Online Guide for Buying Antique Desks

What is an Antique?

Simply put, an antique is a piece that is over one hundred years old. As of this writing, true antiques are anything that was made in 1907 or before. This is not to say that pieces younger than that are not valuable. Many, in fact, are quite valuable. They are just not true antiques. Knowing that, it is also necessary for you to watch out for scams.

How Can You Tell It's Real?

True antique furnishings are rarely uniform in their dimensions. This is due to the fact that wood has a tendency to shrink over the years, sometimes as much as an eighth of an inch per foot. This is something you ought to look for when inspecting that antique desk. Another sign is a level of discoloration and natural wear at the corners. In fact, any damage at all needs to look natural, the result of exposure to the elements and other hazards, not to mention years of loving use.

Beyond that, you need to educate yourself on how the desk (or any other piece of antique furniture) you are considering purchasing was actually made. Amish furniture, for example, is made up of very few, heavy component pieces that are put together with exquisite craftsmanship. If the desk you are looking at does not exhibit these qualities, then think twice before writing that check. Also, you need to know something about the hardware. It must all be original. Inspect it carefully. Any sign of plugged holes indicates that the hardware has been, in some way, tampered with.

Finally, over the years, an antique can lose some or all of its strength and sturdiness. You should test this before making your purchase, sitting on a desk, for example, or shaking it, are perfectly reasonable tests. You should also run your hand across the various surfaces of the piece to check for cuts and cracks.

What does all of this mean? It means that if that beautiful antique roll top desk looks perfect, the hardware looks new, the finish is great, the corners are unworn and the dimensions are spot on, then you are probably not dealing with an antique! All of this also means one more thing: You cannot do this online!

The Role of the Online Guide for Buying Antique Desks

Online buying works for things that you are already familiar with or are coming from a manufacturer, such as electronics. When you get into things like collectibles and antiques, that is where the utility of the internet degrades a bit. This is because you want to be able to inspect that Georgian desk before laying out thousands of dollars for it. You simply cannot rely on a photo and a hundred word description.

So, what is the internet good for in this case? Research and sourcing. When buying an antique desk, use the internet to get a fairly good grasp of the following:

• The piece itself. You want to know how pieces such as the one you are interested in were made, the years during which they were made, and the materials and craftsmanship. This information will guide you in your physical inspection of the piece.
• Auction value of the piece. The value at auction is the valuation that is usually used for tax and estate purposes as it gives the best reflection of the real value. So, what are comparable items going for and how does the asking price for the piece you want compare with those values? Every auction is different, so get a reasonable number of auction prices to use as a range and see where the asking price you are dealing with falls.
• The Seller. Whether it is a dealer or an auction house, what is the reputation of the seller? Have you got a relationship with this seller? Establishing a solid relationship with a reputable seller will save you a great deal of time and worry.

Knowing your seller also goes along with sourcing your antique desk. If you have an established relationship, the dealer can help you locate the perfect piece. However, if you are going it alone, you can go on the internet and find what you are looking for. You should then contact the seller and see if you can actually inspect the item before purchasing it. A legitimate seller should have no problem with an informed and conscientious buyer. Some issues you should consider include:

• Warranties and Guaranties of Authenticity
• Repair and/or Restorations
• The History of the Desk
• The Best Price the Dealer can Offer

Even after all your questions have been answered, it is always good to get a second opinion before you buy. A knowledgeable friend, if available, is an excellent choice. The key is to have a second person look over the desk and ask questions about it. Then compare notes and make your decision.

The Internet is a great way to find and research an antique desk, but it is a lousy way to buy an antique desk. Yes, with all of the great things offered by our plugged-in society, there are still some things in life that need to be done the old fashioned way, like buying an antique desk, even if you can use an online guide for buying antique desks to help you out.