Throughout the world, antiques are highly sought after and treasured, because they symbolise a period of time that was, and is now gone. Antiques and antique furniture chronicle history, and keep history alive. No wonder antique collectors are so enthusiastic about their passion, and will spend lots of time and money looking for great pieces of work. Collectors like to own furniture spanning through different periods to compare the different changes of style between them.

Reproductions are common in the furniture field, due to the great value and demand of antique furniture. Make sure to do your homework before you make any purchases. By doing so you will gain a deeper understanding of antique furniture and the changes that occurred through the ages that gave that period its own particular style. If you are not sure about what to buy, do not even think of buying antiques – it is a huge risk. So how do you make sure you are not buying a cheap fake item?

 A true antique item is at least 100 years old. This means that even though it has been looked after immaculately over the years, there should be signs of wear and aging. True antique furniture shrinks as it ages, and is non uniform in its dimensions.  Back in the day, antiques were produced intricately manually, so it was virtually impossible to make a piece of furniture that is perfectly symmetrical. If every nook and corner, length, breadth and width of the furniture seems perfect, this is the first sign that something is not right with the antique. Also, check for discolouration of the furniture. Some kinds of natural wear and tear at the corners will be evident with a closer look. The discolouration is due to exposure over the years, and should look natural. A true antique will not be uniform in colour, unless it has been refinished.

Check that all the hardware used on the antique furniture is original. The knobs, sliders, screws and bolts can be easily checked by careful assessment of the wood behind these attachments. Also, check for nails – those used after 1880 have round heads and round shanks. Prior to this, nails were squarish. Other important characteristics to look at to ensure authenticity are saw marks on the backs of chests and under tables, wormholes on the surface of any wood piece, secondary wood inside drawers and on dresser backs and so on.

Victorian antique furniture includes an exclusive range of tables and chairs and other types of furniture, which were crafted and used back in the Victorian Period (1837 – 1901). This era was considered one of the most prosperous eras of Britain, with vast improvements in many fields such as industries and education. The number of middle class homes rose, causing a large increase in architectural improvements, such as houses and furniture.

Victorian antique furniture was based on previous eras such as the Tudor and Elizabeth Periods, William and Mary and Queen Anne Periods and the Georgian and Regency Period, although Victorian antique furniture is heavier in design. Victorian antique furniture was made from quality materials, and was often considered as works of art with their floral designs, beautiful mouldings and engraved finishes.

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The furniture used in the Victorian age was typically made of wood, some were made with iron, and the rest were made with a mixture of both. The main woods used were mahogany, rosewood, oak and satinwood. Chairs and sofas are made from wood and different types of cloth, the latter of which include brocades, velvets and tapestries with different patterns and colours. Iron was mostly used in Victorian bedroom furniture for support. Victorian furniture was more curved, shiny and upholstery was a main factor in design. Turned knobs, scrolled backs and usually plain moldings with a small amount of carved decoration was used.

Early Victorian furniture was mainly constructed by hand, but towards the latter end of the period, machines were used more regularly on carved decoration. The well known cabinet designers – Holland and Sons, Gillows and others used excellent materials to produce furniture of the highest quality.

Victorian antique furniture is considered an epitome of luxury and was used widely to enhance Victorian dressing. Ultimately, furniture from this era is some of the finest ever produced. Nowadays, Victorian antique furniture is not just limited to the confines of a museum or for decorating an expensive hotel, but is very well suited for a living room, study room or bed room of any household that will respect their furniture.  Victorian antique furniture is very much in demand and fashion, and adds class and elegance to any home.

There are so many different kinds of Victorian antique furniture – cabinets, bedroom sets, bookcases, beds, dressers, chest, sofa type tables, round dining tables and kidney desks to name a few.