Just Why Antiques

Well now, Just Why Antiques?

by Tom Woodard

Just look in any country or cottage decorator magazine and you'll see photos of brand new, mass-produced, machine made furniture and accessories (probably made in China or Indonesia out of inferior materials), at ridiculous, exorbitant prices, which, in a few years, or at most a few more years, will be out of style and bring little to nothing at a yard sale, or be ready to sit out on the curb for the garbage truck to pick up. Why do people buy this junk?

Now, contrary to myth, you can usually purchase genuine, hand-crafted, one of a kind, real wood (and/or other quality materials) antiques at a fraction of the cost of these modern cookie cutter pieces, and, for no more than you'll pay for this mass-produced junk in the stores today (even the so-called "quality" stuff), you can purchase, for investment and daily use, truly quality antiques which will never lose their value, and will generally actually continue to increase in value! Most of these old pieces were individually designed, often on custom order, by a lone cabinet maker, and crafted by hand - no power tools then! And oh, the beauty of the construction and construction techniques, and the beautiful age and patina of the wood, not to mention the history in each item! A well-crafted antique will never lose its warmth and charm. And NO ONE in your neighborhood, or in your whole town or city, will have one just like it. That's a guarantee.

So, if you're still thinking along with us, consider this: A smart shopper won't waste his or her money on cookie cutter reproductions and knock-offs, but will invest in practical, usable antique pieces of timeless beauty and good, solid practicality. If you think about it, why should you ever buy another new piece of furniture (except for perhaps a comfortable leather sofa from which to survey your lovely, timeless antiques). So...

BE A SMART SHOPPER!