Antique Expansions

If you’re new to the world of antiques, it might feel a bit overwhelming at first. Should I know about every time period and style? What if I buy something new-production, thinking it was antique, where do I find what I like anyways? In my personal, almost professional opinion, it doesn’t really matter. You might not be able to tell what is overpriced or know what period something is from, so let’s leave elitism at the door. As long as you like something, it’s fair game.

I’ve come to figure out my style and it actually has more to do with finish and materials rather than time periods, so of course you can mix and match from different corners and eras of the world in your decor. I go crazy over cast iron, dark woods with nice wax finishes, or intricately embroidered fabrics.

I can find pieces like this from the Victorian era, all the way back to 14-1500, or why not some nice art nouveau. Finding real pieces of that early time period is of course difficult, so there is no harm in getting a revival piece. I also love the light and dainty designs of the rococo era, with fun colours that feel fit for a Princess.

If there’s one tip I would share for a beginner antique enthusiast it is to just go into an antique store, and turn things over! Pick things up (if allowed) and look at the fittings, screws, the bottom. Is there a marking like a stamp or a tag? You’ll be able to see the condition of an object much better and might quickly get a sense of what is older and what is new once you compare a few items. Then you can make your own judgement as to whether the price is right, I don’t mind buying something a bit rusted or with wood cracks if I know it will still hold up and it shows real age. But for now I stay away from any restoration projects. The blessing of antiques I find is actually the longevity of them. We might see the signs of their age but realise then the quality it holds to have held up through all those years of use, an Ikea piece could never.. I feel so lucky that preserving the earth's resources can be so beautiful, thanks to all the skilled crafters or the olden days.