Old Bench

[ghopper1924]

Plus, does it really matter if it's period or not? The main thing to me is, do i like it. I think a decorator hit the nail on the head recently when she said " I dont care about antiques, i care about interesting things to live with".

Actually, it does matter if it's period, from a financial perspective if nothing else. The difference in price between this monk's settle and a box from 1600 is significant! It also matters if you care about antiques, their craftsmanship, and the stories they tell as opposed to a "look."

Not that there's anything wrong with having a well decorated house.

[jacon4]

Well, i was speaking in todays world where antique furniture must compete with many other competitors for house furnishing dollars. Period antique furniture today is clearly losing that marketing battle because of many factors, some of which have been discussed on other threads here. So, "does it really matter" if it's period? To a few old farts like myself and antiquarian's yes, but to the market place in general, NO. There has NEVER been a better time to buy period antique furniture in my lifetime as many of my contemporaries have discovered when they sell their collections. Period pieces are selling for less today than they did 30 years ago and with some forms, ALOT less.

I would add the decorator was not dissing antique furniture, she was simply stating the reality of trying to make a living with helping people decorate their home.

[bigwull]

I agree with Jacon...here,...why does it always have to be about money...i,m of the opinion that  whoever buys antique furniture...as an investment...needs their heads looking into...they will never fully enjoy living with what they have bought...for the simple reason...their always thinking "how much is this worth now"...."has its value increased"..."oH! its losing money"....whereas those that buy what they like...without thinking of it as an investment...will enjoy what they,ve bought.....and Not be wanting to slit their wrists if the arse falls out of the market...like it has over here for  dark furniture.."simples"

[ghopper1924]

That's why my motto is "love what you buy." I've watched the value of mycollection drop by orders of magnitude but that's softened by the fact thar I love the stuff anyway. Why? Because these items have all the good qualities of genuine antiques and therefore have lasting value whatever the market may do.

[jacon4]

Yep, agrees, i either have an emotional connection to a piece when i first look at it or, i do not. If not, i keep looking. I think this is what the decorator was saying here, if its a period piece that meets that test, fine, if its not period though, thats fine as well.

[frogpatch]

Agree

[talesofthesevenseas]

Darn! It's still lovely though!

[jacon4]

Check this out from Marhamchurch, very similar form.
http://www.marhamchurchantiques.com/antique/late-elizabethan-joined-oak-box-chair/

[bigwull]

nice piece of oak...but...i,m of the opinion,anyone paying over 5 grand for this...needs their head looking into.....

[jacon4]

Well, didnt look at price but as with most pieces, the price is most likely negotiable.

[bigwull]

being a canny Scotsman cross Ukrainian...the price is uppermost...unless you,re one o, they rich Americans..then price disnae matter....

[jacon4]

I like that site, he is a very knowledgeable dealer about early english furniture forms, really great pics plus he's very mindful about connecting Thomas Dennis ( americas most celebrated 17th century joiner) to any piece that is attributed to the shop where Dennis served his apprenticeship, to bring in the odd yank who might be interested. All in all, first rate web site.

Another point to keep in mind is, chairs are almost always going to be expensive because they are very rare in this era, only kings, queens and wealthy head of households sat on chairs, everyone else sat on stools. Indeed, in America, there are only 20-30 17th century wainscot (frame & panel) chairs known to exist.