On Collecting Antiques

An Opinion by Johanne Yakula

 

Living with antiques requires a certain mind set. It goes beyond being a collector of things because collecting can certainly involve modern objects. Obviously it has to do with an appreciation and curiosity for things from the past but it is much more than that.

Accepting an object and finding beauty in 200 years of grime ( more popularly called patina) takes a much more tolerant person than the buyer who expects a discount because there is a scratch on a 100 year old table top.

The latter personality wants things to be perfect because they are not used to purchasing objects that have these marks of age. They are often the same individuals who will buy a piece of antique furniture only to get it restored to the extent that it looks brand new!

It is often difficult for these individuals to understand why their antique is then worth less than when they bought it - especially considering the money they have invested in it to get it looking perfect. This personality may never fully appreciate antique furniture or accessories because their focus will always be on the piece's imperfections.

For these people I suggest reproductions. They often are difficult to tell from the real thing (to the untrained eye) and will give the owner style as well as peace of mind. Having said this however, I concede to the fact that some antique pieces (especially furniture) have little value in their original state and any improvement is a bonus if it means that the antique will continue to serve its owners for many more years rather than end up in the refuse bin.

Living with antiques and successfully incorporating them in homes of any age requires an understanding of scale.

Scale is the relationship between an object and its immediate or broader environment. Antique furniture for example is often smaller in scale than its modern counterparts - but this changes with the times.

Over the last ten years many homes have been built with "great rooms". The furniture companies responded by producing large upholstered pieces that were out of scale for any home under 3000 square feet! Now the tides are turning and some furniture manufacturers have responded with smaller furniture for the condo craze.

Learn how the scale of your particular pieces work with your home. If you own a 1950's bungalow it just makes sense that furniture from that era will be in total harmony with your home - however it is possible to mix and match eras by learning a few tricks that interior designers use when working with scale differences:

DESIGNER TIPS

1. "Mass" the pieces together leaving empty space around the grouping. The eye will read this grouping as a whole and it will have more visual weight.

2. If the piece is too large for the room, do the same - leave blank space around the piece. Don't clutter the space with small pieces. A large single piece is often more effective than many small ones.

3. Use a larger scaled pattern on upholstered pieces or use a brighter color. If you are trying to "shrink" the pieces, do the opposite.

4. Do the same with accessories and collectibles - Tiny pieces displayed against large surfaces will get lost. Keep small with small.

There are many other ways to incorporate antiques into your life - regardless of where you live. And remember to love the pieces as they are. If you find yourself obsessing about its faults or how it doesn't work in your space get the help of a decorator or sell the piece to someone who will give it an appreciative home.

Written by: Johanne Yakula

From Times Past

 

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