In this modern era, most of the people like to have custom made furniture in their home with special styles of cupboards with or with out doors. A pretty way to show of your collectibles such as crafts, photos, books, files, crockery etc, which will combine the style and functionality for your every day storage.

Oldplank.com has high quality antique furniture’s with unique collection and hand carved furniture to buy, where they have many stylish and functional antique cupboards made in a wide variety of woods such as pine, Oak, Mahogony, cheery, walnut, redgum, maple etc.

Antique cupboard is usually attractive because of its age, rarity, condition, utility and design. Small antique pine cupboards with a beveled glass door from the Victorian era are very popular. Also popular are antique Chinese butterfly cabinet, Vintage french walnut confiturier, Antique Mahogany corner cupboards, Antique french oak bow front corner cabinet and antique court cupboards.

Antique pine cupboards The pine cupboards can be used as medicine cabinets, or bathroom cabinets for storing towels and napkins. To have a look and feel you can either paint in various colors. Dressing tables, side tables, wardrobes, kitchen tables, side tables, blanket boxes etc are made in various styles and sizes.

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Vintage French Walnut Confiturier This piece of furniture is a special cabinet used for storing and preserving fruits. It has only one large door opening into an interior space with one drawer at the top. This cabinet can be used in almost any room with other furniture styles.

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Antique Mahogany Corner Cupboards These corner cupboards made by Mahogany is an outstanding quality, which is made either small or any useful size. It is fitted with drawers and a bow front accented cupboards and interior was originally fitted with one shelf.

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Antique French Lady’s Cupboard A beautiful antique french walnut and mahogany lady’s cupboard is one of the common furniture used .This pieces are used for storing items such as perfumes, stationery and personal mementos.

There are other types of cabinets used for keeping valuable things for the house keepers made of pine, clothes cabinet for keeping the clothes made from Elmwood with 6 hand dovetailed drawers, food cupboards with four doors featuring gem cut raised panels and two center drawers, which is used to preserve the food in cupboards.
Want to enjoy the style and atmosphere that is brought into your home through antique cabinets, then make a list of your favorite antique furniture and purchase the things that fit your design and take a choice of materials your furniture is made off.

Antique Chandeliers

Chandeliers enhance the beauty by hanging light fixtures that add charm and style in your home. A chandelier is defined as a lamp which is poised from the ceiling directly or simply from a hook in the ceiling. Most of the chandeliers use three or more low voltage bulbs from 100 to 400 watts of total light, with perfect finish usually shaped in the form of candle flame.

Crystal chandeliers are perhaps one of the most popular to seem to be in homes of wealthy by conveying an elegant and wonderful radiance to any room. Most of the Chandeliers are made of brass material or gold plated which hang creating a beautiful spectrum of light. Depending on the size, color, style and function of the home you can choose the perfect chandelier.

The room of today is normally used for entertaining with less formal chandeliers which include everything from those with exposed bulbs that are made of wood, ceramic, wrought iron, stained glass and even deer antlers. In particular, white ceramic chandelier adorned with pastel blue and green enamel flowers will look suitable in little girl’s room or a sunny tea room. Light fixtures hang over a pool table or game tables as simple with a glassy chandelier. Many people consider the most beautiful mountain cabins to accent with items including wrought iron or antler Chandelier to add a whimsy feel.

Finding the perfect chandelier for your room depends on the function of the room, the size, the color and the style of the home that you are working with. In general, a smaller room with dimensions of 10 x 10 ft (3.05 x 3.05 m) would comfortably house a chandelier no more than 20 inches (50.8 cm) in diameter. A 12 x 12 ft (3.66 x 3.66 m) room will hold a chandelier up to 27 inches (68.58 cm) in diameter. A special large chandelier with a diameter of 36 inches (91.44 cm) or more should only be hung in a room that is 14x 14 ft (4.27 x 4.27 m) or larger.

Normally a decorative chandelier fixture over the dining room table should be hanged atleast 30 inches (76.2 cm) from the surface of the table and 12 inches (30.48) narrower than the table’s width. These guide lines should be followed when choosing a chandelier for your room, which helps you create a tasteful and elegant home décor.

In general chandelier is a decorative ceiling mounted light fixture with atleast two or more arms to hold. In early 18th century, wax candles and gaslights are commonly used as source of illumination.

There are many varied appealing luminaries. Out of which the crystal chandeliers are the most apt which includes cut glass, dangling from the arms and some times the suspended in swage between the mounting area and the arms to reflect light which creates a glittering affect. These crystal chandeliers fixtures were popular during 18th and 19th centuries and were considered as very stylish in Europe. Since then it became the accessory who seek style and old charm.

