Is there a premium for the smaller versions of classic antiques?
In many instances the answer is a resounding - YES
We trade in classic antique furniture and decorative antiques via our websites www.antiquedesks.net and we invariably find that smaller, high quality pieces find a new home quicker and at a relatively higher price
Why is this?
There are probably several reasons.
Firstly smaller pieces - especially furniture - fit much better into modern homes. It is possible to mix modern and antique items into many room settings if the antique piece doesn't dominate the space - hence the appeal to someone who just wants an occasional antique and not a room full (very few people actually want to decorate their homes exclusively in antiques).
A second reason may be that smaller pieces are often very well made and a true tribute to the craftsmen and women of yesteryear. The tactile nature of many small pieces is extremely attractive and pleasing to the eye. In many pieces the proportions of a small piece just work better at that scale.
Of course if you are a collector you can also fit a lot more small items into a given space than if you collect large things - again very few people have a barn big enough to accumulate lots of large things - just for the sake of collecting them. Hence small pieces of silver, jewellery, portrait miniatures etc all remain very popular, as do many varieties of ceramics.
So, our hypothesis is that small antiques are more popular than large pieces.
From a dealers point of view they sell faster and when you line a large piece up against an equivalent smaller piece, the smaller one often has a proportionately higher value.
Here is an examples of a smaller equivalent that sold very well for us recently
This is a beautiful small Antique Victorian Partners Desk in mahogany made by Fitch of London. Measuring only 137cm(w) x 91cm(d) x 77cm(h). It has a total of 18 drawers - 9 to each side - fantastic proportions and symmetry. Sold for approx 30% premium over an equivalent 183cm wide larger partners desk. See more at http://www.antiquedesks.net/stock/antique-desk-antique-writing-table-archive.html
In many instances the answer is a resounding - YES
We trade in classic antique furniture and decorative antiques via our websites www.antiquedesks.net and we invariably find that smaller, high quality pieces find a new home quicker and at a relatively higher price
Why is this?
There are probably several reasons.
Firstly smaller pieces - especially furniture - fit much better into modern homes. It is possible to mix modern and antique items into many room settings if the antique piece doesn't dominate the space - hence the appeal to someone who just wants an occasional antique and not a room full (very few people actually want to decorate their homes exclusively in antiques).
A second reason may be that smaller pieces are often very well made and a true tribute to the craftsmen and women of yesteryear. The tactile nature of many small pieces is extremely attractive and pleasing to the eye. In many pieces the proportions of a small piece just work better at that scale.
Of course if you are a collector you can also fit a lot more small items into a given space than if you collect large things - again very few people have a barn big enough to accumulate lots of large things - just for the sake of collecting them. Hence small pieces of silver, jewellery, portrait miniatures etc all remain very popular, as do many varieties of ceramics.
So, our hypothesis is that small antiques are more popular than large pieces.
From a dealers point of view they sell faster and when you line a large piece up against an equivalent smaller piece, the smaller one often has a proportionately higher value.
Here is an examples of a smaller equivalent that sold very well for us recently
This is a beautiful small Antique Victorian Partners Desk in mahogany made by Fitch of London. Measuring only 137cm(w) x 91cm(d) x 77cm(h). It has a total of 18 drawers - 9 to each side - fantastic proportions and symmetry. Sold for approx 30% premium over an equivalent 183cm wide larger partners desk. See more at http://www.antiquedesks.net/stock/antique-desk-antique-writing-table-archive.html
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