PROMOTION Q&A with Neil Heldreich The furmiture restorer and dealer makes a case for buying brown' you can't go wrong. When buying antique furniture then your house has antique furniture, I would say, first trust your instincts and second never be afraid to ask whoever is selling the item about the piece and what they think about its originality. When asked, an antique dealer or auctioneer should always provide you with the knowledge you require. If they're furniture. Who says that if you like to resemble the period of the pieces? WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR IN A PERIOD PIECE, AND IS IT UNIQUE TO THE BUYER? The antique buyer mostly falls into two categories, someone who wants to furnish their house with established in business and wish to continue to be so and, of course, are something aesthetically pleasing and of interest, or the serious collector passionate about their profession you will always get an honest answer. Get to know your local dealers and always ask questions. Finally, one of the things that makes this subject so fascinating is that there is always more to learn, who is looking for an item by a particular maker, of a certain period or material or one that is particularly rare. If you are an admirer of fine Georgian furniture, for example, it may be the proportions and form of the piece or the high quality of the cabinet making or added decoration that draws you. If you are a country or early furniture person then it could be the glow of a wonderful patina or a mixture of local timbers used in its construction, or even a FIRST THINGS FIRST, WHAT IS MEANT BY 'BROWN FURNITURE? So, what do we mean by brown furniture? Where do we make the distinction between this and something that's deemed more desirable? In my opinion 'brown furniture' is an inappropriate phrase. I have seen many pieces selling at high prices this year that were of a dark colour and amongst other attributes they all possessed wonderful dark patination. simple extra feature you've never seen before, that makes you long to own it. One thing I always find myself thinking about is the history of a piece; when it was constructed and what was happening historically in DO YOU NEED A CERTAIN DÉCOR TO MAKE A PERIOD the world at that time. Then I look PIECE WORK? at the marks, stains and wear it has Purchasing antique furniture picked up along its journey and try to imagine how they got there. shouldn't be about fashion; what's in and what's not. The media bombards us with images of a certain lifestyle and look that we should aspire to and it's difficult not to be influenced by this, but I think antique furniture is a little different. There is no reason DO YOU NEED TO BE AN 'EXPERT' TO PURCHASE ANTIQUE PIECES? I'ma great believer that if you choose your items carefully, learn to trust your own taste and judgement and aren't afraid to ask questions then why antique pieces won't fit perfectly alongside modern décor, art and Noil can be contacted at Heidriech French Polishers: 07990 589926 www.heldreich.com The Cedars, Main Street, Hollington, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DEB 3HA PROMOTION Q&A with Neil Heldreich The furmiture restorer and dealer makes a case for buying brown' you can't go wrong. When buying antique furniture then your house has antique furniture, I would say, first trust your instincts and second never be afraid to ask whoever is selling the item about the piece and what they think about its originality. When asked, an antique dealer or auctioneer should always provide you with the knowledge you require. If they're furniture. Who says that if you like to resemble the period of the pieces? WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR IN A PERIOD PIECE, AND IS IT UNIQUE TO THE BUYER? The antique buyer mostly falls into two categories, someone who wants to furnish their house with established in business and wish to continue to be so and, of course, are something aesthetically pleasing and of interest, or the serious collector passionate about their profession you will always get an honest answer. Get to know your local dealers and always ask questions. Finally, one of the things that makes this subject so fascinating is that there is always more to learn, who is looking for an item by a particular maker, of a certain period or material or one that is particularly rare. If you are an admirer of fine Georgian furniture, for example, it may be the proportions and form of the piece or the high quality of the cabinet making or added decoration that draws you. If you are a country or early furniture person then it could be the glow of a wonderful patina or a mixture of local timbers used in its construction, or even a FIRST THINGS FIRST, WHAT IS MEANT BY 'BROWN FURNITURE? So, what do we mean by brown furniture? Where do we make the distinction between this and something that's deemed more desirable? In my opinion 'brown furniture' is an inappropriate phrase. I have seen many pieces selling at high prices this year that were of a dark colour and amongst other attributes they all possessed wonderful dark patination. simple extra feature you've never seen before, that makes you long to own it. One thing I always find myself thinking about is the history of a piece; when it was constructed and what was happening historically in DO YOU NEED A CERTAIN DÉCOR TO MAKE A PERIOD the world at that time. Then I look PIECE WORK? at the marks, stains and wear it has Purchasing antique furniture picked up along its journey and try to imagine how they got there. shouldn't be about fashion; what's in and what's not. The media bombards us with images of a certain lifestyle and look that we should aspire to and it's difficult not to be influenced by this, but I think antique furniture is a little different. There is no reason DO YOU NEED TO BE AN 'EXPERT' TO PURCHASE ANTIQUE PIECES? I'ma great believer that if you choose your items carefully, learn to trust your own taste and judgement and aren't afraid to ask questions then why antique pieces won't fit perfectly alongside modern décor, art and Noil can be contacted at Heidriech French Polishers: 07990 589926 www.heldreich.com The Cedars, Main Street, Hollington, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DEB 3HA