Buying Antique Oak Cupboards

Thursday, November 23, 2017

If you are looking for a quality antique oak cupboard here are a few tips to help you make the best buy.
The most important consideration is the look of your home. Oak cupboards are usually of traditional appearance with a dominating presence. So in the case of oak furniture you need to give thought to the look of your interior so the antique oak cupboard fits into your surroundings.

While buying a cupboard you need to carefully consider the size of the room where you plan to place the cupboard. It should fit in well, not look imposing and have a good amount of space around it the front of it to move around.
It is advisable that you measure the space available. Chalking out the place in advance can give you a good idea as to how much place the cupboard will actually take up.
A cupboard too big for a relatively smaller room will look very imposing unless you are looking at it as a focal point since it is from the world of antiques.
Antique oak cupboards tend to be quite heavy. So transportation and negotiating staircases needs to be considered.
To help you chose wisely it ia advisable to get acquainted with the various styles available. Furniture pieces belonging to different eras and periods are all very distinct form and design wise. Having a little knowledge about the origin will help you shortlist a good piece.
The dealer that you go to is important. you should hunt for genuine dealers who are preferably members of reputed associations like BADA, LAPADA etc. With reputed dealers you can rest assured that you will get only genuine pieces.
Valuation is important. You can do a bit of research in order to ensure that the piece you are looking at is valued accurately. Here are a few things that can affect the value of a piece.
Overall condition
Restoration
Provenance
Alteration and replacements of original pieces
There are usually makers marks, stamps or certain signs and symbols that you can look for that will accurately give you the origin of a piece which in turn is important for the right valuation.
These are a few things that you can keep in mind while buying your antique oak cupboard.
A wonderful exaple of an antique cupboard is this a magnificent and impressive mid 15th century English oak great hall cupboard. circa 1460. This astonishing medieval cupboard was discovered many years ago in a barn in Nottinghamshire. Since being discovered it was carefully conserved to its original state. It stands handsomely at 74" high x 48" wide x 29" deep. The front consists of three lancet carved and pierced doors, flanked either side by carved and pierced panels, the top two with coat of arms decoration. The sheer size and execution of this amazing cupboard would indicate it most probably came from a castle or large medieval manor/hall.
Originally probably all polychrome decorated as traces exist throughout.
Old conservation includes backboards probably replaced in the 18th century along with the back stiles, probably due to damp walls. One hinge on the central door is a very old replacement and two of the interior shelf boards. This cupbaord is a rare English survivor of mid 15th century.

For more fine examples visit our collection of antique oak cupboards.