How to spot quality when buying antiques

It is difficult to define quality. Quality antiques, like everything else in life, tend to just stand out as being special. If the item attracts and excites you, then it is always worth a closer look.

I always feel reassured when it is something I may have seen in a stately home or a magazine, etc. I find that the design, veneers, and age are good indicators of quality. When I walk into an antique shop or a saleroom, certain things immediately attract me. I am always drawn to colour, patina - I am particularly fond of walnut veneer, especially oyster veneer, and I am fortunate to own a cabinet in this genre, which gives me daily pleasure. Proportions are important to me; the smaller a cabinet, generally speaking, the more it speaks of the 16th century onwards. The heavier the piece, the more likely it is to be Victorian.

Salerooms are very good at describing the provenance of items. Knowing when a lot started its life is, of course, important for establishing its age, but what can often be just as interesting and just as valuable is the ownership during its lifetime. You become aware of human frailty as family lines die out and furniture and objects come to the market. An aristocratic background can often add a certain je ne sais quoi. Equally, an article from a working-class home can offer a charming, sometimes endearing glimpse into the harder times of our ancestors.

If one is interested in period pieces, one should buy what one likes as long as one pays the right price.

However, this maxim is true up to a point; the purer and more original the item is, the better. Many pieces of furniture have been altered over the years, with legs and feet replaced and handles that are not suitable for the period. Servants washing floors could often have caused legs and ball-and-claw feet to rot, for example. It is also advisable to inspect the drawers; the amount of wear will indicate genuine age. China and porcelain items often have repairs and chips, which can seriously affect their value.

As you can see, my world is one of exploration and learning, which stimulates the imagination. For me, living with old, historic items puts life in perspective. If these objects have survived all this time, they may well last for a century or two more!

Good hunting.