Buying Antique Furniture
There are many good reasons to invest in antiques for your home, probably the most important is the sustainability aspect. Crafted with durability in mind they are designed to last a lifetime before being passed on to the next generation. The materials used in pre-twentieth century antiques are made from natural materials; wood, glass, wool, metal, hemp, horse-hair stuffing and they offer a biodegradable alternative to modern furniture.
Beyond sustainability, antiques create a layered, timeless feel in an interior. Antique furniture is the easiest way to give the impression of gradual accumulation which has been established over a long period of time.
Each piece tells it’s own story though it’s distinctive wear-and tear and will be totally unique. It is similar to adopting a pet that has a rich past and needs nurturing. While they require some care and attention, in comparison to modern, less well made furniture they are very resilient to the rigors of daily life.
Buying antiques doesn’t mean creating a stuffy museum like house, twentieth century antiques have a modern aesthetic and fit brilliantly in more funky, architectural interiors. For country houses, french farmhouse antiques look beautiful as do any Italian or Spanish rustic antiques. The simplicity of English farmhouse furniture is also surprisingly modern when put against a minimalist backdrop.
Choosing antiques can be daunting and there is a pressure to get it right, but it’s essential to trust your instincts while maintaining a strategic approach. Consider where it is going and whether it works alongside your other pieces. You can mix styles and the architecture of a house does not always dictate the period of antiques within it.
There are some relationships that work in antiques where the styles and finishes are complimentary. Just as building a personality of a person the curation of a house needs a mix of things but with cohesion. I wouldn’t put Biedermier and painted Gustavian antiques together for example, the shapes and textures are just too different. There needs to be a complementary relationship between pieces, like telling a story through furnishings.
Antiques are their story and the pleasure in owning them is about being part of that ongoing story. The search for the perfect piece is an adventure in itself, requiring a certain amount of flexibility and imagination to envisage the possibilities. Adapting or tweeking might be necessary, reupholstering an old sofa or adding a marble top to a bureau.
We are living in an age of mass production, where we may have already reached peak production. Instead of creating new furniture we have the opportunity to use a wealth of already existing furniture. While contributing to a more sustainable future, we can enrich our living spaces with history and character through Antiques.
Favourite antique shops: Lorfords Tetbury, Gallery BR Tetbury, Alfies’ Antiques, Vinterior