What Makes An Antique Valuable?

Do you know if your antique is valuable?

At Foxwood Restorations, we get a lot of questions about determining the worth of the antiques. People who are trying to get their antiques or family heirlooms restored often don’t know their value. Understanding your antique’s worth is important for a variety of reasons such as insurance. So, we are going to help you figure out the value of your antique.

What Makes Something Valuable?

As a rule, we tell our customers that anything in good condition that passes through two generations starts increasing in value. A generation can be loosely defined as 20 to 25 years. A piece of furniture at least 10 years old is usually worth restoring. The structure of the furniture as well as the materials it is made of are superior to anything made in the last 10 years. I do not recommend restoring any furniture that is less than 10 years old. Antiques that were made in the sixties and seventies are beginning to increase in value.

In addition to age, there are plenty of other factors that can impact the worth of an item. Items that are scarce or produced in limited quantities tend to be more valuable. Craftsmanship can also be a factor. High-quality craftwork can significantly increase the value of an antique. Also, the material used can be a factor.

Is Your Antique Valuable?

Using this guideline, you may wonder how to determine the value of an antique in Brighton or Howell. An object can vary tremendously in value based on its materials, age, or by its creator. Value also varies with demand, quantities available, and the specific appraisal.  It is also important to know that the auction value is not the same as the retail value.

To get a true value take an average of all of these values:

  • Fair market retail valuevalue of an antique in Brighton or Howell
  • Gift value
  • Insurance value
  • Discount value
  • Auction value
  • Trade value
  • Wholesale value
  • Estate value
  • Distress value
  • Materials Value

If you need furniture restorations in Brighton or Howell, contact Foxwood Restorations today.