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Whether you want a special addition to your dining room or are building a furniture collection, there are numerous antique tables on the market that can be a good investment. However, Forsythe’s Antiques & Fine Art reminds consumers there are also plenty of bad investments for sale. To help you spot a good buy, this experienced antique furniture dealer in Russellville, OH, highlights some major elements to look for when shopping for older tables.

The value of antique furniture depends on many different factors, such as its rarity, historical background, and age. But these details aren’t always obvious—especially if you’re browsing estate sales or shopping the flea market circuit. There are, however, a few things any buyer can assess to get a rough idea of whether or not an antique table is worth the purchase.

For instance, you’ll want to look at:

  • antique furnitureQuality & Condition: Even with the richest backstory, a poorly constructed table won’t get much attention from traders. As such, you’ll want to start your assessment by making sure a table is fully functional and sturdy. While some small imperfections can be attributed to aging—and can even be restored—severe damage and wear are warnings to pass on the purchase.
  • Wood Type: Knowing the type of wood a table is made from can let you know how to properly care for it. It can also give you some major clues as to the history and age of the piece. As you learn more about collecting historical furniture, you’ll be able to correlate types of material to their point of origin. For example, mahogany tables are often associated with 18th-century furniture production, as the wood type was popular and plentiful at the time.
  • Hand-Crafted Design: A table may be hundreds of years old, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth anything. Since many pieces of furniture were made to simply serve a function, you may discover plenty of antique tables that have a simple, undistinguished design. Instead, shift your focus to pieces that have elements of hand-crafted design and custom artistry. Tables that have etchings, sculpted legs, or odd shapes can be highly valuable, especially if there aren’t others like them.

If you have pieces of antique furniture you’d like to sell or appraise in the Russellville, OH, area, Forsythe’s Antiques & Fine Art is a trusted buyer that offers fair prices on a variety of goods. Visit them online to more about their antique purchasing process, or call (513) 791-2323 to speak to an expert.

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