In a depressed market, where 50% off the price of antiques compares very favourably with a 20-30% downturn in the housing market, investors should certainly be buying plenty of antique furniture.

A reduction in the price means that everyone benefits. At auction, fewer bidders means less competition, with less people taking part and more competitive prices as a result. However, when attending the auction it is crucial to locate where the weak areas are in order to take the fullest advantage. It is dealers particularly who are able to benefit from low competition where leaving very low bids can result in bargain ‘under the hammer’ prices.

Online shopping is also a great place to find good prices on antique furniture. Antique Furniture Bargains is a good place to begin your search. The site is affliated with eBay and thus you can shop the entire United States, or world for that matter, without leaving your home. And, your purchase will be delivered to your door.

The above is also true for Asian antiques. If Asian antique are your desire, The Asian Antique Shop offers great prices on antiques from all Asian countries. Like the above, Antique Furntiture Bargains, the world is your potential market and you can buy from the convenience of your home and have it delivered to your door.

The market may be cautious, but people are definitely buying antiques – and at competitive prices. In a market that will rebound, now is the time to buy antiques competitively in order to sell competitively later for future profits. Buying antiques across the country at competitive prices will ensure future healthy profits.

Whenever you antique furniture shop, be aware that definitions can vary. However, it’s accepted in the industry that, to be considered antique, a piece must be at least 100 years old. Everything more recent would be considered vintage or modern. And, always buy pieces you will use…very few of us have rooms in our home that we can fill with an “untouchable” collection of antique pieces that can only be looked at and not used.

Anita is an antiques enthusiast and successful antique furniture and accessories collector and dealer, serving other collectors, designers and individual buyers, for twenty years. She is passionate about helping other antiques lovers and collectors gain more knowledge and find those perfect pieces to fulfill their needs. Anita has an online antiques warehouse where you can view her large inventory of antique furniture and accessories and buy antique furniture.
Also, you can visit her blog at antique furniture shop where you can read more about antique furniture and how to antique furniture shop.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Boyd

Throughout America's history, craftsmen have honed their skills to build exquisite pieces of furniture. Other people built makeshift pieces of furniture to make do until they could afford the real pieces. These makeshift pieces are known as "primitives."
Periods of American Furniture

Eight periods of furniture styles evolved throughout America's early history, according to the "Field Guide to Early American Furniture." They include
Puritan Span (1650-1690),
William and Mary (1690-1720),
Queen Anne (1720-1750),
Chippendale (1750-1775),
Hepplewhite (1785-1800),
Sheraton (1800-1820),
American Empire (1820-1840) and
Early Victorian (1840-1865).

According to "Field Guide to Early American Furniture," the gap in time between the Chippendale period and the Hepplewhite period is due to the American Revolution.

During these periods, primitive copies were made until true craftsman-made items could be purchased.

Definition and Examples
Primitive furniture items were crudely made pieces used in place of popular furniture of the era until such time as a better piece could be purchased. Since these pieces were not meant to survive, they were expendable; therefore, they are rare to find today and thus much more valuable. The settle; a seat next to the fireplace; a wagon seat, a double chair for two to sit on a wagon; and a candle stand are all examples of common primitives according to "Field Guide to Early American Furniture."

Differences between Primitive and Country
According to "Country Pine Furniture," primitives closely resemble country furniture. The difference is that primitives are crudely constructed and made from rough-hewn wood. According to Dorothy H. Jenkins, author of "A Fortune In The Junk Pile," country pieces were more likely chairs, rockers and tables made with hand plane, saw, hammer and nails, and were painted and sometimes decorated with stencils to cover mixed wood types. Primitives would not be painted, because they were not meant to last that long.

The Ann Arbor Antiques Market began in 1968 by Ann Arbor resident and antique enthusiast Margaret Brusher. The first few years were modest affairs, held at the Ann Arbor Farmers' Market. After the explosion of interest in Americana antiques with the 1976 bi-centennial, the Ann Arbor Antiques Market expanded rapidly, and soon became one of the nation's most well-known antique shows. Now in its 42nd year, the Market hosts two-day shows once a month from April to October. The shows are at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, spread out over seven buildings and numerous tent canopies.

"We pride ourselves on being a Michigan-based business and in the extremely high quality of our antiques and collectibles," said event organizer Lynn Supinger, adding that the exhibitors come from all over the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

The next show will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 14 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor Saline Road. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://www.annarborantiquesmarket.com.

Antiques have been targeted in burglaries lately with a theft from a home last week resulting in 500 different antiques being stolen. The owner of the home returned home to find that the door of his house had been broken down and his collection of antique watches had been taken by thieves. Some of the watches stolen were worth as much as £8,000 each.

