Posts tagged "chest"
Posted by Chris under Furniture Commentary on April 19, 2011
Most people love antiques. They're green, they're unique, they combine utility with art—they interrupt the dull monotony of everyday living simply by asserting themselves in space. Unique configurations. Unique materials. Distinct expressions of artisanal mastery. And for us, that's what it's really all about: working alongside the limits of beauty five days a week. A large part of this experience involves cultivating a taste for the business as well as for the beautiful pieces that we move in and out on a daily basis. But if you're on the outside looking in, it can often seem difficult to recognize quality when you see it, so to help, we've put together a list of some of our favorite pieces and explained why each piece made the list.
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Tags: bookcase, chest, marquetry, sideboard, sofa
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Posted by Chris under Company News on April 10, 2011
We have a saying in the antiques industry: "Better late than never." OK, so maybe that's not ours but we like to claim it. Last month, we had a container just full of beautiful antiques, so here is a brief selection.
Tags: container, arrivals, chesterfield, table
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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 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 mahogany dining 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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Posted by Chris under Furniture Commentary on October 09, 2009
This is a prime example of a quality reproduction.
A host of fears and misconceptions haunt the idea of reproduction furniture—and in some cases, with good reason. Chinese junk, for instance, has long inundated the U.S. market, and some dealers aren't as honest as English Classics about where their items come from (and of course not all dealers get their stuff from England). But if you know what to look for in a good reproduction, then you don't need to worry too much about where it comes from because, I imagine, quality can come from the most surprising places. (In fact, I predict that as Chinese incomes rise, the burgeoning upper-class will want the same level of quality that wealthy Westerners have come to expect, and there will be a demand for quality right in their own backyards. This will make cheap, quality Chinese furniture a reality.)
For starters, the best way to find out about a piece is to simply ask the dealer. Ask where and when it is made, what it is made of (veneers, underlying materials, hardware metal). If it is finished, ask what kind of finish it is, and how to clean it. Ask what style it is in, whether it is handmade, and where and how the dealer acquired the piece. The answers to these questions will usually serve as good indicators of quality, and they might even get the dealer to lower the asking price.
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Tags: reproduction furniture, serpentine chest, dovetails
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