High quality lead crystal, decorative beaded and shell chandeliers are similar to crystal counterparts. A contemporary design made from capiz shell is a favorite element, which includes the collection of mother of pearl. This beaded or shell chandelier will have the same glossy affect to that of crystal, whilst the significant feature is it tones down its formality and reduces its weight.

Metal chandeliers are simple and will have several streamlined arms that are left plain, which are placed under the lampshades or inside glass cups. More over the arms are S- shaped or otherwise curved with one or more geometric lines with popular finish. These classic light fixtures are a staple of decorating and there are styles to cater to any home’s décor.

Murano glass chandeliers, was created in the glass blowing mecca of Murano. This hand-blown glass vases showoff into a variety of curvy, tabular forms pre equipped with designs of floral motifs and also adds interest to your room with variety of colors.

In early 20th century Americans used Mission chandeliers for arts and crafts style. These metals often have a central metal ceiling mount branches, angular arms and downward facing milk glass lampshades. These lampshades are often inflated with metal or stained glass segments.

Antler chandeliers are made from antler animals like deer, elk, moose, white tail and mule deer. In hunting and mountain lodges large-scale versions are popular fixtures, whilst modest varieties make an equally impressive in rustic residences.

With this artistic chandeliers right from the middle ages have existed in various forms. Where most of them have been fitted with electric lights designed mostly with metal, crystal and glass, which add beauty and charm by conveying elegant and wonderful radiance to your home.

The most important thing when buying antique furniture is to buy the best quality you can afford and make sure it is appropriate for the overall look you are going for.  Always buy from a reputable source and choose something you like that will fit in with other favorite pieces you already have.  Antiques on Old Plank Road is the best source for antiques in the Chicago area and their comprehensive web site www.oldplank.com enables customers to shop from any location in the USA.  Antiques on Old Plank Road has a full restoration shop on site which enables them to guarantee all their restoration work.

Reproductions are a viable alternative to genuine antiques and are usually less expensive. Some reproductions are almost indistinguishable from the real thing so it is important to have something in writing stating the aproximate age of an antique.

When choosing antique furniture, look for the wood type. Walnut, oak and cherry were very popular woods used to make furniture in Europe prior to the 1940s. The craftsmanship was outstanding, especially compared to today, which is why antique and vintage furniture stands up so well over the years. Wooden peg construction was often used which allows the joints to expand and contract without loosening. Antique furniture of superior quality was usually made of more exotic woods like mahogany, rosewood, satinwood etc.  

Antique furniture has a timeless charm and will increase in value over the years if it is taken care of, so choose carefully and use only a reputable dealer or antique store. If you are interested in buying antiques over the internet, try Antiques on Old Plank Road at wwww.oldplank.com .

Vintage Italian Gilded Metal 6 Light Chandelier with Flowers

Vintage Italian gilded metal chandelier with 6 lights, flower motif and original canopy. It is in excellent original condition and has been rewired for the USA by our in-house electrician. Italy Circa 1940-1950.

Country of Origin
Italy

Period
Vintage

Measurements
Height: 29 inches
Depth: 21 inches
Length: 21 inches

Materials/Techniques
Gilded Metal

“Preservation should be, if at all, reversible” - With just a little care you can safeguard antique furniture from environmental changes and careless handling. The finish on antique furniture pieces can be damaged over the years making restoration necessary so the antique can be enjoyed by future generations.

Below are listed some environmental factors affecting wood such as light, humidity and insects.

• Since wood is a bad conductor of heat, avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight or near heating vents and fireplaces. Heat and light cause fading, darkening, cracking and drying.

• Wood shrinks and swells with changes in humidity resulting in the loosening of glued joints, veneers, inlays and marquetry. Lack of humidity also causes gaps to appear where two pieces of wood come together such as table tops made from several boards. This is easily remedied by filling the gap with soft, warm beeswax which solidifies in the gap and contracts and expands with the boards. Furniture constructed with wooden pegs fares very well as the pegs expand and contract along with the rest of the table.

• Insect infestations are another problem for antique furniture . Wood worms burrow into the wood, slowly destroying it and causing worm holes. This problem is solved by injecting the holes with worm killer.

• Water spills, if not cleaned up immediately, cause cloudy white patches on wood finishes.

It is always better to maintain the original finish of a piece of antique furniture rather than refinishing it. However, if the surface is badly damaged, it might not be aesthetically pleasing to keep the original finish.

Some tips for moving antique furniture:

• When moving antique furniture, always check for damage or loose joints. Make sure the piece is empty and remove drawers and shelves. Secure doors and if the top is marble, remove it and transport it in a vertical position.
• Lift the furniture rather than dragging it as this could damage or break the legs.
• Pick up furniture at its strongest point at the legs rather than lifting it at the top.
• To transport antique furniture in a vehicle, cushion everything with blankets and secure it so it won’t move around in transit.

