Antique furniture appraisal, online
That carved sideboard or set of dining chairs you inherited may be worth more, or less, than family lore suggests. Our team researches your piece against real sales records and returns a clear, plain-English value report within three days.
Structured research, reviewed for clarity
We start by placing your piece in its likely period and workshop tradition, then weigh construction details, timber, and any maker's marks against comparable pieces that have actually sold. Asking prices can mislead, so we anchor our estimate to realised auction and dealer results for similar examples in similar condition. The result is a plain-English report with an estimated value range and the reasoning behind it, reviewed by our team before it reaches you.
What affects the value of antique furniture
The value of an antique piece rarely rests on a single feature. Our team weighs several factors together, because a fine maker can be undercut by heavy restoration, and a modest workshop piece can rise on exceptional condition or history.
Maker, period & style
A documented workshop or recognised regional style, Georgian mahogany, a stamped French cabinetmaker, an Arts and Crafts joiner, carries weight, but so does honest period character. We look at proportions, timber, and the marks or labels that point to when and where a piece was made.
Construction & originality
Hand-cut dovetails, mortise-and-tenon joints, and the patina of age tell a different story than machine work or later repairs. Replaced handles, re-veneering, marriages of two pieces, or an aggressive refinish all move value, sometimes sharply, and we note them plainly.
Comparable sales
We compare your piece to similar examples that have actually changed hands at auction and through dealers, not optimistic asking prices. Real results in similar condition are the firmest ground for an estimate.
Brown furniture, demand, and what your piece is really worth today
The market for traditional dark-wood furniture has shifted over the past two decades, and broad pieces of so-called brown furniture can sell for less than owners expect, while exceptional makers, smaller useful forms, and original-condition examples hold their ground. Knowing which side your piece falls on takes current sales evidence rather than a number remembered from years ago, and that is the gap our research fills, without asking you to become an expert in cabinetwork yourself.
Inherited a houseful of antique furniture?
Estates often bring a mix, a few genuinely valuable pieces among everyday items, and it is hard to know where to focus. You can start with the one or two pieces you are most curious about: tell us what you have, share a few photographs, and our team researches each one and returns a value report within three days. From there you will know what is worth insuring, keeping, or selling. When you are ready, you can submit your item to begin.
A few reports we've delivered
Illustrative: George III mahogany bow-front chest of drawers with original swan-neck handles
$1,200 - $2,800
Illustrative: early 20th-century English Arts and Crafts oak sideboard with hammered copper fittings
$900 - $2,000
Illustrative: set of six Victorian walnut balloon-back dining chairs
$700 - $1,500
Illustrative: late Victorian mahogany leather-top pedestal writing desk
$600 - $1,400Estimated ranges shown to guide research — not official appraisals for insurance, tax, or legal use. Illustrative examples.
Questions, answered honestly
How old does something have to be to be an antique?
As a rule of thumb, an antique is generally at least 100 years old. Items roughly 20–99 years old are usually called “vintage,” and the line shifts by category — but age alone never sets value. A 60-year-old designer piece can be worth far more than a century-old everyday object.
What affects the value of my item?
Value comes from a combination of factors: who made it, its age and rarity, condition, originality, provenance (its documented history), and — most of all — what comparable pieces have actually sold for recently. Our research weighs each of these to produce an estimated range.
I’ve inherited a collection — what do I do?
Start with the pieces you’re most curious about, or the ones you suspect are most valuable. Submit them individually, or for more than ten items use our white-glove service and we’ll research the whole batch together at a tailored rate.
Is this an official appraisal?
No. Every report is a thorough, researched estimate to guide your research — not an official appraisal for insurance, tax, or legal purposes. For those uses you’ll want a certified appraiser, and our report is a great, fast first step before that.
How accurate is a researched value report?
Our research is based on real comparable sales and a structured assessment of condition, era, and maker. It’s designed to give you a credible, well-researched estimate quickly. Like any estimate it isn’t a guarantee of sale price, which is why we always give a range rather than a single number.
“I had a vase from my grandmother and no idea where to start. The report was detailed, fast, and honest about the range.”
“Three days, a fair price, and a genuinely useful breakdown of comparable sales. Far better than waiting weeks.”
“Loved that it was upfront about being an estimate. It gave me exactly what I needed before talking to an auction house.”
Illustrative examples shown during launch — verified customer reviews will replace these as reports are delivered.
Find out what your furniture is worth
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