Why Restore Antique Furniture?

Oct 10, 2014

Antique furniture makes for excellent collectibles as well as decorative items. They are in themselves more than just mere acquisitions, but are investment in and of itself, depending on the rarity or overall value of the antique. While most antique collectors insist that the restoration of antiques may depreciate the price of such commodities, the question of why restore antique furniture and what it spells for owners, re-sellers, and eventual buyers is always a commonplace query in antique shop circles.

In the world of antiques, the overall condition of an item, as well as its age, equate to better prices. This is part of the reason why patina, the overall appearance of ageing on an item, is highly prized by antique collectors and re-sellers alike. However, in some circumstances, the restoration of an antique piece is necessitated simply due to the fact that it would otherwise be unusable or unsalable were it to be left in the current condition. Restoration itself does not connote an instant lessening of a piece’s price, and may in fact help to make an antique item more valuable, given that the proper restoration is undertaken.

Of course, this is not the only reason why restore antique furniture. Here’s a deeper look at the issue of restoration below:

There are two differing schools with regards to restoring antiques, but one of the most common answers on why restore antique furniture has a lot to do with functionality. It’s one thing to own an antique that is specifically intended as a show-piece, and a whole other thing to actually own an antique piece of furnishing that one can use. Functional pieces sometimes tend to fetch higher prices than non-functional or display pieces only, although there is a debate over which is more preferred. But as a collector of antiques, one cannot help but fall in love with furniture that is not only decidedly beautiful given the age of the piece, but also usable on a daily setting.

Some antique furniture tend to have minor signs of damage or wear and tear, and fixing or restoring it not only helps to make it look better, it will also help to make it last longer if it is intended to be a functional piece. The second reasons on why restore antique furniture has more to do with the overall aesthetics of the piece of furniture. Aesthetics are everything when it comes to antiques, and while some signs of wear and tear can be left as-is as a mark of age (a. k. a. ‘patina’), unsightly gashes or palpable signs of damage do not count as such and have to be removed, fixed, and restored.

This may spell a significant lessening of the overall value of a piece, but if one intends it to be functional furniture, then a lessening of price is the least of your concerns, especially if the restoration is done with skill and taste.

It pays to always opt for skillful restoration that stays true to the process of the period when and where the furniture was made. In the end, the reason on why to restore antique furniture will still amount to a matter of taste and preference, but when considering restoration, it always pays to invest on expert craftsmen to undertake it. If you’re looking for a great place that can help restore your cherished antiques, please check out: http://www.lordsantiques.com.au

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