Antique Furniture Appraisals
When "antiquing", it is important to know
what you are buying, and when selling, how authentic are your items.
Television appraisers emphasize the "evils" of refinishing, but never
mention other sins transgressed on antique furniture unknowing collectors
fall prey to.
Refinished
– the original varnish or patina "skin" has been removed either by sanding
or chemicals usually down to bare wood.
Altered –
furniture legs are shortened, chair seats are modernized to be more
comfortable, etc.
Embellished
– finials are added, inlays are put in, carving added to previous plain
areas.
Composites
– parts of two or more similar pieces are put together to make one new one.
Plate racks are added to buffets. Early hardware is added to pieces from
later dates.
Overly Restored
– original finish is completely removed and restoration of missing items is
unnecessarily made. Items like finials are replaced although no one knows
what the original really looked like. Patinas and finishes are faked to make
them more attractive.
Poorly Restored
– varnish or wax is applied to deteriorating finish. Missing items have been
replaced but are clearly noticeable.
Revival Pieces
– designs like Gothic, Louis XIV, Jacobean are revived and carried to
extremes never done originally.
Forgeries
– spurious dates and names are added as well as patriotic motifs to
authentic pieces to make them more valuable. Furniture is made from period
wood from old barn beams and plank flooring.
Please Note: Auction furniture is notorious
for these problems.
For an additional fee,
chicagoappraisers.com will provide a formal condition report for use
purchasing or eventual resale. chicagoappraisers.com is the only appraiser
in the Midwest to offer this valuable service. If you would like
chicagoappraisers.com to appraise antique furniture for you, $695.00 -
$895.00 minimum house call for the greater Chicago area. This can include
numerous items.
For out of state clients where a home visit
is impractical or those that have just one or two pieces of antique
furniture, chicagoappraisers.com can often work from photos.
Minimum fee is $195.00 - $295.00 per item.
chicagoappraisers.com (847) 446-8827
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