Antique furniture has the potential to provide people with hours of leisure by virtue of the numerous activities it is associated with. A kinesthetic disposition in conjunction with a curiosity about old world style has led many collectors to focus their energy on not just ownership, but also into the realm of restoration. It is important to note that without a certain baseline understanding, restoration is not only difficult, but often expensive and disappointing.
While collecting anything involves love for not only the medium, but the process itself, no volume of emotion is going to make a piece something it is not; sometimes old furniture is simply old, not antique furniture. Costly old things are considered antiques, while cheap or generally worthless old things are fundamentally no more than paperweights or garbage. Unfortunately, most people are not very good at evaluating an item when it comes to age, often misunderstanding certain signs of poor maintenance or structural upkeep with a part of the natural aging process.
Whether something is actually a genuine piece of antique furniture is an important question when looking at a personal restoration project because honestly, even damaged or worn antiques of any type are worth significantly more in their "natural" state. Even though people generally dislike 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 couple of modest items around their house or garage that they would like to see restored because they hold specific sentimental value.
Any successful blueprint for restoring a piece of furniture has to be based on the individual characteristics of the item in question. 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 complete 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 ambiance of the furniture and doesn't need to be buffed away. This job can be accomplished through the use of a very gentle wood cleaner in conjunction with soft brushes and cleaning cloths.
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 contain 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. It is amazing what people will save; every story of finding a lost hinge in an aunt's cellar or rubbish drawer increases the personal value of any piece of furniture.
While collecting anything involves love for not only the medium, but the process itself, no volume of emotion is going to make a piece something it is not; sometimes old furniture is simply old, not antique furniture. Costly old things are considered antiques, while cheap or generally worthless old things are fundamentally no more than paperweights or garbage. Unfortunately, most people are not very good at evaluating an item when it comes to age, often misunderstanding certain signs of poor maintenance or structural upkeep with a part of the natural aging process.
Whether something is actually a genuine piece of antique furniture is an important question when looking at a personal restoration project because honestly, even damaged or worn antiques of any type are worth significantly more in their "natural" state. Even though people generally dislike 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 couple of modest items around their house or garage that they would like to see restored because they hold specific sentimental value.
Any successful blueprint for restoring a piece of furniture has to be based on the individual characteristics of the item in question. 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 complete 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 ambiance of the furniture and doesn't need to be buffed away. This job can be accomplished through the use of a very gentle wood cleaner in conjunction with soft brushes and cleaning cloths.
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 contain 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. It is amazing what people will save; every story of finding a lost hinge in an aunt's cellar or rubbish drawer increases the personal value of any piece of furniture.
About the Author:
More interesting points regarding this subject are available at antique furniture and reproduction furniture. Heartfelt appreciation to Dennis Q. Morales for his unending support for the success of the subject.
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