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NEW ENGLAND ABUNDANCE . MASSACHUSETTS
ANTIQUES
ANTIQUES IN THE PIONEER VALLEY
Any historical museum makes a considerable use of antiques in order to illustrate historical events and give them a practical context. Just about any object can become an antique if it survives long enough, but value of an antique in the market place is determined by its appeal and social acceptance. For example museums exist of Ephemera, that is of objects and items that would normally be thrown away, such as packaging and advertising flyers and posters.
The collecting of antique furniture is a particularly popular area of antiques due to the practical characteristics of these antiques. Antique furniture includes dining tables, chairs, bureaus, chests etc. The most common woods are mahogany, oak, pine, walnut and rosewood. In Chinese antique furniture the most common wood is elm a wood common to most regions able to sustain trees. Each wood has its own distinctive grain and color. Many modern pieces of furniture often use laminate or wood veneer to cheaply achieve the same effect. There are a number of different styles of antique furniture depending on when and where it was made. The most common include Arts & Crafts, Georgian, Regency and Victorian.
In New England we are fortunate to have many antiques shops, dealers, and auction houses. We will try to add as we find them. See list at left.
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