How to tell a revival piece from a period piece, an antique sofa study

  Click here to see a slide show w/ instructions on how to tell a revival
   piece from a period piece.

How to tell revival pieces from period pieces an antique sofa study.

Many pieces of furniture and other items, are antiques, but are not original to the period they are styled after. An antique may be 100 years old, but be made hundreds of years after the original style it depicts, this is called a "revival piece".

The difference in value for a revival piece vs. an original period piece, as you may have guessed, is often huge, with period pieces being worth much more than their revival copies.

(Below is an online appraisal I did for a customer, and below that is a slideshow explanaition of how we know this is a revival piece. 

Mark asks:

I received this sofa from a relative who did not want it any longer,and I've never seen one like it before. It has a delicate rope carving all along the edges and has what looks to be carved tassels at the top

The arms curve out in a graceful design ,the fabric has been redone several years ago but looks very attractive.  

It's about 30 inches tall 42 inches wide and a little more than 7 ft long the legs have leaves or scrolls curling up at each end and the rope design ends in a Greek Key (I think that's what it is) the scrolls are carved beside the key carving. The rope design goes along the bottom front and the center leg is sturdy but plain.

 Thank You

Mark

AW says: That's a neo-classic style sofa with a Mahogany frame. It's in very good condition for it's age and it's size. As you've mentioned, it has been re-upholstered. Large sofas will often have a high retail price on them, and a very low wholesale as they are not a re-sellers favorite thing to stock due to the room they take up in a shop, and the effort to move them. 

Date range: 1900-1930 

Retail value: $350-$500 

(top price) 

Wholesale value: $175 

(The mid range price you could expect to achieve at a well advertised live auction. The price that is most often realized) 

Quick sale value: $75 

The price your likely to get if you have to sell your item immediately and your prospective customer is aware of this. 

Common terminology, nicknames, keywords: sofa couch divan tufted arms mahogany brocade frame  french style

Care and storage tips: It's a great idea to turn the cushions on any upholstered furniture that has them. 

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