If you are reading this then perhaps you would like to buy a piece of antique furniture but aren’t really sure where to start.

There are two main reasons people buy antique furniture, in my opinion:

1. As an investment that you can have the pleasure of looking at and using everyday.

2. Because you want a unique, quality item to enhance your home.

The blog is about the second option. If you are buying as an investment, then my advice would be to research, and then research some more. Use google, but also seek out antique dealers who specialise in the sort of item you are looking to buy and talk to them - antique dealers are usually passionate about what they sell and most will be more than happy to share their knowledge, and if they know what you are looking for they will tell you if they find something that may be of interest. 

So, if you just want a beautiful piece of antique furniture for your home, where to start?

Firstly, don’t overthink it. Buy with your heart and not your head - for something to have survived for however many hundred years it must have been loved and cared for, so buy something that you will continue to love and care for until the time comes to pass it on to someone else.

Secondly, and some may disagree with me on this, don’t worry too much about value (which isn’t the same as price). Decide what the maximum price you’d be happy to pay is and search within that budget. Say you’re looking for a chest of drawers for your bedroom but have no fixed ideas as to age or style, and you have a maximum budget of £800 (which is about the average price point for a chest of drawers on the John Lewis website), and you see two possible options. One is a victorian pine chest priced at £400, the other is a Georgian oak chest priced at £750. Is the pine chest a ‘worse’ option because it is cheaper? No, it just has a lower value. Assuming both pieces are in good condition and the right dimensions etc, which piece of furniture you choose would depend on which you prefer. They are both within the budget you set, both are the right size, so which one do you think will suit your home and decor the best? Which one would you regret the most if someone else beat you to it and bought it? This question is the key one for me - I’ve never regretted buying something I like, but I have really regretted missing out on the ones I didn’t buy!

Obviously you don’t want to pay over the odds for something, so say you decide on the Georgian oak chest - five minutes on google, or on an antiques sales site such as Selling Antiques, should give you an idea of what items of the same age, material and style are for sale for. It is important to compare like for like with these three variants being the main things to check, but aesthetics and provenance play a big part in the value of antiques. A chest of drawers made from exceptionally beautiful timber with a gorgeous patina will be worth more than one made from plainer timber, for instance, even if on paper they sound the same, and an item made by a well known maker, or from a known source such as a particular country house, will be worth more than an item with an unknown maker or no background history.

Two chests of drawers that could be used as examples for the situation above - a Victorian pine chest of drawers that we currently have for sale at £375 including delivery, and a George II oak chest that we sold recently for £850. Both are a similar size, both are beautiful pieces of furniture, but they are very different!

Where to buy antique furniture.

Whether you have a specific item in mind, or as in the example above you don’t have any preconceived ideas, where’s best to buy? Until fairly recently antique furniture has been bought either from an antique shop, an antiques fair, or an auction. With the advent of eBay, and sites like Etsy, buying antique and second hand furniture online has become more prevalent, and most antique shops now have an online presence, either through their own website, through a site like Antiques Atlas and Selling Antiques, or via an eBay or Etsy page. The events of the last year have further normalised buying things online that previously you might not have, and antiques are no exception.

Antique Shops or Centres:

Buying in a shop or antiques centre is perhaps the easiest option; you can see and handle the item, you can ask questions and check measurements yourself. If you are looking for something to fit in a particular place in your house it is a good idea to make a note of any relevant dimensions in advance (I never remember to do this), so that you can decide to buy an item there and then rather than having to go away and double check it will fit. If you do want time to think some dealers may reserve an item for a period of time for you - it is always worth asking. You also need to check whether the dealer can deliver the item to you or if you will need to collect it.

Antique Fairs:

Antiques fairs are a great day out, especially if the weather is nice, and give you the opportunity to see a huge range of items to suit all budgets. Again, you can handle items and ask questions, but you have to be prepared to make an impulse buy there and then otherwise whatever you’re looking at might be snapped up by someone else! Getting a larger item home may be an issue sometimes as not all sellers at an antiques fair will be able to offer a delivery service, so make sure you discuss this before agreeing to buy. It is also worth pointing out that not all items sold at antique fairs are completely genuine (though in my experience most sellers are honest), and some may require a little TLC, so use your discretion. Taking cash is advisable as not all sellers can accept card payments.

Online Antique Shops:

Buying from an online antique shop is very similar to buying in a physical shop, but you are relying on photos of the item rather than seeing it in the flesh. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or ask for more photos - the dealer wants to sell the item and will happily oblige (walk away if they don’t). I think it is easier to visualise how the item will look in your home if you can look at it on screen whilst being in the room in which it will go, and of course you can check all dimensions there and then. Most online sellers will offer an option to collect the item yourself or have it delivered - make sure you check what the delivery charge will be as for a large piece of furniture this may be quite expensive.

Social Media:

Social media is another excellent place to look, especially instagram. There is a big antiques community on Instagram are some antique dealers only list and sell their stock on there. If you see something you like, it is best to send a direct message to the seller and then comment under the item that you have sent a message (Instagram’s messaging system is a little quirky and it is easy to miss messages from people who don’t follow you). You can then find out the price, ask any questions, enquire about delivery, and check how the seller accepts payment. If you are happy you can agree to buy. It is very much first come first served so if you see something you like get in there quick!

Auctions:

Auctions are a very different buying process, but if you’re willing to try it you can pick up some real bargains. Pre Covid, you would visit the auction house prior to the auction to view the items and decide what you wanted to try and buy, or rely on their online catalogue. Now, there is only the online catalogue to go on, though hopefully people will be allowed to visit again soon! You can bid online through a site like the-saleroom.com or easyliveauction.com which is an easy process. I’m going to write a blog about buying at auction in the future, so I’ll keep it fairly brief here, but the things to be aware of are the auctioneers fees, which typically add 30% - 35% (sometimes more) to the buying price, and the fact that you will often have to arrange your own transport for furniture items (the auction house will often be able to recommend a furniture courier that they use regularly, or you can use Shiply, or Anyvan etc). Some auctioneers are very brief with their item descriptions, so it is important to ask for a condition report for any items you are interested in (assuming you haven’t been able to view it in person) - that way you know exactly what you are bidding for. Never assume the item is perfect - we buy a lot of things at auction and at least 50% of the furniture we buy needs attention of some sort.

I think that covers most of the antique buying options! If you have any questions do feel free to get in touch and I’ll try to help.

Thanks for reading!

Best wishes,

Charlotte.