Material, utility, type and beauty are only some of the terms associated with furniture selection.
But when it comes to antique furniture the bar raises even higher.
An antique furniture piece is usually a work of decorative art.
Furniture has evolved over time from its fundamental and practical form to become a representation of personal taste and social status.
Antique Furniture can also correspond to religious symbolism and skill of the craftsmen.
But when it comes to buying and selecting antique furniture most people are at their wits end.
The socially conscious society demands that you know your antique purchases.
But to make matters worse, there are a lot reproductions and fakes in the antique market.
In such competitive times, how do you know you are making the right deal? You have probably heard posh people making a huge fuss of Louis XV furniture and Chippendale and what not.
But what are they talking about? Well, the best way to get acquainted with your 'antique talk' is to indulge in some antique décor magazines or books.
Read auctions advertisements and become acquainted with popular market terms beforehand.
Internet can also provide you with a lot of information and is a readily available source of antique knowledge.
Good antique buyers familiarize themselves with the usual methods to 'date' a certain piece and authenticate furniture characteristics.
The value of an antique piece can be affected by flaws such as counterfeit material, damaged joints, secondary wood usage, scratched or exposing finishes and wormholes.
You can then try to find yourself better deals from either local area auctions or furniture selling websites.
Learning to decipher antique furniture for its right value is an art, and with some practice you can do well for yourself at furniture auctions.