Antique Furniture: A Classic Look Doesn't Mean A Filthy Look

By Author: John Cory
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Whether it is admiring a specific piece from afar, or spending days searching for the perfect cupboard, antique furniture is the focal point of numerous hobbies. However, many people invest their time digging through stacks of old tables and dressers not because they want to find the perfect piece for their study, or because they are hopping to strike-it-rich, but because they are hiding a different obsession; restoration. Unfortunately, when it comes to interacting with collectibles of any type, the restoration process comes with its own set of pitfalls.

While accumulating anything involves love for not only the medium, but the process itself, no amount of emotion is going to make a piece something it is not; sometimes old furniture is simply old, not antique furniture. Being an antique indicates that an item meets certain predetermined requirements when it comes to relative age and overall economic value, as a reflection of that age. Not only do many beginners confuse the age of many items under normal circumstances, but when it comes to furniture or other items that receive a great deal of wear during normal ...
... use, they often confuse damaged or worn out with valuable.

When it comes to restoration, it is important to note that completely redoing or "sprucing" up antique furniture is not actually a good thing; it can have a tremendous impact on the overall financial value of any item, no matter how "good" it looks in the end. Even though people generally detest dirty, worn-out items, when it comes to old stuff, those qualities are admired as a sign of something's character. Luckily, most people usually have at least a few modest items around their house or garage that they would like to see restored because they hold specific sentimental value.

Creating a functional plan factoring in the state of the antique should be part of any initial step in a restoration endeavor. It is important to remember that when it comes to antique furniture, or even just worn or aged items, the general idea is not to carry out a total makeover, but to restore a natural look. Patina, the aged membrane of "funk" that accumulates on any material during the oxidation process, adds to the feeling of the furniture and doesn't need to be buffed away. The best way to touch-up any old or fragile item is to apply solvents as close to a neutral PH level as possible, with a set of precision tools.

Just like when it comes to preserving finish, the original materials used to make antique furniture, even those that may not be functioning completely or include all of the pieces are worth more to collectors than high quality replacement parts. Old things are meant to be creaky and wobbly, that is what gives them character; unless the item is sitting in a mismatched mound, it is usually best if restoration maintains a maximum amount of the items fundamental personality. Lost handles and knobs can often be found by searching though second-hand stores; in this case, the journey is as enjoyable as the reaching the destination.
More interesting points regarding this subject are available at antique furniture and also through reproduction furniture. Heartfelt gratitude to Dennis Q. Morales for his unending support for the success of the subject.