In a very useful blog post it takes an American no less to succinctly tell us Brits why we should buy antiques. Firstly the post asserts that antiques tell a story, a reminder of old fashions, obsolete customs, or a "tangible link to your own heritage". In my modern apartment I use my great grandmother's totally obsolete wooden Victorian coal scuttle to store DVDs and spare cables. Meanwhile I use my grandfather's old suitcase as a side table (see above). Using old luggage in this manner is all the retro vintage rage these days. For me there is a personal link, reemphasised by my grandfather's initials stamped on the side.
Of course one does need a family or relatives who have been unwilling to discard old furniture and who also have space for its storage. With a small farm my family has used sheds to abandon unwanted furniture from all manner of relatives and friends. I found my grandfather's case in a building rotting? covered in white mold. The act of finding the case, and its simple restoration represent another enjoyable aspect of obtaining antiques. It is so rewarding to root about looking for things, either at home for old family photos or furniture, or in pokey little craft centres such as Lady Heyes located outside of Chester. Such places often contain hidden treasures far more affordable than costly antique fairs with stuffy old men in tweed waistcoats. The act of restoration is also gratifying as you breathe new life into cadaverous cabinets and dead desks.
Secondly our American blogger informs us that antiques are "green", and "eco-friendly". I had not considered this point but clearly antiques represent the epitome of recycling. One might even call me a closet socialist (no pun intended) for refusing to buy new furniture since I am declining to contribute to the capitalist system by distancing myself from both the corporate means of production, and the tax skimmed off that production and purchase by the capitalist banker-loving government. For the record, many socialists I have met seem not to grasp this point as they prance around in brand new clothes whilst using ridiculously expensive Apple products to impart their uninspiring prattle. The only thing vintage they might own is a West German trench coat...
Thirdly antiques are well-made, often by hand. If cared for they last, sometimes for centuries. On my balcony I sit on my great grandmother's Victorian deckchairs, whilst my immediate grandmother's chest of drawers contains all of my paperwork (see left). Meanwhile I eat off? a 100 year old and still firm farmhouse pine? kitchen table.
Fourthly antiques are "trendproof" in that they never lose their style, whereas faddish new furniture can quickly lose its appeal. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some modern furniture. I? have Ikea products in my abode, yet I fail to envisage a time when such products will be viewed as classic.
Fifthly contrast is identified as a good design feature, as antiques provide "energy and personality" to contemporary settings. I think this is emphatically proven in the case of my own rented modern accommodation which was previously furnished with lifeless glass and metal furniture. The place now has an overwhelming sense of originality, remarked upon by all who visit the apartment, even if they have no abiding love for antiques.
Connected to this point is your wider sense of Self which is buttressed by the purchase of antiques.? With buying a house out of the question for many people in their twenties, the endless movement from one new rental accommodation to the next leaves people bereft of an identity beyond the immediate Self or one's clothing and easily transportable goods. I am making my future now, collecting the furniture which will one day decorate my dream home. I am investing my personality into material objects which are timeless. My little collection of antiques in part defines me as a person who loves history, originality and appreciation of quality.
It also defines me as a person who both loathes modern expensive materialism, and who appreciates value for money. This is because sixthly antiques "retain or increase in value" with time. Why would I spend a whopping ?5000+ on a sofa from Roche Bobois when I could spend less than a tenth of that figure on an antique Chesterfield? Why would I spend ?1000 on a table from Arighi Biachi when you can find an Edwardian table for a tenth of that price? This goes down further to the core of my being - the only thing I won't scrimp on is Heinz tomato sauce or components in my custom built PC (I still won't touch overpriced Apple with a barge pole). I loathe spending money when it is not necessary, buying designer furniture, clothing and technology bear the brunt of this opprobrium.
The price discrepancy is starkly exampled in the case of my oak desk (see right). It cost ?125 for this solid, beautifully varnished and grained oak desk with a lacquered top to prevent water stains. It was built perhaps 60 years ago, meaning if kept in good condition, it will increase in value. Meanwhile it costs the same amount of money to buy an oak veneer (i.e. not real oak) desk from Ikea. Tragically, people are unwilling to see the stupidity of buying such furniture to replace older varieties. For instance my university is throwing away old 50s era oak desks in a modernisation programme. They are all piled up in a secondhand furniture store going for ?45 each. In other words, you can often get better built, older products which will increase in value, for the same price or cheaper than the modern equivalent.
Take for instance my recent purchase of a 1930s collection of Charles Dickens, replete with custom built bookcase (see below). This cost me ?30 on eBay. A cursory inspection of Amazon informs me that a modern collection of Dickens can cost you over ?50.
Another example includes a pair of Edwardian side tables that I bought from a wily charismatic antique dealer in south Manchester (see right). They cost ?75 for the pair after a hard bargain. The dealer informed me that matching pairs were much sought after, meaning my items would definitely increase in value. He could have been telling me codswallop, but herein lies another amusing aspect of antiques. Usually I cannot stand bartering, but when buying antiques it is an obligation. This can be an enjoyable and challenging experience if the antique dealer isn't a pompous arsehole in a tweed waistcoat. The antique dealer I dealt with also had the most fabulous array of extravagant and exotic furniture in his warehouse, with paintings worth ?100,000 or French gilt furniture for ?16,000 a piece! As such enjoyably rooting in his maze like establishment also provided a window into the history of decapitated and sickeningly financially well off Frenchies.
A last point not mentioned by our history conscious Yank is the ability to customise antique or contemporary furniture, giving it a modern-classic twist. Take for instance my ?40 modern coffee table (see right) which I stripped down and two tone varnished, leaving the draws a lighter shade than the rest. Using a resourceful friend I then had 10 Victorian tiles found languishing at my family home, routed into the top of the table. The result was a very appealing classic looking piece of furniture which actually cost only ?40. Once again of course, this process relied on hoarding family members, though you can pick up tiles of this sort at jumble sales or on eBay. If you haven't got a friend who's good with wood, you're probably a snob so you can just buy an actual antique coffee table instead. Out of the many neglected pieces of antique furniture, unfortunately coffee tables are quite expensive, hence my customised effort.?
So there you have it, stop being a sheepish tasteless slave to modern materialist capitalism. Instead be cost efficient stylish, original, eco-friendly, and respectful of heritage. Of course to some extent we are all sheep. Anyone who says otherwise (for instance alternative sorts like goths) is a clueless arrogant dickhead. Alternative lovers are subscribing to a particular set of principles just like I and millions of others do in the context of decrepit furniture. Some sheep are however better than others.
PS if you are a minimalist, you are a soulless tosser.
Source: http://jimmygriff.blogspot.com/2013/03/antique-affection.html
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Very glad to see the source at the bottom of this post. Forgive me but what does your blog do? Give coverage to other bloggers?
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