Archive

2012

• The 20th century lower level: the coffee table (January)

2011

• Period or revival furniture? (December 2011)
• By any other name: still a chair (November 2011)
• Good Questions, better answers (October 2011)
• Yesterday's furniture flops may be tomorrow's prized gems (September 2011)
• Small deceptions in furniture a matter of style (August 2011)
• Online promises: You believe that, don’t you? (July 2011)
• Salvage furniture hardware (June 2011)
• How many chairs do you have? (May 2011)
• The Exotic look: One slice at a time (April 2011)
• Hand carved or pressed? (March 2011)
• Nail it down: the attachment assignment (February 2011)
• Finding the furniture guy, part 2 – what not to do (January 2011)

2010

• Finding the furniture guy – A list of helpful hints (December 2010)
• Alas, we knew them well – or maybe not (November 2010)
• Writing platforms and the slant front desk (October 2010)
• Heywood-Wakefield – A long time coming (September 2010)
• Quarter sawn or tiger eye? Yes, it is (August 2010)
• Chemistry lesson – recycled non-toxic (July 2010)
• Stupid furniture tricks – How to avoid damage (June 2010)
• Guilt by mis-association – undocumented attributions (May 2010)
• Isn’t that quaint? Or is it? (April 2010)
• Golden oak – America’s Golden Age (March 2010)
• Centennial or Colonial Revival – does it matter? (Jan/Feb 2010)

2009

• Ways to sell – timing, convenience, price (December 2009)
• Step into my parlor and sit in the correct chair (November 2009)
• Murphy’s Law – not all that folds is a Murphy (October 2009)
• Elastic storage – stacking bookcases (September 2009)
• The stranger below – silent chairs (August 2009)
• Good reproductions - Baker furniture (July 2009)
• Specialty furniture – wait in the hall (June 2009)
• Cheap tricks for fake finishes (May 2009)
• Organic threats dangers to your furniture (April 2009)
• That’s my story, it’s family history (March 2009)
• Wicker furniture - a process, not a material (Febuary 2009)
• Social function furniture to fit (January 2009)

2008

• Depression survival-Novelty Furniture (December 2008)
• Coming soon 20th century antiques? (November 2008)
• ’Ground truth‘ - go find some (October 2008)
• The ’smell test< in getting advice (September 2008)
• Rock on platform rocker springs (August 2008)
• Second City furniture - good stuff from Chicago (July 2008)
• Art furniture, the Aesthetic Movement (June 2008)
• Write the ad right, sell the piece (May 2008)
• The 19th century revival time (April 2008)
• Old brass, or is it? (March 2008)
• Not Empire? What is it then? (Feb. 2008)
• Flights of fancy – Imaginary names (Jan. 2008)

2007

• Wet worry – dealing with water damage (Dec. 2007)
• Top security – custom table pads (Nov. 2007)
• Outsourcing - who really made it? (Oct. 2007)
• The stick chair: an introduction to the Windsor (Sept. 2007)
• Furniture screws: primitive to gimit (Aug. 2007)
• German innovation – 19th century contributions (July 2007)
• Furniture condition: the "F" words (June 2007)
• Grand Rapids furniture– Always grand? (May 2007)
• Building a library: The Specifics (April 2007)
• Building a library (part II): The Period (March 2007)
• Building a library: The Foundation (Feb. 2007)
• Terms that can give the wrong impression (Jan. 2007)

2006

• Furniture labels – makers, retailers, associations (Dec. 2006)
• What makes it valuable? The Four-Part Test (Nov. 2006)
• Use the 'old stuff' and enjoy your treasure (Oct. 2006)
• The 'smell' of history (Sept. 2006)
• Mersman tables - they're everywhere (Aug. 2006)
• Check the oil at the door (July 2006)
• The 'real' Hitchcock (June 2006)
• Getting help how? (May 2006)
• Bid up - Understanding Auction Terminology (April 2006)
• Steel wool: Handle with care (March 2006)
• Stickley? Which Stickley? (February 2006)
• Who's asking? (January 2006)

2005

• Pure Gum: Wood of the Depression Era (December 2005)
• Functional art: The piano (November 2005)
• Missing pieces: A.W.O.L. furniture parts (October 2005)
• Vanity Thy Name Is..... (September 2005)
• Arty and crafty, and on a mission (August 2005)
• Surface savers:glass tops (July 2005)
• Generic names of real people (June 2005)


• Rough Stuff #2: Choosing the right one (May 2005)
• Rough Stuff: Introduction to sandpaper (April 2005)
• Old Nails: A clinching story (March 2005)
• Family Portraits: Photographing your treasures (Feb. 2005)
• Bedsteads: What keeps us up (Jan. 2005)

2004

• Avoiding Panic Attacks: Quick fixes for your furniture (Dec. 2004)
• Mr. Knapp's oddity: A new joint (Oct. 2004)
• Furniture glass: Is it original? (Sept. 2004)
• Provenance: To whom did it really belong? (Aug. 2004)
• A new 'bond' to try (July 2004)
• The perfect union? Detecting 'married' pieces (June 2004)
• Primary or secondary: Why different woods? (May 2004)
• Basic vocabulary part III: Obscure furniture forms (April 2004)
• Our “American” heritage: Whose style is it anyway? (March 2004)
  

> Back to the current Common Sense Antiques

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Fred and Gail Taylor’s video, “IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE” is available for $29.95 ($33.95 U.S. funds from Canada) from Fred Taylor, P.O. Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423-0215 or call (800) 387-6377. Comments, questions and suggestions for future “COMMON SENSE ANTIQUES” columns are gladly accepted at the same address, by E-mail at FMTAYLOR@AOL.COM or by fax at (352) 563-2916.