We don’t know about you, but here at The Bolthole, the thing we’re missing most during the current lock-down are our road trips to antique fairs. We love buying furniture and other ephemera at fairs and our work calendar is always punctuated by visits to the best events up and down the country. But, despite our excitement, we don’t just impulsively take off and buy anything we can get our hands on – we plan and go armed with an idea of what we’re after.
Although we can’t do this at the moment, we thought we’d get in the mood by sharing with you some of our top tips for buying furniture at antique fairs. Store them somewhere safe and you’ll be good to go!
- Have a list of the pieces you’re after and an idea of how much you’re willing to pay. If you’re after specific pieces, write them down to give your day some focus. Although it’s always fun to have an open mind and find unexpected treasures, you’ll be able to prioritise space in your car and allocate funds if you’ve got a list to refer to.
- Know the internal measurements of your car. This seems like a really obvious one but often it’s forgotten in the heat of the moment. Whilst height, depth and width measurements are important here, it’s also worth noting any narrow bits or extra compartments that might give you a bit more space. Furniture such as chairs can often be hooked over seats into the foot-well, or their legs can be interlocked to save room in a game of ‘car-tetris’.
I once had a Parker Knoll swivel armchair delivered from Norfolk (where I bought it) to Stamford in Lincolnshire (where my parents-in-law live) so that I could drive back from Norfolk to collect it from them and then transport it home to Shropshire. (Phew complicated). Otherwise we would have had to leave a family member in Norfolk to be able to fit it in and I’m not sure that would have been a popular option!
- Note the maximum dimensions of the item you’re looking for and stick to them. Does the piece need to be a certain width to fit into an alcove? There’s nothing worse than thinking you’ve found ‘The One’, only to get it home and realize it doesn’t fit. Things can appear smaller in a field or barn, but once they’re home and in the room, they suddenly loom large. There’s no wiggle room so don’t lull yourself into thinking ‘Oh it’ll be fine because I LOVE it. We’ll make it fit’. It doesn’t work like that.
- Scrutinise the condition of the item and look for signs of repair or woodworm. Does the piece seem structurally sound? If joints are wobbly, are there cracks or has the glue perished? Are the repairs easy or will you need to find someone with expertise to sort it out? Any un-treated woodworm will need to be dealt with, so factor this and any repairs into the negotiations.
- Investigate the provenance of the piece. Don’t be afraid to ask where the dealer got it from. Not only can this add hidden value to the item, but it’s also helpful to know if it’s been brought in from abroad, or was found at a private house auction and has been in the same family for 100 years. Pieces that have been looked after and loved by one owner are often in better condition than those moved from dealer to dealer.
Finally, keep an open mind!
You may not be a fan of dark wood, stripped pine, or the whole shabby-chic vibe, but try to look beyond the wood and assess each piece for its potential. Wood can be treated in a plethora of ways to create the look you love. A coat of paint, some good quality wax or a new coat of varnish can bring even the scruffiest piece back to life and transform it into something truly special.
There are some great products on the market these days, many of which are easy to use and perfect for beginners. Our favourites are GraceMary Chalk and Milk Paints, which we stock, Fusion Mineral Paints and Fiddes Wood products.
Happy antiquing
Sarah xx