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Antique Birdseye Maple Furniture: Antiques With A Difference

By David Faulkner

If you are considering decorating your home then you probably already realise that antique furniture can add considerable value to your home as well as giving it a touch of elegance and class. The nature of the materials that make up the furniture is extremely important when trying to establish an atmosphere, especially if you do want a specific one. Some of the best furniture that you could invest in is antique Birdseye maple furniture because of its beautiful nature and enduring qualities, though few people have actually heard of it.

Contrary to its title, Birdseye maple is not actually maple, but instead is found within it. In fact it is a phenomenon of nature. The tiny swirling knots that occur inside the sugar maple tree looks like eyes and had been put down to birds pecking it. That is not a proven fact but the appearance on the wood gives the antique Birdseye maple furniture its name.

If you like the idea of having an unusual type of wood in your home, just for something different maybe, then antique Birdseye maple furniture may well be for you. You actually need to define which era you would like your antiques to come from because antique Birdseye maple furniture does originate from the Renaissance. Its furniture has been produced ever since and thus has produced a vast number of antiques throughout the years.

Antique Birdseye maple furniture may be hard to come by in regular antiques stores because it tends to be more popular in some areas than others. However, all is not lost. There are usually displays of antique Birdseye maple furniture in various furniture shows and the individuals that often run the shows can help you to locate dealers. If you want a quick solution there is always the Internet. Online antiques store often stock every type, era and design of antique you could ever possibly imagine.

Internet antiques dealers will offer a range of antique Birdseye maple furniture pieces that can enable you to decorate your home effectively. They may also offer pieces for slightly less than store because they have no overheads to speak of. You may also be able to find bargains to restore, in which case it would be a true labour of love.

You do have to be careful about online fraud though. There have been complaints of bogus online dealers taking money and delivering sub-standard goods or not delivering at all. If you want to decorate your home with antique Birdseye maple furniture then just be careful because you could lose a lot more than a future investment.

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You can also find more information at Antique Furniture Hardware and Antique Furniture Lighting. Antiquefurniturersource.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Antique Funiture

Hints About antique furniture

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.
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Buying antiques is a wonderful pastime, from the thrill of the hunt to the pride you feel seeing the piece in your home. But when you're buying antiques, how do you know if the piece is any good, or if it's worth the asking price?
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To clean antique ivory, dust with a soft cloth or brush, and use a clean woolen cloth to buff it.
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Ceramics can be washed with soap and water, but only wipe gently with a damp cloth if they are repaired, damaged, or have cold-painted decorations.
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Parliament Clocks. During the 18th century these large clocks were displayed in inns and taverns. They are of a plain design and approximately two to five feet in diameter. The name comes from a brief tax against clocks passed in 1787 but repealed after a few months. Popular legend holds that the clocks were displayed in protest of the tax.
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Antiques Poll: What's Your Favorite Victorian Christmas Custom?

Many of the customs we enjoy during the holidays today have Victorian roots. Take the poll, then post a comment to share more about your own family's Christmas traditions.


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Wood Antiques and The Basics About Wood

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:22:06 -0600
Find primitive wooden crafts, old wood boxes, frames, magazine racks, rocking chairs, vintage signs and decorative art. Oak, mahogany, walnut, pine, rosewood, maple, elm - different uses were made of these throughout the centuries. Learn the basics about the different kinds of wood that are regularly seen in antique furniture and some common wooden decorative treatments.

Post-Holiday Tips for Tidying Up Antique Linens

If you happened to use your favorite vintage linens during the holiday season, it's time to clean them up before tucking them away again. Read
How to Clean Old Linens...


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Shopping For Collectible Antiques You Should Know

By Doug Sheridan

Have you ever considered collectible antiques? It's not only a fun way to spend your time but they are also fun to find. You have to be careful however, many of these antiques turn out to be a great investment while others may fall short and end up costing more than they are worth. Some things to consider before spending your money on what you might think is a great buy. The condition of the item is very important. Also consider the availability of the item. A good place to start is ebay. Is there very many being advertised and more importantly are they actually selling?

As mentioned earlier the condition of the item is extremely important and determines the selling price. There are standards set for most items. Damaged items, a chipped bowl or scratched and dented items will of course not demand the same price as an item in mint condition.

The above is not always true for certain items. An item may be damaged but if it is rare and very hard to find it may still be worth a great deal. An old baseball card from the past, even if not in perfect condition may demand a lot more than another card if it is not easily obtained. Basically collectible antiques are the same as any other items. The price is normally determined by supply and demand. The less there are then the higher the price.

So what should you do if you decide to deal in collectible antiques? It could be you want to collect them for yourself or buy to sell at a profit. Finding them is no problem. Surprisingly a good place to start is goodwill. Not the stores themselves but online at http://www.shopgoodwill.com/

Goodwill picks the best of the litter so to speak and now holds their own auctions. Go to the store nowadays and you'll be lucky to find anything of any real value. Right now is a good time to view the auctions because not to many people know about them but as it gets more popular even finding good deals through them will be harder and harder.

Another source is the good old garage sale. Paintings worth millions have been picked up for a few dollars because the owner found it in the attic or closet and didn't realize what they had. Wouldn't it be great to find one of these great deals? Spend a day or two scouting these sales, you just might be the next garage sale millionaire.

Another thing you should do, especially in the beginning is choose a niche. It's easier to learn everything about one particular line than to spread yourself so thin you know nothing about anything. Jewelry for instance, you could learn to spot items by design or the material used. Starting with one line of product makes it easier to do your research and spot the bargains. Pretty soon you'll be efficient at what you do and may even be considered an expert by others.

