As you likely know, one of the most common arenas of antique collecting is furniture. And, if you’re like me, there’s almost nothing more exciting than finding a great collection of antique tables for sale. Sometimes you might be looking for just the right piece for a room in your house. Other times you could be looking to polish off a collection.
Antique tables are ideal for many collectors. If you’re just venturing into the field, these are a great way to help you appreciate the beauty of a bygone era. The demand for the items often outpaces the supply. So the key can be to find a source of antique tables for sale. Ideally, you’d like to find a place with quite a collection. This helps you promptly review a number of pieces and determine what you like.
I’ve found a number of excellent ideas for tracking down antique tables for sale. You can obviously target antique stores, and particularly larger stores that have room for large pieces of furniture. I really like to be able to look around and thoroughly examine the pieces. It’s important if you want to determine the quality and condition.
When you find a place with plenty of antique tables for sale, take your time to really check them out. Take a good look at the joints. How sturdy is the piece? Does it look especially worn, or had it aged appropriately for its era? Look to see if the wood is terribly warped, worn, or cracked. Another thing to look for is repairs, and also check to see if it might not be an excellent reproduction that’s really not antique at all.
As you know, there will be plenty of local opportunities if you live in or near a reasonably sized city. Antique stores are the first place to look for antique tables for sale. However, as you know, these may be the priciest pieces you find, since there are in the business for profit. At the same time, they generally have quality items. Plus, it’s a great way to get an education up close and personal.
However, these days, there are options for finding antique tables for sale in other places that can produce much better deals. If you find an individual seller, they sometimes do not know exactly what they have, or they may not even care. If you are somewhat educated, you can pick up some gems this way. This is true of some second-hand stores as well.
There are some other sources of antique tables for sale, but these I mention with a bit of caution. One is the yard sale. The only thing about these is that you’d have to get there early, or else the “good stuff” will be gone. No question about it, the early bird gets the worm with garage sales. Estate sales are sometimes good, but they are increasingly handled by professionals who are hired to evaluate and value the goods, so the bargains may not be as good as they used to be. On top of these options, today you can also find antique tables for sale over the internet, on websites such as eBay.
Here’s a parting thought that might prove helpful. Earlier I mentioned well-done replicas. Sometimes, you might not really be looking for antique tables for sale. I’ve known people who paid lots of money for an antique, only to actually use the piece and put quite the wear and tear on it. In this case, you could get away with a replica. Or, alternately, let’s suppose you really want an antique. Consider getting something that’s not so pristine, and maybe even in need of some refinishing. There are just some ideas to meet the real need while saving the pocket book.