An old iron garden bench can bring more character to a garden than a freshly painted replacement. Its softened colour, small marks and uneven surface record…
The American secretary desk developed from a practical writing cabinet into one of the most recognisable forms of historic furniture. It combined a hinged…
Hand-carved furniture carries evidence of its maker in places that are easy to overlook: the changing depth of a leaf, the rhythm of a shell motif, a slight…
Replacing missing drawer pulls or worn-out knobs can restore an antique dresser’s function without erasing its character. The challenge is finding hardware…
A spinning wheel is more than a familiar silhouette with a large wooden wheel, treadle and distaff. It represents a domestic technology that transformed raw…
A Colonial Revival dining table can look convincingly old while carrying a finish from a later restoration, a modern refinish, or a mixture of original and…
Antique furniture often reveals its quality through a thin surface layer of beautifully figured timber. This veneer may be only a few millimetres thick, yet it…
A tripod table has a natural visual balance that makes it appealing in both traditional and contemporary interiors. Its three-legged base can look simple, yet…
Late 19th century bedroom suites reveal a period when furniture makers combined traditional cabinetmaking with increasingly efficient factory production. A…
A Victorian marble-topped table, washstand, commode or occasional stand can be an impressive piece of furniture, yet its stone surface may not be original to…