Must-Ask Questions When Shopping for Vintage and Antique Tables
- America's Antique Mall
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
From gathering around one for meals with your family to setting your coffee down on one while you finish your latest romance read on the couch, the tables in your home are the unsung furniture heroes. Don’t settle for anything less than the best. The next time you need to buy a table for your home, head to your local antique mall for a completely unique vintage table you’ll love for years to come.
Why Should You Buy a Vintage or Antique Table?
If you’re looking for a statement piece of furniture for your home, you’re in luck! With countless eras of design to choose from, there’s sure to be a style of vintage table to suit your style. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a die-hard fan of Grandmacore or a lover of the cluttercore aesthetic; with hand-engraved motifs, long-lasting materials, unique shapes, and incredible construction methods, antique tables help you bring your ideal home to life.
Buying anything secondhand, whether that’s a vintage table or another rare collectible, can also make a significant environmental impact. If everyone were to give a previously used antique table a second chance at life, instead of buying new, we’d be able to make a dent in our human waste numbers. If you’ve been interested in incorporating more sustainable shopping practices into your day-to-day, now’s your chance!
Where’s the Best Place to Shop for Vintage Tables?
While there will always be options listed on Facebook Marketplace and online auction sites, we can’t recommend shopping for antique tables in person enough. Some people have luck at their local thrift store or flea market, but take it from us: there’s no better place to browse than a well-stocked antique mall!
With hundreds of booths and showcases, all located in one larger-than-life building, your odds of finding the perfect vintage table for your home skyrocket at America’s Antique Mall. Stop by any of our locations, from Highland, Indiana, to Phoenix, Arizona, and beyond, to see the vast selection for yourself.
Types of Vintage Tables at America’s Antique Mall:
Coffee tables
Dining tables
Bedside tables
Console tables
Drop-leaf tables
Bar-top tables
What Should You Look Out For When Shopping for Vintage and Antique Tables?
Thinking about buying an antique table is one thing: actually learning how to examine one is another. While it can feel tempting to take home the first vintage table that grabs your attention, try to refrain! The next time you find yourself considering a table, remember to ask yourself these crucial questions.
What Era is the Vintage Table From?
When a vintage table is from a certain era, it makes a world of difference in its aesthetic and value. Each design era has its own unique look and construction methods. If the price tag doesn’t offer up the information, don’t be afraid to ask the Melbourne antique mall’s staff members when the piece was produced.
Popular Eras for Vintage and Antique Tables:
Art Deco
Mid-Century Modern
Arts and Crafts
Georgian
Art Nouveau
Is the Vintage Table Structurally Sound?
The last thing you want is to spend all your money on a vintage table only to realize that it’s overly wobbly or in danger of collapsing. Avoid this common thrifting worry by carefully examining the construction to ensure all joints are tight, the legs are solid, and the understructure is not warped. Even if the table isn’t up to snuff in other areas, a solid framework means that it can be restored, if needed.
What is the Antique Table Made From?
As with most types of vintage and antique furniture, what the table is made of matters. In decades past, tables were crafted with the finest solid hardwoods around and frequently featured additional decorative finishes, varnishes, and inlays, including gilding and marquetry. These high-quality materials are a large part of what makes vintage tables so desirable to this day!
Popular Types of Wood Used for Vintage Tables:
Oak
Walnut
Mahogany
Rosewood
Satinwood
Teak
Cherry
Elm
Maple
Does the Vintage Table Show Any Visible Signs of Damage?
When you’re looking for antique tables, remember that, since the design was used for years by someone else, a minimal amount of damage is to be expected. Scratched surfaces, watermarks, chips, worn edges, or darkened spots are common—and sometimes desirable. If you’re okay with the table’s amount of visible wear and tear, then proceed!
Do All the Antique Table’s Details Function Correctly?
If you’re considering a table that has hidden drawers or an extension leaf, make sure the bonus features still work. If, for whatever reason, the mechanism isn’t working, it might not be worth incorporating into your home.
Is the Vintage Table Worth Restoring?
Just because an antique table isn’t as beautiful as it once was doesn’t necessarily mean it should be trashed. If you love a slightly damaged design and have the time, energy, and money to do so, consider having it sent in for a restoration. With years of training under their belts, restoration experts are able to repair damage, stabilize structures, and apply traditional finishes to return the piece to its former glory (and value)!
Is the Antique Table a Rare Design?
Just because it might look like there’s an endless selection of antique tables out there doesn’t mean they’re all treated equally. Between limited production lines and low survival rates for authentic vintage furniture, certain tables are rarer than others. If you suspect your potential purchase may be one of the few, but can’t prove it, consult online pricing guides and expert appraisers in your area. Who knows—you may have gold on your hands.
Does the Vintage Table Come with Official Documentation?
Any experienced collector can tell you just how important it is to get official authentication documents when buying something as significant as an antique table. These papers, provided by either the vendor or the store, should lay out when the design was made, who crafted it, its current value, any history of renovation, and who owned it before you.
If the person you’re buying the vintage table from does not have these papers, we recommend approaching the purchase with caution.
Answering all the above questions should give you a better idea of whether or not a vintage table is worth taking home. If, for some reason, the design you’re considering fails to meet your expectations, don’t take it to heart! Stop back into America’s Antique Mall at a later date and start your search all over again.
