Sideboard, 1850–60
Ignatius Lutz (American (born in France), 1817–1860)
Oak, yellow-poplar, marble
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
On view in Forkner and Gill Family Gallery (Gallery 238)
Preserve our cultural heritage by adopting a piece of brown furniture today.
Act now and save a bit of history before it becomes firewood!
I am a rare millennial in that I am quite fond of antique furniture. In fact, I enjoy it so much that I made it my career to learn and evaluate these fascinating objects of the past. Solid construction, beautiful wood grain, and detailed marquetry go a long away in my personal design aesthetic. Thus, I bemoan the sad state of affairs surrounding the “brown furniture” market. What is brown furniture you may ask? It’s a term commonly used by art professionals and dealers when speaking of carved wood furniture mostly made in Europe or America during the 19th and early 20th century. In particular, mid-range quality brown furniture, even period pieces from the late 18th century, are suffering. Reports indicate that brown furniture prices experienced an average loss of 50% in value in the past five years. What happened to these poor wooden creatures?
Why is antique furniture no longer popular?
Tastes have changed
Let alone the unattractive term “brown furniture,” just saying the word “antique” evokes grandma’s parlor for many a person. Pick up any shelter magazine, and you will see sleek, contemporary interiors with open-space concepts and lateral living. The vogue for period rooms, decorated to hark back to a nostalgic past often including a few pieces of brown furniture, has decidedly waned. Praise instead is given to a light and streamlined environment. Somehow an English oak dresser just isn’t fitting the bill anymore. Even corporate offices, who used to invest in antique furniture to convey prestige, prefer the modern look. This desire for a minimal aesthetic explains why Scandinavian design and mid-century pieces have become extremely popular with their clean lines and easily multi-functional purposes. Our language for good taste has shifted to a “less is more and too much dark wood is bad” approach.
Technology is not so bulky anymore
Gone are the days of those cumbersome tubular televisions. We have transitioned from hiding the TV and the VHS player in a French Louis XVI fruitwood armoire to proudly displaying our large flatscreen for all to admire and stare at. Hide it??? Why we mount it on the wall.
Baby Boomers are downsizing
Time and time again I have heard a client say “My kids don’t want any of this antique __________ (you can easily fill in the blank with furniture, silver, crystal, china services, etc.).” The passing down of family heirlooms does not have the same importance as it used to. If the furniture doesn’t end up in an estate/yard sale, then it will likely wait in a storage unit. As you can imagine, the surplus of unwanted antique furniture continues to flood the market.
Interior designers have their own retail lines
Interior decorators have often been the mainstay for antique dealers by selecting just the right piece of furniture to be placed in a client’s fashionable home. Unfortunately, some designers today are more motivated to sell newly made items that happen to be from their own line of home goods. In addition, the interior design trend for built-ins and custom installations (e.g. kitchen islands, custom office desks, and wall shelving) curtails the need to buy furniture let alone antique ones.
People are intimidated by antiques
Sadly, the fear of making an unwise purchase due to a lack of knowledge about antiques is all too common. There is the concern of being duped into buying an inferior item. Not to mention the plethora of fakes, forgeries, and misattributions that unfortunately maintain a presence in the art world. Even the process of buying, particularly in an auction setting, can be daunting. Admittedly it does take time to develop one’s eye, but that is part of the fun of antique shopping. From novice to expert, you are always learning something new about these over one-hundred-year-old specimens. Begin by buying from reputable sellers, and purchase furniture that you love; if a mistake is made, you will still have an object that appeals to your senses, if not necessarily your wallet.
We don’t entertain the same way
When was the last time you used a cake breaker or a tureen with a matching underplate during a dinner party? In fact, how often do you use your formal dining room? Do you even have a formal dining room? The casual life has pervaded all facets of our culture, including entertaining. Dining rooms can be replaced by home theaters, a play area for the kids, or a home office. No need for an Empire dining table with a matching set of chairs and maybe a Georgian sideboard when you’re more than likely to socialize at a nice restaurant.
Will antique furniture return to favor?
It’s eco-friendly
Considering the ever-growing social conscience about taking better care of the environment, it makes perfect sense to extend recycling to include furniture. Why take down yet another tree when there is a perfectly good colonial revival bedframe in mom’s basement?
The price is right
With the continuing trend of softening prices for antique furniture, great buys are to be had. It can be cheaper to buy mid-level furniture at an antique gallery, consignment shop, or auction house than it is at a retail store selling brand-new pieces. Frequently the nineteenth-century piece of furniture is less expensive than its current reproduction. Both better quality and value can easily be found when shopping for antique alternatives. Whether you are looking to furnish your home or starting to collect, now is the time to invest in antique furniture.
Solid construction is hard to find
Many low to mid-range furniture that is being made today does not stand the test of time, let alone a decade. As the saying goes, “They don’t make them like they used to.” Compare a bookcase from Restoration Hardware with a Victorian version, and the difference in workmanship and care for detail will be revealed.
Top quality pieces still sell
Despite the current downturn in the brown furniture market, it is important to remember that high-quality examples in good condition continue to sell well. Furniture that successfully demonstrates features of its particular period and/or style remains much sought after by private collectors as well as museums. Determining whether a piece of antique furniture is well-made takes into consideration the overall form, balance of proportions, use of materials, level of craftsmanship, attention to detail, treatment of color and ornament, condition issues, etc. Not sure if you have a stellar example of brown furniture? Please feel free to contact Ahlstrom Appraisals for a consultation. If we are unable to answer your questions, we will be happy to direct you to the experts who can.
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About the Author: Courtney Ahlstrom Christy is the Principal Appraiser of Ahlstrom Appraisals LLC. She has worked with auction houses, museums, and galleries - all of which have provided unique opportunities to closely examine works ranging from the antique to the contemporary. Her background in the field of decorative arts includes silver, ceramics, glass, and furniture. Courtney also has extensive experience in fine art with a special interest in American and European works from the late 19th to early 20th century.
© Courtney Ahlstrom Christy 2015
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