Don't strip that chair!
9:44 AM | Posted by
antiquefurniture
I like the look of wood grain. And like so many people buying antiques, often my first thought when looking at a painted piece is what it would look like stripped of its paint.
But for older pieces that were original painted furnishings, removing the paint lessens their value, and makes it harder to determine when they were made and by whom.
An article in the Herald-Dispatch by Jean McClelland explains the appeal of painted furniture:
The paint itself can often help tell the history of the table, chair or wardrobe. The pigments might have been imported from England or they might have been the result of home-grown vegetable coloring. Our ancestors painted furniture for many of the same reasons we decorate our surroundings. Not only was the paint an economical way of preserving the furniture, but it added beauty to the home. Painted furniture could be the result of a professional's hand or an amateur homemaker.
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2 comments:
Original paint that was originally applied to an antique piece of furniture adds value. It took years to train people to love and understand pieces of antique furniture with original paint.
Unfortunately today with the "shabby chic" trend and vogue, one is often mislead to think that a factory made piece of furniture from the 1900-1940 period was originally painted. Such was not the case.
When we speak of original painted furniture we are talking about furniture that is way older than 100 years old. We are speaking of "primitive" furniture as a specific category of furniture that was made by hand by the local community craftsman. This is the kind of painted furniture we need to preserve. Much of this furniture was made from 1750s-1860s period. When we look at shabby chic, if we really know what really early painted furniture means, we laugh with disgust to think a dealer can actually sell this stuff knowing the unaware buyer doe not necessarily know the difference and thinks on many occasions that he or she is getting a really rustic and primitive piece of furniture at a great price. Fine to sell shabby chic but at least tell the buyer what it is just in case he or she does not really know.
Hi, I'm new to this website. I have a living room set that was left to us when the inlaw passed away and I am looking to sell it. It was very expensive when purchased and would like a fair price it is a 88" couch, love seat and chair. Condition is very good. If anyone is interested please email at barbarac480@gmail.com and I will email you pictures of the furniture.