Small wheels beneath a chair, table or bed can reveal an extraordinary amount about antique furniture. Casters helped owners move heavy pieces across timber…
A pressed-tin ceiling tile can give a table the character of an old shop, veranda or country dining room. Its raised pattern catches the light, while the worn…
The drafting table began as a practical answer to a simple problem: how could a designer work accurately on large sheets of paper without fighting a flat desk?…
An antique can look perfectly convincing from across a crowded auction room, yet closer inspection may reveal that its top belongs to one cabinet, its base to…
An antique quilt can look sturdy while its fibres are becoming increasingly fragile. Repeated folding, acidic materials, excess moisture, insects and poorly…
French Provincial furniture brings together rustic charm, graceful proportions and the practical elegance associated with provincial France. In America, the…
A loose banister spindle can seem like a minor nuisance, yet it plays a real part in stair safety. Spindles, also called balusters, help support the handrail…
Antique case furniture can be confusing because names often describe a piece’s height, storage arrangement, or historical use rather than a single fixed…
Wax can give an antique a soft glow, deepen the appearance of its wood, and provide a modest layer of protection against dust and handling. It can also create…
Furniture made by the Herter Brothers occupies a special place in American decorative arts. The firm transformed elite nineteenth-century interiors with richly…