.
This is one of the most basic chair foot designs, named for its genuine resemblance to a bracket. It has a mitered corner ornamentation and is usually mitered at the corners. It's also known as a console leg from time to time. The most basic form is the plain bracket foot has a smooth outside edge and a scalloped inside edge. Alternatives include the ogee bracket foot and the scroll bracket foot with a curved outer edge.
Bun feet are a type of furniture foot that is similar to the ball foot, but it has a bun shape on the underside. It was made popular in England during the Georgian period and early Victorian periods. Although there were other variations before it, this type of foot style became more common after Queen Anne's death in 1714. The word "bun" comes from 13th century Middle English meaning "to swell or bulge", which is what the foot style was meant to mimic.
Bun Feet are commonly used along with tripod feet because they are often larger in scale than ball feet but do not go all the way down to the floor as tripod legs do. This allows them to be higher off of the floor giving more space underneath for storage. They also work well if you have a chair or stool that is larger in scale and you want to make sure they do not appear too heavy. With a bun foot, the leg will give the appearance of being more slender.
The cylindrical foot is a type of foot that is typically seen on Georgian and Neoclassical-style furniture from the latter half of the 18th century and early 19th century. This type of foot is found mainly on Sheraton design items. Despite their delicate appearance, they are still quite strong and robust. Some furniture might have them decorated with stringing or cast ornamentation, but this is not a deciding factor as some may have been cast on the foot by the manufacturer. Cylindrical feet are also seen on George III and Queen Anne pieces.
A fish head-shaped foot is an example of a carved furniture foot. The design may sometimes be carried throughout the leg or base of the item (as seen here). Dolphin arms and feet are sometimes included in pieces, such as chairs. The dolphin has been used as a decorative motif since Renaissance furniture, however it was particularly fashionable during the Regency period. It was especially popular in ornate Regency, Empire, and Biedermeier styles.
A slim variety of bracket feet (see above) that is typically tapered and has a convex form that extends outward. It's like a reduced version of a chair or table's saber leg. The French foot style is very popular with neoclassical designs because it offers an elegant appearance that does not take up too much space when placed next to another chair or stool. These pieces are also commonly made from mahogany wood with dark glossy finishings, making them stand out even more against their surroundings.
The hoof foot, usually that of a deer, is an early form carved to resemble a realistic animal hoof. It was created at the same time as the cabriole leg with which it is associated, towards the end of the 17th century. It's also known as a pied-de-biche in French, which means "deer's foot.
Hoof feet are most common in Régence furniture, William and Mary chairs, early Louis XV, and Queen Anne furniture, and they lasted until the turn of the 19th cent
ury.
The monopodium foot is a type of furniture foot style with an ornate extension above, such as a scroll, wing, vine, or cornucopia, forming the lion's paw. It derives its name from ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian design influences. The monopodium (single-base) table was designed after ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian designs. The monopodium foot can also be seen on sofas, chairs, and case pieces.
Ogee brackets are a distinctive feature of furniture from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The foot, which comes to a point at one end, was often used for decorative purposes on elegant pieces such as secretaries or dressing tables.
Ogee brackets were also sometimes found on chairs or other types of furniture with four legs. The ogee bracket foot is still occasionally seen today in reproduction furniture but seldom if ever genuine antiques.
Ogee bracket feet may be attached to a flat, open foot with a molded edge or to an urn-shaped pedestal. Also, note the slight "S" curve in ogee bracket feet which makes them unique from other types of brackets.
In general, furniture from America between 1725 and 1800 will have either metal or wooden ogee bracket feet with no curves while English makers used both styles on their pieces but more frequently made of wood.
The onion foot is more than a century older than the escutcheon, dating from the Renaissance and gradually declining after the turn of the 18th century. Some usage of it in Dutch-influenced American furniture was observed throughout the 1700s.On heavy case pieces, especially of Germanic or Dutch origin, it is frequently encountered. Occasionally known as a melon foot.
