Restoration of antiques/ Larry Shapiro/ Appraisals and Antiques

We are always asked the question: "Is it o.k. to restore an antique?" The answer to that question is very complicated but quite simple at the same time. Each antique, each personal situation, and each restoration project is different. If you have a piece of antique furniture with the original finish and it is missing one leg, is it o.k. to add a new leg? Of course you would add the leg. You should have it completed professionally. But, you would not refinish the whole piece of furniture. You should have the leg constructed and finished to match the original. If you have an antique blanket chest in the original blue paint but you want to paint it red, it would not be wise to repaint the chest. If the present finish is not old, it really doesn't matter.

Every situation is different. The degree of restoration, the value, and the likes and dislikes of the owner are all a concern when considering restoration. Lets say you own a rare hanging chandelier but the original hanging device is broken and you are not able to use it in your home. A professional restoration would allow you to enjoy the use of the fixture. The value of the fixture if restored properly would not be as high as if it were all original.

Don't make rash decisions when considering restoration. Consult a professional appraiser or dealer. Weigh the options and then make an intelligent choice. Over the years we have seen too many costly mistakes that people have made concerning restoration.

Buying antiques with a guarantee

Larry Shapiro owner of Appraisals and Antiques.com advises to "get it in writing". When buying antiques at a show or one on one from a dealer ask for a written guarantee concerning your purchase. In todays market there are many fakes, repaints, copies, etc. Know what you are buying and make sure you get a signed receipt from the seller with everything he or she has represented about the item you have purchased. Sometimes dealers are fooled when they are the buyer and pass along their mistakes to the unsuspecting customer. If the seller does not agree to the guarantee, you should just simply cancel the sale.

antique furniture at auction today

Larry Shapiro antiques buyer and appraiser from always buying antiques and on the web at appraisalsandantiques.com recently said: "Antique furniture in general at auction is a steal." "The current economic climate, grouped with the lag in housing sales, and the addition of the younger people habitually buying inexpensive modernistic junk has led to a downturn in the prices of antique furniture at auction today". "Everything from a victorian oak chest of drawers to an antique American highboy has been affected"." The dealers have lost confidence and money in this economic situation we are in and the market is suffering." "In my opinion, we will see an upturn as soon as houses begin to sell and when the younger set realizes that what they own for furniture is not good quality." "Right now you can buy excellent quality antique furniture at auction for half the price of what it was selling for five years ago."

Larry Shapiro antiques and the show promoter

Larry Shapiro from appraisalsandantiques.com an antique buyer, seller, and appraiser recently was quoted on the subject of the "traditional antique show". Shapiro said: " The traditional antique show is no longer a viable entity in today's fast paced market". He went on to say: "Everything is different today". "Dealers can't show up at a show today and expect to sell items that sold three or four years ago." "Promoters have to work harder to get dealers who connect to todays marketplace and todays prices". " The average buyer today needs to be excited by a show". "The WOW FACTOR is necessary to keep the customers coming back." "We are in a transitional period that needs fuel added to dying embers". "The market today is a buyers market". "They control the market and dealers and promoters have to listen to their customers".