Below are some tips for taking care of antique furniture:

• Dust regularly with a dry, soft cloth.
• For weekly cleaning use an aerosol beeswax and spray the cloth rather than the wood directly.
• To cover up minor blemishes, use a solid beeswax applied very sparingly with the grain. Tinted waxes help to cover minor scratches.
• For more severe blemishes and wood that has become dry looking, rub with 0000 steel wool and apply beeswax.

This exemplary table is a custom creation done in our own on-site workshop to solve a designer’s dilemma. The project started with a 5′ long French draw-leaf table from the 1920’s. The table had two 19″ leaves, but would have looked diminutive in the client’s space unless the leaves were always left extended. Our solution was to use the petite table as the inspiration and chassis for a dining table on a much grander scale.

The first step was to completely disassemble the original table. The five parquet panels and leaves of the petite table were saved and one additional panel was built. Great care was taken to ensure that the newly made panel did not look out of place. Our craftsman analysed the grain and figure of the original walnut and selected boards to match the eighty year old parquet.

The original carved legs were saved, but the apron of the table needed to be extended significantly. The center and ends of the apron are original, for the remaining pieces the style and scalloping of the table sides were copied. Just like the original, the side pieces were painstakingly carved by hand. This was extremely time consuming, but the end result was a perfect match. Four of the carved shells on the apron are original and eight more were cast and added to the side pieces.

All of the new wood was hand distressed to mirror the aged look of the rest of the piece. The entire table was stripped and sanded to prepare it for a new finish. Using a mix of numerous stains and glazes the finish was brought back to its original hue. The piece was sealed with a pre-catalysed lacquer, rubbed by hand with fine steel wool and beeswax was hand applied to the entire table. The wax adds warmth and depth to the finish and is an authentic and, most importantly, a great-looking surface for a vintage table.

It is impossible for any observer to distinguish between the new and old parts of the finished table. The end result is a massive dining table that looks like it was made in the 1920’s. The designer and client are thrilled.

• Choosing a style that you like and is compatible with other pieces you have
• Identifying reproductions as opposed to true antique and vintage items
• Finding something within your budget

Take your time looking around to decide exactly what would you would like to see in the space available. Antique French furniture made from imported woods such as mahogany, rosewood and satinwood tend to be more expensive than provincial furniture made from oak, walnut and cherry. The most important thing is to find something you like in the right size and style with a nice patina to the wood or paint. One of the most appealing things about antique furniture is the aged appearance of the material it is made from, this is something that can only be achieved by time and is impossible to reproduce. Excellent reproductions are available but tend to be less expensive due to this factor. Reproductions made from aged wood are also available, these pieces are usually of superior quality, often made using the old techniques and will endure in the same manner as quality furniture made 100+ years ago.

 One way to identify antique furniture is by the imperfections that have occured over time such as cracking, warping and signs of normal wear and tear. If a piece has been taken care of and kept out of the sun, all that is necessary is rubbing down with steel wool and a coat of beeswax. At the other end of the spectrum it might be necessary to rebuild a piece and completely strip the wood and refinish it. Beeswax is the preferred treatment for wood, it gives a natural lustre to the wood and can be re-applied sparingly to maintain the surface. Periodically it might be necessary to rub down the surface with steel wool and apply a tinted beeswax to treat minor blemishes.

 A lot of antique furniture imported from Europe has suffered from worm damage resulting in tiny holes in the wood. In 99% of cases, the worms are dead and treatment eradicates them completely. The worm holes add a certain charm to the look of the wood but can be filled quite easily. Reproductions very often have fake worm holes, scratches, scuffs, glass rings, distressed paint etc. in order to mimic the very desirable look of an antique.

 With the arrival of the internet, European antiques have become much more accessible to anyone living in the USA, it’s just a matter of finding what you want. Happy hunting!

The technique is most often used for mahogany and other expensive woods. It produces a very hard, durable finish though it is sensitive to heat; the good news is that a surface that has a French polish finish can be repaired if damaged.

Shellac comes from the secretion of the female lac insect found in Assam and Thailand; the secretion is deposited on tree trunks so the insect can gain a sticky hold on the tree. The flaky secretion is harvested and dissolved in alcohol to produce a liquid form of shellac which can be applied to wood. The natural color is largely dependent on the type of tree sap consumed by the insect.

We can order all the architectural elements of the folly and design it to your specifications. The material is reclaimed from old buildings in England and the elements are made from original English molds. The designs can be constructed by a local masonry artist from the drawings provided by us. Anything is possible: sheds, walls, bridges, whatever. One of these follies will make you the envy of the local garden club.

Call or email us for more information and enjoy the video.

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