The pad foot was first used in furniture in the early 18th century. It is especially common to Queen Anne style furniture. A disk or pad is placed under a simple, flattened oval-shaped block of wood to provide a distinctive foot. It is a form of clubfoot distinguished by the underlying disk. These are frequently found at the base of a cabriole leg. They are sometimes known as Dutch foot or spoon foot.
The spade foot is a rectangular form with a broad top that tapers down to a smaller bottom. It's not completely carved; rather, it's built by combining small pieces of wood to the base of a square, tapering leg.
The rounded saucer-shaped top with a greater turning in the middle that then narrows to a smaller turned end is known as a turned foot. The overall appearance is similar to that of a spinning top (or 'toupie' in French). Occasionally referred to as a spool foot. Shorter and thicker examples are frequently used to decorate bulky item cases, while slenderer ones may be utilized on furniture. The toupie foot, which dates from the late 17th century, is often associated with the Louis XIV period.
The T-shaped foot, one of the most ancient types—dating from the Middle Ages—in which a vertical pole is placed in the center of a horizontal section to form a T shape. Gustav Stickley's respect for plain, "honest" pieces drove him to create numerous tables with sturdy trestle feet.
The supporting beams or legs of a horizontal beam are usually flat and plain, but carved and elaborate versions do exist; they are typical of country-style or industrial furniture, such as dining tables or racks.
The trifid form is a carved foot with three toes or lobes that resemble a stylized animal paw resting on a base—a cross between a paw foot and a clubbed pad foot. They are generally found at the end of a cabriole leg. This is sometimes known as an drake foot.
The fluted column is a stylistic trait of 18th-century design that shows up frequently in Queen Anne-style and early Chippendale pieces, particularly chairs and footstools. It was especially common in Irish and Philadelphia furniture, with regional variations. The sophisticated furniture produced in colonial Philadelphia, such as chairs with exaggerated dimensions, winged splats, shell motifs, and trifid feet, were all distinctive.
A type of bun foot, this is a curved, turned furniture foot. It's bulb-shaped with a thin neck and bulges outward before taper down into a round collar or base. These may also be known as tulip feet. It was popular in William and Mary furniture from the late 17th century, and it reappeared in mid-19th century Revival decorative styles as well as more modest "country" pieces.
A whorl foot, also known as a scroll foot and shaped like a spiral, curves up and in. It's sometimes referred to as a knurl toe. This design was originally designed in the late 17th century and is typically associated with Louis XV, Georgian, and other Rococo periods. It is frequently found on the final leg of a cabriole leg.
Antique furniture is a timeless way to add character to any room, but knowing which type of antique furniture you have can be difficult. Luckily for you, we’ve created this helpful guide that offers insight into the different types of feet and what they mean about your piece. If you want help dating your antiques by their feet, contact us today! We're experts in all things antique!
When you think of antique furniture, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a beautiful antique rocking chair or antique colonial dresser. But antique furniture isn't limited to these types of pieces and antique furniture can be found in many areas of your home. Chances are, you have antique dining room chairs or antique bedroom chests in your home that need some restoration! If you're interested in restoring antique furniture with minimal investment and time spent, read on! We'll explore how to restore antique furniture using only household items. Now, let's get started with the steps for restoring your antique furniture piece at home!
Restoring antique furniture can be a wonderful way to breathe new life into old pieces. Some of the benefits include:
When you think of antique furniture, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a beautiful antique rocking chair or antique colonial dresser. But antique furniture isn't limited to these types of pieces and antique furniture can be found in many areas of your home. Chances are, you have antique dining room chairs or antique bedroom chests in your home that need some restoration! If you're interested in restoring antique furniture with minimal investment and time spent, read on! We'll explore how to restore antique furniture using only household items. Now, let's get started with the steps for restoring your antique furniture piece at home!
