Antique shops: Antique versus new

Antiques, be they paintings, textiles, ornaments, toys, or furniture have an air of mystery about them which just can't be replicated in new objects. This is a large part of the reason why the interest in antiques continues to grow and amongst almost every age group, too. Visiting antique shops at the weekend along with the more well-known high street shops is now a much more frequent occurrence. Below we have a look at some of the reasons why:

History

Part of what makes antiques attractive to collectors is the age of an item. If it is in good condition and it is old, then it becomes particularly desirable. People like to imagine all that a particular antique might have "seen" through the ages, especially if it belonged to an important historical figure. It's the stories surrounding an antique item, which are so intriguing. When you buy something new, what you see is what you get.

Appreciate in value

Buying an antique should be seen as an investment for the future and so you should always pay the most you can. The nature of antiques means that they will usually be worth more year on year, so if you shop around and find a highly collectable item, you might be lucky enough to find that it significantly appreciates in value. It's highly unlikely, unless you've got a first edition Harry Potter, that a new item is going to be worth any more in the future, because modern day things are mass produced.

Individual

An antique, a piece of furniture for example, is much more unique than a new piece of mass produced furniture from a furniture superstore. If you want to add real character to your home, then you should always opt for some antique furniture. Antique shops have a wide variety of different types of furniture, some specialising in particular periods, but whatever you buy, it's bound to stand out from the crowd.

Beauty and practicality

Antique furniture has an elegance and beauty that much modern furniture can't match. Furniture was produced in vastly smaller quantities and since it was all hand crafted it is of much finer quality. Antiques are not only aesthetically pleasing, however, many still have a practical use, be they toys or dining room furniture. The fact that an 18th century chair can still be used today goes to show the quality of workmanship that went into making that chair. In comparison, modern furniture does not tend to have the same longevity.

Sunnyside Antiques is an antique shop set in beautiful Scottish countryside in south Lanarkshire. We specialise in 17th to 19th century furniture and objets d'art. We also offer a fully comprehensive and professional restoration service. Call us today on 01899 850 552 for more information.