Antique, vintage, retro or antique style furniture?

A friend asked me to help him remodel his attic. He wanted to use the old furniture to furnish, insisting that it was inherited from his parents and of great value. I realized pretty quickly that the furniture was from 1975-1980, oak-veneered particleboard with carved appliques - of no value other than sentimental. I discussed with him what old style, valuable old furniture means and how it is different from vintage or retro furniture with more sentimental value. I also told him about antique furniture and how you can achieve the old look of the house with new furniture. He was convinced that his parents' furniture, which he thought was carved solid wood, was very valuable. In fact, it was the only reason he kept it, the furniture being clunky and rather sad. I thought it might be interesting for you to find out what really valuable furniture is.

Style furniture, valuable furniture sold at auction houses

It is furniture that belongs to that group called "antiques", furniture sought after by collectors, by connoisseurs. It is the kind of furniture that is bought out of passion, in which a lot of money is invested and which, with very few exceptions, increases in value over time.

Rare pieces are treated as works of art. They are cataloged, mentioning the period when they were made, stylethe creator or school to which it belongs. Such pieces of furniture are at least 100 years old. To be truly valuable, they must have been made in a period when furniture was not made industrially, with far fewer pieces being unique. They are made of solid wood, sometimes even very valuable species such as ebony or rosewood, handcrafted and embellished with carvings or inlays.

Those involved in the world of antiques have a serious knowledge of art and art history. An antique piece of furniture is analyzed in detail to determine its approximate age and provenance. The style in which it was made and its similarity to other pieces made by the cabinetmaker to whom it is attributed are studied. If the piece is part of a private collection and these things are known with certainty, then information about its journey through time (who owned it) gives the piece even more value.

Another aspect that increases value is uniqueness. If it is unique, the value will increase greatly. Manufacturing defects can also increase its value. If 5 identical pieces were made in the same period and one of them has a small flaw that makes it stand out, that one will certainly be much more expensive than its siblings.

The condition of the piece of furniture is not very important, provided it is not irreparably damaged. A good condition may mean a higher value, but a less good condition does not greatly reduce the value. It can be professionally restored to its former charm.

These pieces of furniture can be traded for very large sums or end up in the in auctions at incredible values. An example of a rare piece is the desk pictured below. It is attributed to Pierre Golle, who is said to have introduced intarsia into French furniture making in the 17th century. The desk is named after Mazarin because Golle was something of a protégé of his. From 1656 Golle produced furniture for Louis XIV.

Vintage furniture

Vintage furniture is also old furniture, but it does not have the value of what is considered "antique". It is closer to us in time, being made in the industrial period. The element of uniqueness, of a handmade model, disappears.

This is furniture that you can find in antique shops and which belongs to more similar styles, for example Danish or Scandinavian style. There are also older styles or models that have been produced in very large numbers, which has led to a drop in value. This is the case Thonet chairs or armchairs. Most vintage furniture is made in the 1940s-1960s.

Such pieces of furniture are not very expensive and it is possible to find real bargains. They're pieces that can recreate a bygone era, or furnish a home with an authentic old look.

Vintage pieces can also be chosen to create a special place in your home. And you don't need to furnish an entire room to do this. A table, a chest of drawers, a sofa, a picture frame, an old mirror or a coffee table will add a touch of personality to the room.

Retro furniture

Retro furniture is the furniture of grandparents and parents. It is the furniture we grew up with and associate with our memories and childhood experiences. It doesn't represent a particular style or period. You know those CDs that say "Oldies but goldies"? So is retro furniture. It's furniture from each one of our past.

Between retro and vintage furniture it's hard to draw a clear line. There are pieces that fall into both categories. The difference is that retro furniture is about memories. We will choose it because we have lived with it and are nostalgic for our childhood or youth, because we miss our parents or grandparents.

With no particular style, design or period value, retro furniture is what you find in second-hand shops or flea markets. We and our memories give value to this furniture.

Antique furniture

This is no longer old furniture but furniture that reproduces the old look of a piece of furniture. They are different techniques that make furniture made one morning one day, by the morning of the next day, look like it was made 100 years ago.

The most important thing in these cases is that techniques are used in such a way that the piece looks as authentic as possible. Any exaggeration will make the furniture look closer to kitsch than antique.

To 'age' furniture the wood is knocked, poked, gouged, scratched, brushed or hit with a chain or bag of nuts and bolts. The varnish or paint applied layer upon layer is sanded on the edges, sometimes down to the wood. The following are applied ageing skids different colors or substances that cause the paint to crack like old paint.

Many people choose this type of furniture to benefit from both the look of old furniture and the feel of new furniture.

In conclusion

The older a piece of furniture is, the more valuable it is. Its value lies in its uniqueness, its clear belonging to a particular style or the fact that it was made by famous cabinetmakers. If it is damaged it can only be restored by specialists, otherwise its value is compromised. Buying such furniture is an investment just like buying a work of art.

Vintage or retro furniture is the furniture that we choose with our soul out of a desire to give personality to the home, to create a special place or to relive memories. It is not bought as an investment but to please us and its value is often sentimental.

Antique furniture is new furniture made to look old using different techniques and materials.