Its now over 20 years since I passed my furniturecraft exams , but in fact very little has changed in furniture
a good solid oak table is as sound an investment as ever as are many period pieces . Repros remain popular
among some homes . but how to tell real from repro ??
to the trained eye a quick look over is all that is needed . the finish (patina) is usually a dead giveaway .
modern laquers can not compare to a traditional button (shellac) finish however durable they may be . any
piece antique or otherwise is only worth what a buyer is willing to spend . so if I must make a recomendation
its best to go with what you like rather than what a piece may be worth in years to come . That said there are many bargains hiding away in dumps sheds skips etc . much of this ends up in architectural salvage or even on bonfires , very often the places to look are landfills & municipal waste processing plants . It may be worth your while getting to know people working at these joints who can keep an eye out for you (may need a bribe)
I find it a national scandal how much perfectly functional furniture is destroyed daily . a recent trend towards
disposable chipboard (purely economic) has comprimised a cabinet-makers skill that grotesque black ash effect tacky veneered rubbish for which brands like ikea are renowned along with flat pack self assembly stuff
Solid timber furniture whether oak pine teak mahogany or whatever exotic wood is always fashionable in my book .
FACT the only difference between hardwood & soft is the nature of the tree , deciduous trees which shed
their leaves are refferred to as hard wood whilst evergreens (conifers etc) are called softwoods ,
Balsa is a hardwood & pitch pine a softwood . Anathema .
for private valuations you can email me antiques@london.com (please give as much detail as possible
photographs are very welcome . I will be happy to publish any outstanding pieces on this site)
or if your looking for something in particular I may be able to help find it
as I have no shop overheads you will find my comission very reasonable
I also have a limited number of contacts that may have just what your after
I am also able to offer restoration for various pieces to a very high standard
