Some of the earliest pieces of antique furniture were probably nothing but logs as the nomads learned to farm and hunt in one area and constant moving came to an end. Initially, furniture was strictly practical, gradually gaining in importance and becoming more decorative. Eventually becoming a status symbol with the wealthy demanding more refinement to better reflect their station in life.

Over the years, the terms used to describe antique furniture have changed, and while the names may be similar, their uses has evolved. For example, today’s armoire is used to store a wide variety of items, from jewelry and clothing to electronics. The original use for an armoire was to store a suit of armor, hence the name. With many pieces of antique furniture, the term armoire is used to describe a piece of furniture used to serve as storage.

The term buffet and sideboard are often used interchangeably as they both served the same purpose. This piece of antique furniture was designed to hold serving dishes and utensils in drawers while providing a flat surface on the top to display serving pieces and to hold food during meals.

Age Alone Does Not Define Antique Furniture

Typically, the term antique is used to describe something of a certain age. Cars, for example, earn the right to be called antique after 32 years from the date of manufacture. With antique furniture, it is often not possible to determine the date a handmade item was made. Even handmade items built during the depression in the United States may not be considered to be antique to some collectors. Others are beginning to recognize the quality of the workmanship as qualifying to be called antique.

Many times items depicted as antique furniture may fail qualifications to factors such as the type of wood used in its making as well as fastening techniques and basic design. An item that is held together with staples, and presented as antique furniture is surely a fake as no item using that fastening technique can be considered an antique, according to experts.

What makes antique furniture more valuable is having a large majority of original pieces still intact. Many times someone will buy a piece of furniture and rebuild it using wood not typically in use during that period. While this may make the piece more sturdy or usable, it will detract greatly from its originality as well as its value. The basic rule is that if extensive work is needed to restore the piece, it is not worth it and hope to maintain its status as an antique.