For instance items like rings, amulets and lockets can have a unique design that can raise their value significantly. Gold will almost always be worth more than silver which will most always be worth more than bronze. Again this is not always true. It's possible for a bronze trinket to bring a high price if it's found to be one of a kind or has great historic value. These are the things that you learn with research and experience.

A lot of collectible antiques will be sold with a certificate of authority, which is always nice to have. Whenever possible request this form, it not only ads value but also qualifies the purchase and if you decide to resell it's a great bargaining tool. You should of course verify the certificate. There are always unscrupulous people out there that may provide a fake just to sell the item. Go online and see if certificates were actually issued, if all else fails seek out an expert especially if there's a considerable amount of money involved.

In conclusion when buying or selling collectible antiques the overall condition and the source are both things that you should consider. The design and characteristics can make a difference in the price. Availability, if it's hard to find it's you should consider checking it out, do the research and possible purchase. By following these guidelines when looking at antiques it will definitely increase your chances of making a great investment.

Doug Sheridan is involved in numerous online ventures. He supplies information to help people make wise, educated decisions.
http://www.antiques.opertoonity.com

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Areas of Antique Collecting. There are many examples of antique goods and collectibles. Most people tend to focus on a single genre but you can find a collector and often a buyer for almost any antique item available. A few examples of antique items include:
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Do not use olive oil to polish a wooden bowl, or it will turn rancid. Wash and rinse bowl well if using an olive oil salad dressing.
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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?"
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Is It Solid? Test the solidity of the piece. Sit on a chair, then push your weight forward and back; if the chair wobbles and moves with you, it�s loose and needs to be reglued. Check for wobbling on a table or bureau by placing your hand on a corner and shaking the piece.
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Too much has been made in recent years of the 'investment potential' of antiques. It is true that, for the most part, they have performed very well indeed in the long term, but no one can be sure that prices are going to rise without check. Some will fall from time to time, either because a fashion changes or for extraneous economic reasons; but antique furniture is always worth something, which is more than can be said for many of its modern equivalents.
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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.

Egyptian Antiques in ancient Art Forms

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:22:33 -0600
Sculptures, Paintings. Jewelry and more but there are things you need to know before you start collecting Egyptian antiques .. see the article attached to the page for some knowledge of Egyptology before you buy an antique that isn't Egyptian at all.


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Aspects To Consider When Shopping Online For Antiques

By Claire Quaty

Online shopping is a great way to look for items to buy without having to travel to a store and wait in lines. One group of items that more and more individuals are purchasing online is that of antiques and collectibles. These items are readily available in the online format and one can peruse their options via the Internet and see if any items peak their interest. There are a few specific factors to consider when engaging in antiques and collectibles online shopping.

The first factor one should consider is what type of item they are looking to obtain. By having this information in mind, one is better able to search the World Wide Web for the item that they desire. If one has a certain antiques and collectible item in mind, they can adequately format their keyword search which will bring them right to the website where these items may be for sale. Therefore, in order to save time and find exactly what one is looking for, it is beneficial to have a specific item for purchase in mind when going online.

One should also consider the price that they are looking to spend on antiques and collectibles purchase online. This will help the prospective buyer to not only narrow down their options but prevent them from being tempted by higher-priced items which they know that they cannot afford. With that said, it is important for the buyer to have a set price range in mind before they start their antiques and collectibles online shopping spree.

Another factor to consider when shopping for antiques and collectibles online is what type of website and/or company they are dealing with in the online forum. Since antiques and collectibles should be originals, it is important that one can adequately view their advertised items online. It is crucial for the websites to post pictures of the items as this will provide the buyer with some idea as to the authenticity of the item as well as a general knowledge with regard to what the item looks like.

Dealing along the same lines as authenticity, one should also consider if the online seller of antiques and collectibles provides a warranty or a money-back guarantee to the purchaser should the item not be what the buyer was looking for. This will provide the individual purchaser with some peace of mind in knowing that should they receive the item and it prove to not be authentic they can send it back and obtain a full refund.

Lastly, one who is embarking on an antiques and collectibles online shopping trip should look into what type of payment options the seller offers. It is important that the individual is using a secure website for giving out that information. Most websites will post statements saying that their payment system is secured by a particular online security function. This is a good thing to look into prior to exchanging any pertinent financial information with the seller.

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Clean andirons using liquid metal polish and 0000-grade steel wool to remove resin caused by smoke.
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When storing old toys remember to remove the batteries first.
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Lemon juice will remove the remains of gum, adhesive tape, and other sticky tapes.
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To remove unpleasant smell from an old chest of drawers, use baking soda, cat litter, or charcoal chips to absorb the odor.
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Be suspicious if the interior mechanism of a clock just looks too new. It is quite common for a new mechanism to be placed in an old case. If you are buying the clock for decorative and aesthetic reasons you may not care, but if the antique is to be an investment or part of a collection, the presence of a new mechanism essentially means the clock is a "fake."
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Vintage Aprons: Tie One On for the Holidays

Before you whip up another fantastic batch of holiday goodies, read about what well-dressed cooks have been wearing in the kitchen for way over 100 years with Collectors Tie...

Post-Holiday Tips for Tidying Up Antique Linens

If you happened to use your favorite vintage linens during the holiday season, it's time to clean them up before tucking them away again. Read
How to Clean Old Linens...

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