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5 Tips to Avoid Damaging Your Antiques
By Martin Swinton
You�ve bought a great antique. Now what? Here�s what you need to know to avoid damaging your newfound treasures.
1. Ignoring Effects of Relative Humidity
Today�s central heating wreaks havoc on antiques. It�s the fluctuations in relative humidity caused by central heating that results in real damage.
Wood responds to relative humidity by expanding and contracting as it tries to maintain a balance with its environment. It�s not the rapid changes during the course of a day that cause the most damage. It�s the long-term seasonal fluctuations, which cause the serious damage.
During the dry winter months when it is cold outside and warm inside, wood tends to shrink. During hot damp summers when it is warm outside and cooler inside, wood tends to expand. Long-term exposure to these conditions leads to cracking, warping and splitting.
To guard against the fluctuations in relative humidity in your home, use a humidifier during the dry winter and a dehumidifier in the damp summer. Think twice before putting quality furniture in the basement, attic, near heating vents or next to your fireplace. Keep fresh air circulating. Maintain a constant room temperature and turn it down at night.
2. Overlooking Impact of Sunlight
Just as sun damage to the skin is cumulative and permanent, its effects on wood are equally destructive. Diffused sunlight over a long period of time can be as harmful as direct sunlight over a short period of time. Sunlight can turn a clear finish yellow. The only good news about sun damage is that it�s easy to avoid. Draw the drapes, pull the blinds or have an UV-filtering film applied to your windows.
3. Thinking You Are an Accomplished Furniture Restorer
Unless you are an expert furniture restorer, don�t attempt to repair broken legs, burn marks or other damage. Inexperienced individuals can strip off patina causing irreversible damage. Leave restoration to professionals. In the long run, it is worth the investment.
4. Over Cleaning Antiques
Remember that less is more when cleaning antiques. Every couple of months, treat your wood furniture a good quality paste wax that can be found in any hardware store. Waxing too often can dull a finish and attract dust. Avoid aerosol spray polishes because they can contain silicone and other agents that can be harmful to your furniture.
For daily cleaning, use a clean cloth or a clean duster. For those who like to use something more, I recommend Orange Oil by Howard Products because it cleans and polishes wood finishes very well. Orange Oil is one of my favourites because it does not leave a wax build-up, and contains neither linseed nor silicone.
5. Rough-Handing Your Antiques
Some repairs to antique furniture can be avoided with more considerate care. Don�t lean back on antique chairs or pick them up from the back of the chair, rather lift front and back together. This type of handling coupled with the effects of relative humidity and a chair back may result in your chair back becoming unhinged, requiring repair. Avoid scratches and water damage by using coasters.
Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located in Toronto, Canada. He does furniture restoration, caning and rushing repairs, custom reproductions, upholstery, teaches courses on antiques and does appraisals for estates and community events. He can be reached at 416-785-4555 or by visiting http://www.takeaboo.com
More Information On antique sony pocket radios
An all-in-good-fun, see-what-you-can-do-for-me attitude gets you alot further with most dealers than a negative, attacking stance. Most dealers are not crooks, they just need to make a profit. Avoid cutting down the merchandise to get a lower price. This implies they don't carry quality and is a fairly obvious ploy. They have priced the item with any defects in mind. For example, avoid phrases like "Well, it has this big crack in it, so it's really not all that great of a piece." Instead, try "Despite the crack, I like this and would like to buy it. However, the price is a little higher than I'd care to go. Could you do better on this?"
Buy antique tables today!
Where can you get antique clocks? You can wander through almost any antique store or mall and see some sort of old clock. Finding the exact piece you want may take some time, however, unless you visit a dealer who specializes in old time pieces. Certainly there are online auction sites, but if this is a one time purchase or is you are a beginning collector using such auctions can be problematic. You may simply not yet have the knowledge to judge if the piece on which you are bidding is authentic and of a good quality.
Buy antique jewelry armoires today!
Don't try to negotiate a better price by denigrating the quality of the piece. Pointing out that "the leg is wobbly and there's a scratch on the surface" will not endear you to the seller, and your motives will be pretty transparent. Better to simply ask, "Can you do any better on the price?" Or offer an alternative price by saying, "Will you accept $250?" (I usually pick a figure that's about 20 percent below the marked price.)
Buy antique benches today!
The Latest antique sony pocket radios News
Vintage Collectibles from The Americas
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:22:10 -0600
Antique sacks of unsearched gems, civil war portraits, old home furnishings, antique prints including cowboy photos and drawings from the old Wild West, Indian relics and more. But how do you really know an item is the real deal? Is it really a collectible or someone else's discarded piece of junk? Here are tips from a Garage-Sale Junkie who swears by the collectible items she's found.
Chinese Paintings and Scrolls, Calligraphy on Antique Chinese Art Forms
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:22:38 -0600
Antique Chinese paintings and scrolls, calligraphy on wall panels, Chinese ancestor paintings, vintage art on reverse glass, porcelain and more.
Antique Furniture - Know it's Really Antique Before you Buy
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:23:04 -0600
Learn how to tell the difference between reproductions and antiques. Antique Furniture categories here include vintage cabinets, chests, old-fashioned rocking chairs, tables, dining room sets, and more
chinese antique furniture
chinese antique furniture
5 Tips to Avoid Damaging Your Antiques
By Martin Swinton
You�ve bought a great antique. Now what? Here�s what you need to know to avoid damaging your newfound treasures.
