Guest Contributor...Kay from Antique Furniture Blog!

I received an e-mail from one of my reader's the other day and this is what  she said:

Hi jane, My name is Kay and I'm one of decormamma.blogspot.com readers. I'd like to thank you for the excellent information I've found on your website. Especially those related to furniture, this topic is my favorite. I was born 1977 and I'm a multiple machine tool setter in Minnesota. I practice as an antique furniture restorer for hobby to help my friends and family. I figured you might be interested in including a guest article for decormamma.blogspot.com about the most common questions regarding antique furniture as well (i.e. beginning with how to identify Antique Furniture, how to restore a piece, pros & cons, difference vs. vintage, working opportunities, avaluating, etc...). Article in form of a little guide to help your readers experiencing with this topic. Please let me know if you are interested.
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Interested?  Heck yeah!  I love Antique furniture and I'm lucky to have a few special family pieces!

Like this beautiful blanket chest.  Hmmm, I wonder what furniture style this is?  I bet Kay knows!

And this great side board...these pulls look Colonial to me!

This old farm table was built by my Husbands's Grandfather!  It used to be light wood in color and grey with age.  I stained this piece myself using Min Wax Gel Stain and 2-3 coats polyeurethane.  The chairs I bought from Pottery Barn!

  Okay Kay I love Antiques and want to learn more, take it away...we're all ears!
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How To Begin Identifying Antique Furniture Styles

Antique and collectible furniture styles are not something that you can

learn quickly from an Internet article. Man has been making furniture for

centuries, and regional differences in furniture styles exist during all

time periods. Below is an example of a few antique furniture styles that

most people can become familiar with easily. For more information about

antique furniture identification techniques, the public library keeps

volumes of books with pictures.

1880 to 1920 / Art Nouveau furniture is a flowing mixture of earlier

styles that are combined into modernistic forms. This style of furniture

coexisted with the Victorian era gargoyles and scrolls but was a plainer

look that often incorporated visual elements that are found in nature.

1800 to 1900 / Innovative furniture contains unusual examples of

materials, styles, and colorings. As the use of machines opened up various

possibilities in furniture making, creative artists within this industry

tried using different types of metals, stones, paper-mache, various

insets, laminations, and gadgets that moved within these furniture pieces.

1800 to 1900 / Shaker furniture was very plain to harmonize with the

Shaker religious beliefs that would not have allowed any type of furniture

in the home that was not strictly functional. The lines on the Shaker

furniture are rather straight with a slightly curving nature that many

collectors still enjoy today. The Shaker furniture will often show

evidence of being worked by hand during the construction process.

1800 to 1900 / Revival styles in furniture during this century changed in

styling by location and over time. Classic furniture styles from earlier

times were updated to meet the needs of this modern society. Much like

today, interior decorating styles were not stagnant. As new machines were

created and improved, the revival styles became more elaborate towards the

end of the century when the very ornate Victorian furniture was popular.

1820 to 1840 / Empire furniture reflects the archaeological discoveries

that were made during this same period of time. The flavor of the

furniture styling is of Roman kings, grand palaces, and of ancient wealth

or mysteries. These furniture pieces are mostly made of mahogany with

gilding, inlays, and in sizes that would fit into a royal palace.

About the Author

Kay Davenport writes for Antique Furniture Blog. She helps her family and friends learn how to restore and evaluate their antique pieces. Check out her blog chalk full of useful information all about Antique furniture.

Thanks Kay for your interesting and very informative post...you certainly know a ton about Antiques!  I hope you'll come back and share more of your fabulous knowledge regarding the proper care and refinishing techniques we'll need to keep our family antiques looking their very best!