Antiques shopping today--crowded

[iris lilies]

In one place I could barely get through the aisle.

keeping an eye on the demographics, most were aged in their 50's and 60's. I will admit to stalking two young couples in their 30's to see what they lingered over.

one they really seemed to like was an old cabinet set on metal base. The cabinet was antiqued black, the base had wine racks openings.

I like to see what the youngsters like. They aren't buying my beloved burl walnut victorian pieces,and that's ok.

[Rogar]

In my area mid-century modern is huge, especially among the hipsters. A friend was recently disposing of a relative's estate and placed several ads on Craig's list where things moved slowly until he added mid-century modern to some of the titles. In my neighborhood a hand full of antique stores have done under, but there are a few new mid-mod used furniture stores that seem to do pretty well.

[iris lilies]

Oh mid mod is huge, and rightly so! I have succumbed to it with a couple of pieces, cool stack tables and matching tray, from the 1960's.
My sofa and chairs are reproductions of items in Mad Man Don Draper's office. I love the Mad Men style, it has clean crisp lines and is on the small side of today's upholstered furniture.

I loathe the oversize, overstuffed look in upholstered furniture. Perhaps that's because my wood pieces are busy Victorian ones. It's the contrast I like.

[IshbelRobertson]

I have some Jacobean oak furniture and lots of Georgian stuff. No Victorian, too fussy, I gave the pieces to family a d sod ( for little profit) the rest. 'Brown' furniture is almost impossible to sell here in the UK.

I have lots of silver, porcelain and glass, including Lalique, LC Tiffany and British crystal.

I'm not buying anything else! Well, unless I spot something I fall in love with!

[iris lilies]

I have some Jacobean oak furniture and lots of Georgian stuff. No Victorian, too fussy, I gave the pieces to family a d sod ( for little profit) the rest. 'Brown' furniture is almost impossible to sell here in the UK.

I have lots of silver, porcelain and glass, including Lalique, LC Tiffany and British crystal.

I'm not buying anything else! Well, unless I spot something I fall in love with!
I know, I read an article about "brown" furniture and its unpopularity.

I wonder if the market for high Victorian end stuff (not that which I buy) is stagnant or going down? I wonder if 1700's and 1800's American furniture, always pricey, is stabilizing? Maybe I can afford it after all.

Do you have any idea if the LC Tiffany market is down?

[iris lily]

I get a sense that the "brown" furniture is being painted cream or white for that shabby chic cottage look, to,get it sold.

While I don't mind that for all of the hideous pieces made in the 1920' s - 1950's they absolutely may not do that for fancy wood 18th and 19th century furniture. Here, I have resisted the urge to cut a hole in my walnut secretary back in order to accommodate tv cords because I want to keep it pristine for the next generation. Maybe I should just drill the holes and forget about those coming after me.


I just looked up a gorgeous William and Mary highboy on the east coast and they are asking $3,200. That is very close to what I overpaid for the century-newer Renaissance secretary.
Now I am excited to,think that I can drop down a full century in furniture! While
I'm not actively collecting, I would trade out a couple of pieces to make room for prettier ones.

[IshbelRobertson]

I know, I read an article about "brown" furniture and its unpopularity.

I wonder if the market for high Victorian end stuff (not that which I buy) is stagnant or going down? I wonder if 1700's and 1800's American furniture, always pricey, is stabilizing? Maybe I can afford it after all.

Do you have any idea if the LC Tiffany market is down?

When my daughter and her husband bought their one-bedroom flat in a Georgian conversion some years ago, the previous owners sold them a huge overmantel mirror and a mahogany dining table with extra leaves and twelve matching dining chairs, all William IV. The mirror cost a thousand pounds... Exactly the same as the dining stuff! Madness.

I don't know about prices for LCT in the USA but it appears to be stable here. The last small piece I bought in France!