The easiest step for antique furniture restoration is antique furniture cleaning. This step can be done with a store-bought antique furniture cleaner and a soft cloth. Make sure to read the instructions on the antique furniture cleaner before applying it.
An antique dresser often has stains of different colours that have accumulated over time. The majority of these stains will come off with wiping the surface down with water, but there are some stubborn stains that need a little help from baking soda paste in order to get them out! To make this paste, mix 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water until it becomes an even consistency. Then use a soft cloth to apply the paste to the stained area and leave it for at least 10 minutes before wiping away any excess.
Hairspray, hairspray buildup, or other aerosol products can accumulate in antique furniture pieces and cause unwanted damage.
Hairspray buildup or other aerosol products can accumulate in antique furniture pieces and cause unwanted damage. If you're interested in restoring antique furniture with minimal investment and time spent, read on! We'll explore how to restore antique furniture using only household items. Now, let's get started with the steps for restoring your antique furniture piece at home!
For antique furniture that has splits, you'll want to use quick-drying glue or epoxy. Apply it to the cracked area and clamp it together. You can also try using antique furniture clamps over the period of a few hours for an antique chair's joints or antique table's stretchers.
Sandpaper is a useful tool for antique furniture restoration. It can be used to sand away any rough edges and create a smoother surface.
This process can help antique furniture pieces last longer than they would without the use of sandpaper, but it also helps antique furniture look more beautiful and elegant when you're done! You should start by removing any loose parts like drawers or handles, then using fine grit sandpaper on all the surfaces of your antique piece with gentle circular motions. After that, make sure to wipe off all dust before reassembling your antique piece.
Restoring antique furniture is a process that can be done in your own home with minimal investment and time spent. By following the five easy steps outlined above, you'll have antique furniture restored to its original beauty without having to call an antique restoration professional!
Ceramics are always a popular type of antique, but it can be hard to know where to start if you want to begin collecting them or if you're looking for something that is not too expensive. From individual items (like pottery) and full collections, this article has some great advice on how best to identify the ceramics in your collection.
As with other types of antiques, ceramics come with marks that help you identify them. However, the range of ceramic and pottery out there is incredibly varied, which means that these markings cover a huge selection as to what they mean for identifying who made them - if anything at all! The Victoria & Albert Museum has created an A-Z guide on how to best determine where your next piece might be from or by whom it was crafted; take their advice before making any purchases so you can get something truly worth collecting!
Ceramics can be identified by a number of factors, including marks. You will need to know the origin and time period as well in order to identify your pieces correctly. The way you identify ceramics is important because it decides what kind of information about its history that you'll have access to - like where they were made or when they started being used.
Ceramics come in many different varieties and are made from a wide range of materials. Some ceramics, such as earthenware, may be coarse or stoneware but others can be delicate porcelain. The weight and translucence of the ceramic item will give you an indication if it is likely to have been made by hand or on a wheel. For example, older pottery would typically indicate that it was created by hand while pieces being cut from wheels tend to be much newer with cleaner lines. If you want to know what type of glaze was used, take a look at the decoration and style. Some potters have styles that are easy to identify while others can be more difficult. You should also check if it has sharp edges or is colorful with lots of detail - all will make identification easier!
If you’re looking for a more definitive answer, having your ceramics looked at and valued by an expert is the best option. They will know exactly what to look for in order to identify tell-tale signs that indicate who made it, where it was produced and when its most likely from. If you're an antique collector or seller, this information can be very helpful. An expert is able to provide a rough estimate for the value of your piece and help assess whether it's part of a set or not. This is important information that can help you when building your collection or if you decide to sell your antique ceramic. The value of any given piece depends on a number of factors, so it’s vital not only for collectors but also those who want to liquidate their pieces as well. There are many different types and styles which may affect the price; some will be worth more than others because they have historical significance due to where they were made, what year they were produced in, etc.
