Sofas are the centerpiece of your living room décor. It is the focal point with which all the other elements are based on. It also serves as the anchor for the seating arrangement. Thus, the importance of sofas for furniture buyers is evident and some people would be willing to pay a lot of money for a good quality sofa.
In this same reason, vintage and antique sofas are highly coveted pieces. The rarity of the piece and the unique style combine to making it highly sought after. Depending on how old the sofa is, the styles and prices could vary significantly. Use this guide to learn more about the different factors that command the value of an antique sofa.
Dating an antique sofa is an important step in determining its value. It is also one way to ensure that you have an authentic antique piece and not a reproduction. There are numerous factors that determine the age of an antique sofa. If you can find these indicators, you will be able to utilize it for appraisal purposes and will give the owners confidence about the value of the item, too.
The presence of tags or markings on the sofa is the first thing you need to look for. This marking is present on any part of the furniture, mostly on the bottom. It can even be on the fabric of the sofa! Once you identify the manufacturer of the sofa, you will be able to identify the exact date range of its manufacture.
A serial number is also a good way to date an antique sofa. Mass-produced or not, antique sofas will have a serial number. Just like the markings, the serial number will enable you to accurately date the furniture. Or, if you are knowledgeable about the various styles of sofa, you can look at the style in your vintage piece. Different styles originate from different periods. Therefore, the type of antique sofa that you have can be an indicator of when it was made.
In addition to the factors listed above, the authenticity of the antique sofa is one single factor that could heavily influence its appraisal. You must look into the item to see if it is authentic or a reproduction. But how do you do that?
There are many modern sofas that are manufactured using a vintage style. Hence, you cannot assume that a particular style of sofa will be antique or old because of how it looks. It is important to determine exactly when the sofa was manufactured. One way to do it is to look for signs of age on the sofa itself. While it might still be in good condition, it will show signs of aging when examined closely. Look for nicks, dings, or even worm holes.
For wooden sofas, or those with wooden parts, check for signs of aging on the wood. Even the small gives out a major clue on how old the furniture piece is. Another important thing to note is the finish of the furniture. Even if the furniture is authentic, its value can drop when it has been re-finished.
There are numerous factors that affect the overall value of an antique sofa. In the succeeding sections, you will learn more about the various factors that affect its overall value:
The material of the antique sofa is directly correlated to its quality, longevity, aesthetic, and comfort. Hence, it is a factor that is considered during appraisal. The cover material is the first thing that potential buyers see about an antique sofa. Therefore, it only makes sense to consider it first during the valuation of the antique item. The common materials used for antique sofa covers are as follows:
Of these cover materials on antique sofa, leather is the most durable. It also improves with age. If you want a luxurious look, velvet is a great choice. Aside from the cover, the filling material on a sofa is also critical during appraisal as it helps to determine comfort.
If you own a vintage sofa, you need to determine its sofa style as it can be one of the first things that an appraiser looks into. If you think all sofas are the same, think again. There are actually plenty of options available. These different styles appeal to different buyers and some would be more willing to pay a higher price for rare styles. You can learn more about each sofa style here:
Below are some of the well-known sofa manufacturers in history:
If you own an antique sofa manufactured by any of these furniture makers, it is possible you can get a good value for it.
The rarity of an antique sofa adds to its value. When a sofa is rare, it increases in value. Since they are rare, you would be lucky to get your hands on a one-of-a-kind piece too.
Antique sofas are considered as such if they are at least 100 years old. Ideally, it should still be in working condition for it to be given maximum appraisal. The sofa must not have any missing parts such as legs or arms. In addition, it should not have broken embellishments or stained fabric too. The process of re-painting or re-finishing the antique sofa might improve its condition but it loses authenticity in the process. You should be extra careful when doing any work on the sofas.
Click the "Get Started" button below to set up a free account.
Answer a few simple questions and upload images of your item.
Receive a specialist's valuation by email in 24 to 48 hours.
Get help with the next steps, including consignment and sale.
I am so happy to have found Mearto. Their team of seasoned professionals provide a wealth of knowledge in tandem with excellent customer care. They provided an expert valuation and advised me sell a painting that I purchased for just $10 at an estate sale for nearly $1,000 on eBay. I have used them on several occasions and have been extremely pleased every time.
Mearto provides exceptional service at an exceptional price!
I used the Mearto authentication service to develop a history of a family owned piece with little to no provenance, except being owned by my family for 65 years. They came back with a 20 page extensive report and included a full page bibliography for reference. The “Stylistic Observations” section of the report was most enlightening comparing my piece to the original, which was on public display in the 1940’s.
I’m very happy with the results!
Very polite and professional services that they provide, my appraisal involved looking into an oil painting by an artist whose work is over 400 years old. Not only did they write about the artist but also where he was from and where he was born and most importantly the value, I'm impressed. (worth every penny).
I will always use Mearto for future appraisals.
The authentication report we received from Mearto was very well researched and written, as well as detailed and comprehensive. From an examination of the artist's signature to a discussion of the figural representations in the work, Mearto's art specialists took the time to explain in non-technical terms their findings. Professional, responsive, and kind are just a few words to describe their communication throughout the process-- definitely money well spent!
We needed a watch appraised and I found this website via Google. Having never doing this before, I was hesitant to submit a payment before receiving any information, I'm glad I did. David was very helpful and patient addressing my questions, and explaining the process. He was very thorough and knowledgeable. Should I have another opportunity, I would not hesitate to contact Mearto again.