1. Ignoring Effects of Relative Humidity
Today�s central heating wreaks havoc on antiques. It�s the fluctuations in relative humidity caused by central heating that results in real damage.
Wood responds to relative humidity by expanding and contracting as it tries to maintain a balance with its environment. It�s not the rapid changes during the course of a day that cause the most damage. It�s the long-term seasonal fluctuations, which cause the serious damage.
During the dry winter months when it is cold outside and warm inside, wood tends to shrink. During hot damp summers when it is warm outside and cooler inside, wood tends to expand. Long-term exposure to these conditions leads to cracking, warping and splitting.
To guard against the fluctuations in relative humidity in your home, use a humidifier during the dry winter and a dehumidifier in the damp summer. Think twice before putting quality furniture in the basement, attic, near heating vents or next to your fireplace. Keep fresh air circulating. Maintain a constant room temperature and turn it down at night.
2. Overlooking Impact of Sunlight
Just as sun damage to the skin is cumulative and permanent, its effects on wood are equally destructive. Diffused sunlight over a long period of time can be as harmful as direct sunlight over a short period of time. Sunlight can turn a clear finish yellow. The only good news about sun damage is that it�s easy to avoid. Draw the drapes, pull the blinds or have an UV-filtering film applied to your windows.
3. Thinking You Are an Accomplished Furniture Restorer
Unless you are an expert furniture restorer, don�t attempt to repair broken legs, burn marks or other damage. Inexperienced individuals can strip off patina causing irreversible damage. Leave restoration to professionals. In the long run, it is worth the investment.
4. Over Cleaning Antiques
Remember that less is more when cleaning antiques. Every couple of months, treat your wood furniture a good quality paste wax that can be found in any hardware store. Waxing too often can dull a finish and attract dust. Avoid aerosol spray polishes because they can contain silicone and other agents that can be harmful to your furniture.
For daily cleaning, use a clean cloth or a clean duster. For those who like to use something more, I recommend Orange Oil by Howard Products because it cleans and polishes wood finishes very well. Orange Oil is one of my favourites because it does not leave a wax build-up, and contains neither linseed nor silicone.
5. Rough-Handing Your Antiques
Some repairs to antique furniture can be avoided with more considerate care. Don�t lean back on antique chairs or pick them up from the back of the chair, rather lift front and back together. This type of handling coupled with the effects of relative humidity and a chair back may result in your chair back becoming unhinged, requiring repair. Avoid scratches and water damage by using coasters.
Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located in Toronto, Canada. He does furniture restoration, caning and rushing repairs, custom reproductions, upholstery, teaches courses on antiques and does appraisals for estates and community events. He can be reached at 416-785-4555 or by visiting http://www.takeaboo.com
More Information On antique sony pocket radios
An all-in-good-fun, see-what-you-can-do-for-me attitude gets you alot further with most dealers than a negative, attacking stance. Most dealers are not crooks, they just need to make a profit. Avoid cutting down the merchandise to get a lower price. This implies they don't carry quality and is a fairly obvious ploy. They have priced the item with any defects in mind. For example, avoid phrases like "Well, it has this big crack in it, so it's really not all that great of a piece." Instead, try "Despite the crack, I like this and would like to buy it. However, the price is a little higher than I'd care to go. Could you do better on this?"
Buy antique tables today!
Where can you get antique clocks? You can wander through almost any antique store or mall and see some sort of old clock. Finding the exact piece you want may take some time, however, unless you visit a dealer who specializes in old time pieces. Certainly there are online auction sites, but if this is a one time purchase or is you are a beginning collector using such auctions can be problematic. You may simply not yet have the knowledge to judge if the piece on which you are bidding is authentic and of a good quality.
Buy antique jewelry armoires today!
Don't try to negotiate a better price by denigrating the quality of the piece. Pointing out that "the leg is wobbly and there's a scratch on the surface" will not endear you to the seller, and your motives will be pretty transparent. Better to simply ask, "Can you do any better on the price?" Or offer an alternative price by saying, "Will you accept $250?" (I usually pick a figure that's about 20 percent below the marked price.)
Buy antique benches today!
The Latest antique sony pocket radios News
Vintage Collectibles from The Americas
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:22:10 -0600
Antique sacks of unsearched gems, civil war portraits, old home furnishings, antique prints including cowboy photos and drawings from the old Wild West, Indian relics and more. But how do you really know an item is the real deal? Is it really a collectible or someone else's discarded piece of junk? Here are tips from a Garage-Sale Junkie who swears by the collectible items she's found.
Chinese Paintings and Scrolls, Calligraphy on Antique Chinese Art Forms
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:22:38 -0600
Antique Chinese paintings and scrolls, calligraphy on wall panels, Chinese ancestor paintings, vintage art on reverse glass, porcelain and more.
Antique Furniture - Know it's Really Antique Before you Buy
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:23:04 -0600
Learn how to tell the difference between reproductions and antiques. Antique Furniture categories here include vintage cabinets, chests, old-fashioned rocking chairs, tables, dining room sets, and more
chinese antique furniture
chinese antique furniture
Labels: antique jewelry from the uk | antique music jewelry box | powell antique oak jewelry armoire
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