Antique Dining Chairs
This has to one of the best times to consider buying antique dining chairs. This is also true for pretty much any type of Victorian or Edwardian brown furniture, almost all of which has become less popular and less expensive, as people aim for a less cluttered modernist look. By doing a little research you can discover the pitfalls to be aware of, and by using this information wisely, you might just net yourself an even better bargain.
Possibly the easiest place to buy antique dining chairs is an antique shop, but bear in mind that you will be paying retail price, for example a set of early Victorian Hepplewhite style chairs could cost you around three grand. For those seeking a better deal, your local auction house is the place to go. Make a point of attending the viewing days. This allows you to browse at your leisure and to examine the goods in greater detail. It also affords you the chance to question the auction house personnel, who will be able to give you an idea of any restoration costs and the level of woodworm infestation, if any. They will also tell you the true period of an item, if they are reproductions then the auction house will tell you so. Although reproduced furniture is less expensive, it is also much harder to sell on should you decide to.
There are several things to look out for when buying your dining chairs from an auction. The condition of the upholstery and woodworm are the most obvious, but you should also check how sturdy the chairs are, movement in a chair indicates that the joints have become loose and this can be expensive to rectify. The finish should be original and have a good patina, if they need to be stripped back and re-polished it will cost you twice, first getting a professional to do it and also by the fact that it will devalue them. Slight woodworm infestation is nothing to worry about since you can quite cheaply buy kits that you can apply yourself. Figure on picking up dining chairs whose upholstery is in poor condition, these will cost a lot less and it is easy to get a professional upholsterer to replace it with a suitable material at a reasonable price.
Although it is possible to come across dining chairs that have been painted at some time in the past, do not be fooled into thinking it is a simple matter of removing the paint with paint strippers and restoring the chair to its former glory, beneath that unsightly white paint can lie layers of hideous hues that will take forever to remove. Not to mention the fact that the paint will obscure any damage or infestation that lies beneath.