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Posted by Chris under Furniture Commentary on March 01, 2011
Every morning that I come into the office, I sit down and read through our emails with a cup of hot, black coffee. This morning, I opened an email containing what looked like a photograph of avant-garde artwork. When you work in or run an online business, this is the sort of non sequitor that you come to expect when you look through your inbox. Business as usual. But what looked like an impressionist masterpiece was really just an exceptionally blurry secretary in a dim room.
Now, there are all kinds of photography tutorials out there that could amend this problem. However, there are a few additional things that you need to know before sending pictures to a dealer.
1. Ask yourself: what do I want the dealer to see? Is what I want them to see evident in the photograph? Honesty and clarity should be your rule of thumb.
2. Many people send emails containing pictures of items that they'd like to sell. However, even if you send detailed pictures, it is very unlikely that a dealer will be able to assess the value of your piece(s) without seeing them in person. They may be interested in purchasing your item(s) (if they're the type of dealer that buys from unsolicited offers), but they won't really know the value of your furniture until they see it in person. There are all kinds of details that you simply can't assess without physically inspecting every inch of the piece (what types of screws it has, whether it has dovetails, what the insides of the drawers look like, whether there is a maker's mark, etc.).
3. Be courteous. Practice the golden rule by being upfront about your intentions, and don't send what may be an unwanted email. Save yourself potentially wasted time and effort by checking to see if the dealer actually buys from customers, or if they provide appraisal services (which should cost hundreds of dollars in most cases). If they don't have any information on their website, try giving them a call, or send an email asking if they would be interested in helping you out before you send pictures. Also, consider that viruses frequently spread through emails and attachments, so many dealers simply won't read your email or look at your attachment out of security concerns; businesses are pretty big targets for malicious jerks, so help dealers and yourself by giving them a head's up! This level of courtesy may actually trigger a more sympathetic response in the dealer, prompting them to help you more than they otherwise would.
We hope that we've answered some of your potential concerns, but as always, feel free to leave any questions in the comments section below!
Tags: tips, online furniture
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Posted by Chris under Furniture Commentary on February 26, 2011
This is an old topic of debate and I wager that the discussion will never end. However, if you're in the market for quality furniture, you definitely want to know where you stand before settling on a purchase. As with most topics, misinformation is all too common, so I want to clarify a few things. First:
"Veneer" does not necessarily mean "bad."
We cannot emphasize this strongly enough! While I can understand concerns about veneer and preferences for solid wood, it is important to keep in mind the difference between quality veneers and cheap cabinetry. Veneers aren't something that Asian furniture manufacturers invented when they flooded the world with crappy furniture; to the contrary, veneers derive from an old and venerable furniture-making tradition. Back in the Georgian period and beyond, for instance, veneered furniture was considered higher quality, since it took more skill to carefully arrange the expensive veneers over solid wood than it did to slap a few boards together and call it furniture (which still holds true). Cabinetmakers began to use veneers as a way to develop their craft, allowing them to employ a greater variety of techniques using a wider selection of rare wood types, which were so expensive and uncommon—even for the finest furniture—that they were only available in veneers. Even today, the most exquisite wood can only be found in veneers, including burl walnut and flame mahogany. Finally, "inlays" are actually a type of veneer, so if you're looking at anything with wood inlays, you're looking at veneers.
Here are just two examples of high quality veneers over solid wood:
As you can see, the above flame mahogany and satinwood credenza is
not some cheap, Indonesian-made throwaway. Likewise, the obscene variety of exquisite inlays in the above marquetry chest indicate only the finest quality. I may be tooting my own horn at this point, but I want to illustrate not only that 1) veneers can be high-quality, especially in English-made furniture, but also that 2)
some techniques and wood types can only be employed by using veneers. If a veneer splits or cracks, don't blame veneers as such: blame the manufacturer! Veneers as a technique and a material are no more culpable for bad industry practices than solid wood is when wood splits or cracks. Which brings me to my next point:
All solid wood eventually warps, splits, and cracks!
