It’s no secret that people love to buy vintage. There is nothing like adding personality to your home with a storied piece and perhaps a little vintage patina. And it doesn’t hurt that buying vintage or pre-owned is often more cost-effective. Since vintage is kind of our thing, we’ve compiled a guide to identifying and buying vintage pieces to help make sure you’re getting a quality, one-of-a-kind piece. Read on for the best tricks and tips on how to shop vintage like a Chairish buyer.
Source: Salva Lopez
To start, let’s define what vintage furniture means. When an item is described as vintage, it generally means that the piece is between 30 and 100 years old. Anything more than 100 years qualifies as antique. On Chairish, we offer vintage, pre-owned, one-of-a-kind, and antique pieces, but much of our inventory is vintage.
Buying vintage ensures quality, value, and style. When we curate our listings, we assess the quality of each piece and whether it can withstand another life in someone’s home. Buying vintage also gets you what you want fast - the piece is already made and ready to come into your home, as opposed to buying new or committing to a custom order which can take weeks, or months, before its arrival. Vintage also offers great value— you get beautiful, quality pieces and often pay less than you would buying something similar brand new. And buying vintage is hot, plain and simple.
There are many classic examples of vintage furniture. We particularly love Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco, and Hollywood Regency styles.
When it comes to Mid-Century Modern, think Mad Men. Mid-Century Modern (MCM) furniture is characterized by clean designs, beautiful organic woods and graphic patterns. Designs were streamlined and timeless, and emphasize functional living without sacrificing form. Famous Mid-Century Modern designers include Adrian Pearsall, Herman Miller and Milo Baughman.
Source: Design Sponge
While Mid-Century Modern focuses on simplifying and streamlining, Art Deco is all about lavish, luxurious and self-indulgent decor. Picture a silent film star’s decadent penthouse or a dapper speakeasy in the roaring 20’s. Like Leo in the Great Gatsby, Art Deco design is recognized by use of bold geometric shapes, rich saturated colors and lush ornamentation. Animal prints and mixed metals often made appearances in Art Deco style decor as well. Noted designers include Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier.
Source: Architectural Digest
Hollywood Regency is similar to Art Deco is that the theme is luxury. As you can guess from its name, Hollywood Regency design stemmed out of celebrities wanting to deck out their homes in as much glitz and glamour to convey wealth and luxury. With Hollywood Regency, the devil is in the details. Rich metallics, ornate trims, and shiny lacquer finishes gave high contrast to more minimalist design. Meant for enjoying elaborate cocktails, the style is known for having rich textiles, snazzy chandeliers, chrome and mirrored finishes. While designers such as Dorothy Draper and William Haines made it popular in the ‘60s, Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler are recognized for modernizing Hollywood Regency today.
Source: Lonny
Make Sure It Has Good Bones
When shopping vintage, you want to remember that quality is the most important thing. Certain materials are more desirable than others. When purchasing wood furniture, look for solid wood, which is better than veneered. Particle board should be avoided, and there should be no splintering, peeling, etc. present. The type of wood matters too: the best options are rosewood, teak, walnut, oak, and maple. Any leather you buy should be in acceptable condition. Scuffing or cracking is okay when the piece looks better distressed. Otherwise, make sure you’re getting the best possible leather for your money. Brass and other metals should not be pitted or tarnished. Bring some polish and give it a go— if it’s not shiny after that it’s likely not a good investment.
Source: Vintage Fridge Company
Drawer joints are also another great way to tell a piece’s age. Joints weren’t machine cut until 1860, so if the piece has a few dovetail joints with nails narrower than the joint or other signs of imperfection, it was made by hand (see examples here). If the piece overall is exactly symmetrical or too perfect, it was definitely made by a machine. The finish can also be telling of age. If it is varnished or lacquered, it was not made until after the mid 1800s. If the item has drawers, check the runners for wear. They should be worn down from years of use if the item is vintage.
Source: Style Me Pretty
Essentially, do your best to make sure it’s well constructed. Ask yourself, “Does it have good bones? Is it sturdy? Does it look like it’s been well taken care of?”
The Proof is in the Pudding
When it comes to shopping valuable antiques, it can be difficult to ascertain whether it’s authentic or not. Don’t be afraid to examine the piece and ask lots of questions. For the valuable antiques, ask for provenance, which is proof as to where a piece originated from. This could be in the form of documents, appraisals, photographs, etc.
The Find
Everyone loves getting a good designer deal, and we’re no different. Buying vintage is a great way to nab sleek Eames or Baker piece at an excellent price. Here are a few pro-tips on how to identify and authenticate particular designers/makers.
When it comes to Eames, check for a sticker. About 70% of their pieces have labels, so there’s a good chance that your find will have a label. Look for a label on the underside of the chair, which should have the model number and sometimes even an original order number. Another way to tell is that Eames don’t have screws or bolts showing from the outside— so if you see them it’s likely a knock-off.
Knoll chairs usually have a serial number located underneath the fork of the chair. When it comes to a Knoll Barcelona chair, keep an eye out for “Mies Van Der Rohe” written on the frame.
Knoll green Platner chair on Chairish
Beloved since the early 1900’s, Lane Furniture is the epitome of classic American design. Known for their high quality cabinetry, upholstered furniture, and accent pieces, Lane is definitely a classic. To authenticate Lane furniture, look for certain details. They tend to have rounded, eased corners, metal details, dovetail joints, and tapered legs. The final part to check is a Lane logo in either the drawers or underneath the piece, as well as a serial number.
Baker Furniture has been a leader in the traditional furniture, lighting and accessories. From Finn Juhl, Michael Taylor to Barbara Barry, Baker has worked with a wide array of furniture masters. Their furniture is characterized by hand-planed tabletops and high quality wood. Check underneath the table for a Baker Furniture logo.
Baker faux bamboo and glass coffee table
Now that you’re better prepared, it’s time to go shopping! First stop, Chairish, where we make it easy and do all the legwork for you.