Take a look at the following to get an idea of how much vintage ceramics could be worth:
Getting your ceramics appraised is a smart idea if you want to sell them or insure them. This will offer you an estimate of their worth as well as more information about their origins. An appraisal can also provide you with more information about other works by the same creator that you might wish to add to your collection, perhaps increasing the value of your ceramics in the long run.
One of the main reasons why many people prefer antique furniture is because it has been made with care and attention to detail. New furniture, on the other hand, is mass-produced in factories where corners are often cut. Furniture that was created centuries ago shows craftsmanship that can't be found in modern pieces. Another reason why more and more people are starting to collect antique furniture is due to its value; an antique piece will always be worth something even if you decide not to keep it forever. Throughout this article, we'll delve into the benefits of picking up an antique piece of furniture over a new shop-purchased furnishings.
The world's third-largest consumer of wood, IKEA is accused of being the least sustainable retailer on earth and stoking a cut-and-consume cycle that has destroyed forests at an unprecedented rate in human history. Purchasing vintage pieces for your home can help you avoid this situation while still having access to affordable decorating options! Choosing vintage pieces for your home decorating is an easy way to go green. Items from the past have already been used and disposed of once before, so you don’t need landfill space or resources when reusing them in your own house! When the world of fashion and furnishings continually evolves, what is best for our environment often suffers. In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to find quality items that can withstand a decade or more with minimal upkeep and occasional replacement parts; in order to cut costs at every level (designer price points as well), many furniture manufacturers have begun using cheap materials when crafting their products - producing an item which will need to be replaced sooner rather than later. Choosing vintage pieces over newer ones not only supports sustainability efforts but also provides high-quality goods that may last longer than mass-produced counterparts.
Antique furniture is remarkable because no two pieces are alike. The unique elements that give vintage furniture its charm also provide a pleasant contrast in a room with otherwise modern pieces, comparable to the personality of each individual home. A genuinely exclusive furnishing, such as an 18th-century German baroque cabinet or antique desk will spice up any room and make for a great conversation piece among guests who enjoy exploring your space - which can be difficult when everything looks similar to one another! Depending on the item you choose from our inventory at Village Vintage, scuffs and imperfections may actually add to its existing character rather than detracting from it like newer furnishings would where they have been manufactured without flaws.
You don't need to be interested in flipping antique furniture for this aspect of the hobby. Just like buying a new car, it doesn't take long before newer pieces start losing their value. Well-cared-for vintage items that remain in good condition are sure to become more valuable over time as they age with grace and dignity.
A sophisticated home is one that has a well-curated mix of pieces. Vintage items are an essential ingredient to achieving this because they bring texture, contrast, and personality into any space while adding the right amount of flair with newer ones. When you pair old and newer things, it highlights their differences but in a good way--it produces something truly original. Plus investing in vintage furniture protects against trend whiplash; there's nothing worse than spending lots of time on decorating your house only to realize soon after how dated everything looks already!
Antiques don't have to be everywhere on your premises. Even if you only have one or two, they still make for great contrast and mix well with more contemporary pieces. In some instances less can mean more; people are likely going to talk about that rare antique over all of the other modern furniture sitting around!
If you want to invest in good-quality furniture, then original vintage pieces are the way to go. These have stood the test of time and can be passed down through generations. You will never regret investing your money into such a long-lasting piece that has been carefully handcrafted with care for many years ago! The furniture is crafted by hand using high-quality materials so it can last for generations. This means you'll be able to enjoy the elegant, yet rugged style of decades past while still being comfortable with your purchase today. You will also notice that the design was ahead of its time - there are designs from three decades ago that would fit seamlessly into your furnishings.
When you buy an antique, not only do you get a piece of furniture that is both high-quality and has the chance to be worth more than what you paid for it in the future, but also one that will serve as an excellent investment while adding sophistication to your home. Plus when buying vintage pieces like this, there’s no need to worry about environmental impacts or over-production because they are typically made by hand - so go ahead and indulge yourself with some beautiful antiques today! What piece of antique furniture do you have your eye on for your next purchase?