There is even a name for this phenomenon: "age splits" (the idea being that the wood in quality furniture won't split until it has aged). This is why many cabinetmakers, including our own, offer the option of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which is stronger, denser, and heavier than solid wood—and which also never warps, splits, or cracks. Solid wood, however, has the advantage of being a little easier to repair in the event that a piece sustains damage. Even so, solid wood and veneers are not mutually exclusive categories, so you will often see, as in our own furniture, that solid wood pieces are overlaid with fine veneers. This gives the cabinetmaker much more flexibility with the design and construction, opening up new possibilities for inlays, banding, and other techniques. In all likelihood, furniture that is purely solid wood with no veneers or inlays whatsoever will be rustic or country style, since formal furniture long ago adapted motifs of inlay and banding that are now irreducibly part of the formal furniture tradition.
So, if you're in the market for reproduction or antique furniture, we hope that you can now go forth into the world with good information. Just remember that if you ever touch on a controversy like the one that has erupted on the topic of solid wood and veneered furniture, you probably want to do some research before buying. After all, if you wind up moving or re-arranging your furniture collection, you may want to sell a few of your own pieces. We hope that we've at least cleared up this little impasse for you, but if you have any other questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below!
Tags: veneer, solid wood, tips
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Posted by Chris under Furniture Commentary on February 22, 2011
When buying furniture online, there are many aspects of the research and buying process to take into account. We've decided to put together a list of the 5 most important things to look for when buying your furniture from an online dealer.
1. Primarily, the quality of the furniture. Depending on how serious you are about this, you may want to do some research (i.e. the difference between solid wood and veneers, how significant dovetails are, different types of finishes and wood types, different furniture traditions like American vs. English). If you could find a retailer who gets their supply from the U.S. or England, I would recommend doing that.
2. The quality of the website. If it is an out-dated or poorly designed site, then chances are, the business isn't very serious about selling online. They probably don't have an updated online inventory and in all likelihood lack property security measures in the code that runs their site.
3. The quality of the photos. If they're beautiful and plentiful, you can probably ask the retailer to take more pictures for you, which can be very helpful when you're trying to make the right decision.
4. The responsiveness of the dealer. If they're polite and have good etiquette and passable grammar, chances are they're a professional who knows what they're doing. Ask them plenty of questions about the piece(s) that you are interested in. If applicable, ask about the wood type, the finish, the manufacturing process, the period (Victorian, Georgian, etc.), the origin (England, China, etc.), and anything else you can think of. The more you know about furniture, the more productive these questions will be, because you may be able to catch a dishonest or ignorant dealer before they get your money. However, I would add that most serious dealers are for the most part honest about their product, because it is difficult to run a successful business by treating your customers badly.
5. Their online reputation. If you found the website at the top of a search engine results page, then they have probably devoted an incredible amount of time and resources to getting there, which means they are serious. Also, check if the dealer is on Ebay, Amazon, GoAntiques, or any other furniture outlet. Sometimes you can even get a better price this way. You may even want to see if they have a Facebook or Twitter account, just to see how involved they are in the business. Taking that extra step towards social media can mean the difference between a lazy dealer and a zealous merchant who is dedicated to their business.
Tags: tips, online furniture
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Posted by Chris under Industry News on February 10, 2011
It's that time again! With last night's freeze and today's inevitable Georgia thaw, we are showing at the Scott's show today through Thursday in the South Building, spaces H9-H10. Although we of course recommend perusing our own booth, Scott's offers a remarkable variety of beautiful antiques and surprising bargains, so a trip to the show can turn up new and delightful finds every month. But don't take our word for it: see for yourself! (And grab a hot funnel cake while you're there!)
Tags: Scott Antique Market, show
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Posted by Peter under Furniture Resources on December 31, 2010
Recently, we have started carrying a large variety of beautiful leather sofas, chesterfields, and chairs. Both the vintage and replica English leather pieces we are carrying have a great look. As with any new line, we have been asked several questions about how to care for the leather, so I have compiled this list of suggestions for keeping your leather purchase in tip top shape.
