Antique Furniture for Today

Sometimes it's easier to let other people show you what is worth collecting simply by paying attention to their purchases. This weekend I had an opportunity to see the other side of buying up close and personal. I was asked to lend a hand at an estate sale by a local prominent company that always have wonderful items to offer. I was still able to shop and was very pleased at what I purchased, but the fun and exciting part was watching others.

This estate had beautiful furniture pieces dating from the mid 1800's to now. One piece that sold the minute the door opened was a leaded glass bookcase. Other pieces had to wait for their new owners to find their way through the door.

A Victorian fainting couch and an Art Deco cedar chest that went to one young lady who was very pleased. Another gentleman decided on gorgeous gate leg table, pine glass door book case, and a beautiful spinet lady's desk. He definitely knew quality when he saw it.

Another item quietly waited in the corner of the dining room for a new home. This was a very large original oak ice box with a lift up top and original hardware. There it waited, as people oohed and ahhed at it but walked away searching for smaller treasures. Finally, a young man in his late 30's walked in and spotted this beautiful old ice chest. He lifted the lid and opened the doors and after his inspection, he said "I'll take it". Another happy collector.

A Victorian Settee and matching chairs also waited patiently in the living room of this old house. Again, buyers walked by commenting on how lovely it was, but were not interested in purchasing such an old set for one reason or another. "No where to put it", "My husband would kill me", the comments were probably true. The right person walked in, struck a deal and was quite happy to take this antique set home to cherish and enjoy.

Other items that made their way to new homes were an old chopping block table that must have weighed 500 pounds, a white enameled table and matching chairs, a flax wheel and yarn wheel, and a child's roll topped desk. These pieces were made with such care and quality, that I personally would pass up a contemporary alternative for one of these old items. That is the mentality of a true collector. You don't scour the Sunday ads for new things, you turn to the auction and estate classifieds to see where you will be shopping that week.

Estate sales and auctions are such a fun experience that everyone should try them out at least once. You never know what you will find and what you will learn. They can certainly be a window to the past of how life was lived long ago.

With all the wonderful things that were for sale, it was hard to walk away with the few items I had and not continue to buy. The Victorian Settee was especially appealing to me but I knew if I was to purchase and then call my husband with the news, it would not have gone well. I can commiserate with the "My husband would kill me" buyer. But this set is on my wish list for sometime in the future. And when I do buy, my husband will be with me (hopefully writing the check)!

Here is hoping your treasure hunting is successful!

Until next time.

My Best,
Vicki
Victoria's Curio

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