Antique coffee tables – How to know if they are real or replicas
Before buying an antique end table or a vintage coffee table you should know the differences between a real one and a replica.
The replica furniture market has grown significantly in the past years, and the pieces created are so realistic that even a specialist will have a hard time telling them apart from a real one.
If you can’t tell the difference and even a specialist has a hard time telling the difference between a replica and antique end table, you may ask how your guests will know if it is real or not. The answer is that they can’t, so you can have in your home the same look and feel that a real antique gives, but without all the difficulties and costs that come with having a real one.
A major difference between a real piece and a replica is the price. A real antique, one that has been certified as an antique end table, and has been passed from generation to generation, is very hard to find these days. And to find one that is in good condition, at least good enough to be placed in your living-room is even harder. You will probably need to go to an antique dealer to help you find the piece of furniture you want for your home.
Because all of these, the price for a real antique will be much higher than the price for a replica.
Another problem with getting a real antique end table is not getting exactly what you want. Yes, you may be able to choose the style and design you want, but you won’t be able to pick the exact finish, color, type of legs, etc. of your coffee table. For the most part, you will have to buy whatever you can find in a certain category, but you can’t choose the details.
This is where the replica market comes in handy, and saves you from spending too much time and money buying something that isn’t exactly what you wanted. You will have to do a little research to find a good replica furniture maker, and when you find one, be sure to tell them what you want and find out how they make the pieces. Knowing a little about antique furniture and what to look for in such a piece might come in handy at this point.
Make sure the replica maker uses old techniques to get the piece as realistic as possible. Don’t be shy to tell him what you expect from him, you should be able to dictate all the details for the piece, from paints to finishing touches, so you will get the antique coffee table you always wanted.
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A good friend of mine was into buying and refurbishing old antique sofas, not coffee tables however. The craftsmanship on these types of furniture is superb compare to today’s furniture structures. You can find some REAL antiques by going to Thrift Stores or Antique Collection type of outlet stores. By the way, I think this is a good resource article on identifying real antique furniture Thanks for sharing!
This is good information. I can imagine that it could be quite tricky to tell good replica furniture from authentic antiques. Personally, I find the most value in the story or history of the piece. It’s really neat to know the path that something has traveled for the last 50 years!
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