-First and foremost leather is very susceptible to fading in direct sunlight. Leather pieces should not be keep in direct sunlight.
-Also, dry heat will cause leather to crack and dry out prematurely.
-All leather crackles over time. This is part of the natural aging process and can really add character to your piece. The key to keeping the crackle from becoming splits or worse is to keep your leather conditioned. Leather conditioner can be found in a variety of places including the hardware store and most automotive stores. Use a quality leather conditioner twice a year to ensure the leather stays pliable.
-Leather can be dusted or vaccumed regularly, however, use only a soft cloth, slightly damp if need be. Avoid dousing the leather in water, as it will leave spots.
-Light scratches can sometimes be buffed out with a clean finger. Small nicks can be colored in with some leather dyes (see your local automotive store). Larger or deeper scratches are almost impossible to repair and you will need to have a professional take a look at them.
As with any piece of furniture, prevention is much easier than repair. The above tips should help you keep your new sofa or chair in wonderful condition, so it can be enjoyed for years to come.
Tags: leather, chesterfields, furniture care
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Posted by Chris under Company News on October 20, 2010
We were highly anticipating our most recent furniture container, since we knew we had a lot of great items coming in. We purchase all of our inventory from dealers and cabinetmakers in England, so every time we come across a beautiful find, it can be a while, usually a month or so, until we all finally get to see, in person, the gorgeous pieces that first caught our collective eye. This month, the level of excitement was definitely higher than usual, and with the amazing antiques that came in, it's no wonder why. So without further ado, here are just a few of the beauties that I've been yammering about.
Tags: container, arrivals, chesterfield, leather, pub table
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Posted by Chris under Company News on August 10, 2010
With Fall right around the corner, we're gearing up here at English Classics for the August 2010 Scott's show, which will last from the 12th through the 15th. We've decided to shake things up a bit and exhibit in both buildings: in addition to showing at our normal spaces, H9-H10 in the South Building, we will also have a booth set up in D2-D3 in the North Building. So come see both Peters—that's right, we have two of them—and enjoy the sights of the Southeast's favorite antique show! And while you're at it, grab an ice cream cone while we've still got this beautiful Georgia summer.
Tags: scott antique market, show, atlanta
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Posted by Chris under Company News on July 31, 2010
It's that time of the month again:
antiques so pretty it feels like sin.
So feel free to browse this brief selection:
we hope our photos give you a smile.
When we saw this small mahogany bookcase, we found the design so unusual that we had to get it.
This beautiful nine-foot mahogany conference table arrived in great condition. Similar to the reproductions that we carry, this c1960 piece is a much higher quality table than you usually see from the '60's.
This exquisitely carved oak bureau bookcase dates back all the way to c1820, during the Georgian period. The carvings are very detailed—and the unique pull backplates even have sphinxes and pyramids on them.
At one point in time, this mahogany campaign chest would have furnished an RAF officer's quarters and disassembled into several pieces during relocations in the field. Today, the pieces have been permanently joined together to make this unique piece a more suitable addition for home use.
This Victorian walnut bow front chest recently underwent a complete restoration at the hands of our cabinetmaker in England. The exquisite appearance and unparalleled sturdy structure of of this piece testify to his amazing skills.
We always keep our eyes peeled for barley twist furniture, particularly chairs and tables. This set of four oak dining chairs caught our eye and arrived in wonderful condition.
Pub tables, especially ones with barley twist legs, have always been one of our most popular items. Needless to say, we don't expect to keep this charming beauty for long.
We don't often acquire wardrobes, if only because of their relatively uncommon appearance in the antique market. But when we saw this exquisite flame mahogany wardrobe, it was destiny.
That's all for now—we hope you enjoyed all the pictures. Stay tuned for more updates and, for a more complete list of our inventory, you can always visit our reproduction and antique furniture catalog.
Tags: container, arrivals, bookcase, table, bureau, chest, chair, wardrobe
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