Another burglary earlier this year saw a valuable collection of antique coins, books and clocks stolen when a property that was unoccupied was broken into by thieves. The property was being handled by an estate agent when it was left empty, with the priceless antiques inside, making it an easy target for criminals.

With the theft of antiques being so prevalent in today’s society, what measures have you taken to ensure that your valuable antiques are protected in your home? Plus, should the worst happen, you should make sure that your collections are adequately listed and insured for their correct valuations.

Antique collectors aren’t the only ones looking for antiques. Your antiques have sentimental as well as financial value and deserve protecting. You should check the security of your home and consider installing or upgrading any existing home security system. For home security information and a discount store, visit Home Security Bargains.

Bedroom Furnishing is not just to soothe your senses, but also to enamor you with its beauty. Nowadays, Antique Bedroom Furniture comes with an exquisite headboard with gold trimmings, and nightstands with vertical mirrors. Antique Bedroom Furniture sets come with a bed along with a chest of drawers, a mirror and two nightstands. It makes your room soaked in the tranquility and classiness of bygone times, coupled with the functionality of the traditional beds. Many companies offer Antique Bedroom Furniture equipped with TV armoires and cloth hangers, too.

These days you just don’t have to settle for normal antique pine furniture, as there is a wide array of choices waiting for you. You can choose from any of the designs and finishes, such as mahogany lacquer, cinnamon lacquer and dark brown. Antique Bedroom Furniture is not only sturdy, but also gives your room an antique and innovative appeal. What makes Antique Bedroom Furniture score over others is its distinct style, charisma and elegance.

Antique Bedroom Furniture’s aesthetic value and eternal appeal cannot be expressed by mere words. You have to feel its grace, quality and presence for yourself.

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Antique furniture is very popular today. With the real estate market in the state it is in now, many real estate marketers believe that placing some antique furniture in a home will greatly increase the assumed sale value. Additionally, spending money on buying antique furniture for a home is a wise investment. The antique furniture never loses its value, and in many cases appreciates; the value of the antique furniture may increase as time goes by. Although it is very easy to buy antique furniture today (you can even get the delivered to your doorsteps by ordering it online), several factors are to be considered to make your purchase more profitable. This guide will help you to identify and buy the best antique furniture available out there.

Identifying the real Antique Furniture

You should always remember the fact that the word "antique" refers to any object that is more than 100 years old. When it comes to antique furniture, there are two types such as "real antique furniture" and "Antique design inspired furniture". The real antique furniture is a great treasure, which will be many years old. On the other hand, the antique design inspired ones will only reflect the antique design. The material will not be really antique. Identifying the real antique furniture is very easy. You may be aware of the fact that woods shrinks as a result of aging. Antique furniture will have irregular dimensions. If the finishing of the furniture is excellent and new looking then it may not be a real antique.

Determining the value of the antique furniture

All kinds of antique furniture will not have the same value. It depends upon several factors like age, quality, application, style, make etc. In order to find the value of the furniture, you need to be knowledgeable about antiques. You can get lots of information about antique furniture if you spend a little time researching on the Internet. Commonly, antique furniture will be valued based on the condition, rarity, and history.

Checking the Solidity of the antique furniture

You should also remember the fact that antique furniture retains its value only if it is fully functional. Most antique experts insist on moving and using the furniture to ensure the solidity and functionality.

Buying Antique Furniture online

You can buy antique furniture online and get it delivered to your doorstep while you just relax. However, it is very much important to make sure that the online antique furniture store of your choice is genuine as you won’t be able to check the furniture before they get shipped to you.

No matter how you buy it, the real antique furniture is a valuable asset in any home.

You’ve taken the time and expense to create your collection. To ensure that it holds its value, it’s important to care and protect it. By practicing certain basic conservation practices, you can make sure your house is a safe environment for your collection.
Maintaining a consistent temperature of around 70 degrees during both the winter and summer months is most important, especially with furniture and items made of wood. Veneered furniture is particularly vulnerable to dampness.

Try not to place objects near vents where they may be in the direct path of hot or cold air. Also, keep items out of the path of direct sunlight, particularly paintings, works on paper, textiles, and furniture. Lastly, reduce the amount of exposure to natural light by partly lowering shades, drawing curtains, or closing blinds.

Storing Your Collection
Sometimes a collection becomes so large that items need to be stored. Always select a dry, clean space in which the temperature remains fairly consistent. If possible, avoid storing objects in attics, basements, and garages. Plastic storage bins are excellent for smaller objects like cameras and provide a watertight and airtight seal.

