The 'Wonderful World of Antique Furniture'

My wife, Sue, and I have been antique furniture enthusiasts for many years. We operate Bath House Row Antiques, 202 Spring St., here in Hot Springs. We will celebrate our store's 22nd anniversary this August. Antique furniture is truly our specialty, but we have many categories.

The antique furniture trade is a very mature business. A vast amount of history is compiled and available in books and on the internet. The chronology of furniture is very scientific. There is much to learn.

Here are some FAQs (and answers) that might help put our "Wonderful World of Antique Furniture" in perspective:

  1. What qualifies furniture as "antique?"

In 1966, U.S. Customs declared furniture 100 years old and older as antique and duty-free.

  1. What is meant by the term "period furniture?"

The term refers to furniture that was made at the time a specific style was first produced. A period might last from five to 10 years and more. The same style made later on would be a reproduction or replica.

  1. How can the age of furniture be determined?

It takes a lot of study and hands-on experience, including comparisons to known examples. We first determine the style and country of origin, then carefully observe construction (type of joinery, wood varieties external and internal, tool marks), condition, finish, etc. With patience, it can be done with reasonable certainty.

  1. What is Victorian style furniture?

Victorian refers to the reign of Victoria, Queen of England from 1837 to 1901. It is not a style, although some furniture is referred to as "early Victorian." That furniture is in the style of William IV, her father, who reigned 1830-37. The periods of Victoria's reign are marked off in "Revivals" which were adaptations from earlier times, for example, Gothic Revival, Rococo Revival, Renaissance Revival, and on. We have heard people say they don't like Victorian furniture. That's quite a broad statement. By the way, nobody throws a switch and furniture jumps from one period to another. There is a waxing and waning process in the changes, obviously.

  1. What is a dovetail in furniture construction?

The dovetail drawer corner joint looks like a dove's tail, hence the name. Known since early Egyptian times, this joint evolved from something crude to a little work of art beginning in the 18th Century on through the early 20th. It is often possible to see differences in the style of American, English, and French examples. Also, there are other ways to join a corner, but they are not called dovetails.

Summing up, here are three books that have been helpful to us over the years: "Furniture Treasury," by Wallace Nutting, two books in one volume; "The Encyclopedia of Furniture," Volume 3, by Joseph Aronson; and "Buying Antique Furniture" (1986), by Rachael Field.

The 30-plus members of our association have their specialties and favorites. The things we offer are often beautiful, historic and useful. And, almost every item we offer is sustainable.

This article was provided by the Antique Dealer's Association.

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