When storing objects that must be wrapped or placed in boxes, be sure to use acid-free materials. Paper and cardboard products are made with acids that hasten the deterioration of objects that come into contact with them. For this reason, it’s best to avoid either wrapping objects in newspaper and normal tissue paper or placing them in old cartons. A number of companies make acid-free tissue paper and boxes for the safe storage of artwork and smaller antiques that can be easily wrapped and boxed.

Fragile objects made of glass, pottery or porcelain should never be stacked on top of each other inside a box. Attempt to arrange everything in the box in one layer. Under-the-bed plastic storage bins are best.

If at all possible, store objects on open shelves instead of crowding them into a box. When objects are evenly spaced on shelves, the potential for damage is greatly reduced.

Tablewares such as plates, bowls, and cups & saucers are frequently stacked in boxes or on shelves. When the pieces rub against each other, surface decoration can easily be removed in the process. To avoid this problem, place acid-free tissue paper under each piece in the stack. The tissue paper provides a buffer between objects that come into contact with each other. Also, make certain that the stacks don’t reach teetering heights! Otherwise, everything can come tumbling down.

You should never stack or jam furniture into a tight space in which the pieces bang against each other. Otherwise, you risk scratching, gauging, or splitin g it. Arrange all furniture directly on the floor with space between each piece.

Cleaning Your Collection
Use a dry paintbrush with soft bristles to dust porcelain, pottery, and glass objects. A cloth may snag on small details and cause breakage. For tight areas or small details use pressurized air.

When cleaning silver and silverplate, try to avoid using creams and polishes that must be rubbed onto the object to avoid scratching. Instead, use a solution into which the object can be dipped to remove tarnish and dirt. This approach is particularly advisable for silver with gilding or silverplate. Constant rubbing with a cream or polish will eventually cause the gilding or silver plating to wear away.
Never clean antique furniture with a damp cloth. This can result in the removal of the surface finish and cause the wood to expand and then contract. Always use a soft, dry cloth or a paintbrush with soft bristles.

Gilding on furniture should never be polished, as this will result in the removal of the gilding. Simply leave the gilding in the condition in which it was found.

Making Repairs & Restorations
You should always consult with a professional on the repair or conservation of an antique that’s severely damaged or in poor condition. The professional will know exactly what measures to take. A home repair could result in even greater damage and will lower the value of a fine antique.

• Antique furniture should never be "polished" or cleaned with commercial cleaning products or polishes. Instead, use a soft cloth sprayed with some glass cleaner.

• To remove stains from stoneware dishes, soak them for 24 hours or more in one gallon of hot water in which two denture cleaner tablets have been dissolved.

• Never use furniture oil such as lemon oil on antique furniture. Just wipe it with a damp cloth or use only clear paste wax (Minwax or beeswax) to keep the wood in good condition.

• To prevent mildew damage to old photographs and art work hung on damp or outside walls, tape or glue a sheet of plastic to the back to create a vapor barrier.

• Use only white glue to adhere broken pieces of porcelain, stoneware, or pottery together. After applying glue, press pieces together and shift slightly for a tight fit. Wipe off excess glue from both sides with a damp cloth and let dry. Use masking tape to hold pieces snuggly while drying if necessary.

• To remove minor water marks on furniture, use a mixture of Vaseline and ashes. Sift 2 tablespoons of fine wood ashes with a dab of Vaseline or cooking oil to form a paste. Using a circular motion, work the paste into the surface with a soft cloth until the white ring vanishes.

• Never use rust-remover on china as it can remove the glaze or protective coating of the china. Also, calcium, lime or rust-remover products should not be used on gold or platinum-banded crystal because these items can stain or permanently change the color of the metal-banding.

• Wear cotton gloves as much as possible when handling your silver. This will prevent the oils and acids from your hands from ending up on the object. Cotton gloves are very inexpensive, and can be purchased at photography supply stores and some drug stores.

• Burn marks can be taken out of furniture with fine steel wool, a razor blade, a scalpel or craft knife. The shallow hole that results may be filled by artists' oil colors, mixed with linseed oil, or if a glossy finish is desired, with varnish, or mixed with turpentine, it will be matt. A filler can also be made from colored beeswax, from powder stain mixed with a medium such as epoxy resin, or shellac mixed with powder pigment.

• Jade, ivory, horn, and marble should be lightly dusted with a soft brush or dry, soft cloth. Keep these objects out of direct sunlight, since they may dry out and become brittle. Always handle these objects with care when moving them.