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the article uses a 10 year old study conducted in California to explain why antique auctions near London command lower than expected prices today. i can't figur

the article uses a 10 year old study conducted in California to explain why antique auctions near London command lower than expected prices today. i can't figure out if this is insightful brilliance or nonsense.

lostlogin 8y ago
In big old houses many of the formal rooms were hardly used - or that’s what I’ve been led to believe. Formal dining and sitting rooms were for special occasions and the kitchen was where people ate otherwise. Even the front door was rarely used. Villa/bungalow design (these count as old where I am) clearly delineate formal and informal areas, with the back of the house for day to day living. It would be interesting to compare the study to historic usage as it may be less of a change than first glance would show.
SwellJoe 8y ago
My mom is an antique dealer of ~35 years. Her experience is consistent with the article's assertions. The market for antique furniture (and antiques, in general) has fallen off considerably.
sgt101 8y ago
I think it's just misapprehended, a lot of the crash of value is just aesthetics. People are keen on modernist shiny stuff. They don't much like fussy dark big heavy things. Dining tables are an exception; home entertaining has fallen from fashion as women are not at home all day to do the work required, people aren't doing dinner parties and they tend to have smaller families than in the past as well.
- amanaplanacanal 8y ago
  I'm torn. I love my modern minimalist look, but really I wouldn't mind having a houseful of all that baroque Victorian look either.
  - sgt101 8y ago
    I think it's fashion, in 10 years the pendulum will swing back, somewhat.
    - 1337biz 8y ago
      Actually a good point. If I had the money I would buy up antiques as long as they are compatible with modern lifestyle/living space dimensions.
  - aaronblohowiak 8y ago
    FYI: baroque period is 17th and 18th century. Victorian is in 19th to very early 20th century. There was a baroque revival in the late 19th century which complicates things :) in the world of furniture, they are distinct.
tvanantwerp 8y ago
I'd side with nonsense. The house map from that study is unfamiliar to me as an American. Growing up, our living room and family room were the same. We didn't have a separate dining room and breakfast nook. And we sure as hell didn't have a single room dedicated to a piano.
- 1337biz 8y ago
  Grew up on the old continent. Except for the family room/front porch, this is almost the exact layout of my parents' house. Any they built it in the 80s. Even if I would build my own today... piano room would be there. Maybe mixing it Piano/Library.
- resg4mp 8y ago
  Also American. East coast. I've been in tons of houses with separate dining rooms, as well as living / family rooms. And yeah, nobody used em. A friend of mine growing up had both living and family room in his house. One was used all the time. The other was untouched, pristine. Like they might have even had plastic covering the furniture. We weren't supposed to play there; it was only for formal entertaining. My in laws also have a separate living room with a piano in it. And besides the off chance someone tried playing chopsticks, the room is unused. Infact, most of us put our coats there. The family room has a TV in it, so everyone goes in there. Heck, the house I grew up in had both a kitchen and dining room. I think the dining room only got used on holidays when we had guests over. Not sure why you haven't seen as much. Might have to do with the size of the house, demographics, or region. But boy, are they stupid. Rooms everyone thinks they need, but nobody uses.

lostlogin 8y ago

In big old houses many of the formal rooms were hardly used - or that’s what I’ve been led to believe. Formal dining and sitting rooms were for special occasions and the kitchen was where people ate otherwise. Even the front door was rarely used. Villa/bungalow design (these count as old where I am) clearly delineate formal and informal areas, with the back of the house for day to day living. It would be interesting to compare the study to historic usage as it may be less of a change than first glance would show.

SwellJoe 8y ago

My mom is an antique dealer of ~35 years. Her experience is consistent with the article's assertions. The market for antique furniture (and antiques, in general) has fallen off considerably.

sgt101 8y ago

I think it's just misapprehended, a lot of the crash of value is just aesthetics. People are keen on modernist shiny stuff. They don't much like fussy dark big heavy things. Dining tables are an exception; home entertaining has fallen from fashion as women are not at home all day to do the work required, people aren't doing dinner parties and they tend to have smaller families than in the past as well.

amanaplanacanal 8y ago
I'm torn. I love my modern minimalist look, but really I wouldn't mind having a houseful of all that baroque Victorian look either.
- sgt101 8y ago
  I think it's fashion, in 10 years the pendulum will swing back, somewhat.
  - 1337biz 8y ago
    Actually a good point. If I had the money I would buy up antiques as long as they are compatible with modern lifestyle/living space dimensions.
- aaronblohowiak 8y ago
  FYI: baroque period is 17th and 18th century. Victorian is in 19th to very early 20th century. There was a baroque revival in the late 19th century which complicates things :) in the world of furniture, they are distinct.

tvanantwerp 8y ago

I'd side with nonsense. The house map from that study is unfamiliar to me as an American. Growing up, our living room and family room were the same. We didn't have a separate dining room and breakfast nook. And we sure as hell didn't have a single room dedicated to a piano.

1337biz 8y ago
Grew up on the old continent. Except for the family room/front porch, this is almost the exact layout of my parents' house. Any they built it in the 80s. Even if I would build my own today... piano room would be there. Maybe mixing it Piano/Library.
resg4mp 8y ago
Also American. East coast. I've been in tons of houses with separate dining rooms, as well as living / family rooms. And yeah, nobody used em. A friend of mine growing up had both living and family room in his house. One was used all the time. The other was untouched, pristine. Like they might have even had plastic covering the furniture. We weren't supposed to play there; it was only for formal entertaining. My in laws also have a separate living room with a piano in it. And besides the off chance someone tried playing chopsticks, the room is unused. Infact, most of us put our coats there. The family room has a TV in it, so everyone goes in there. Heck, the house I grew up in had both a kitchen and dining room. I think the dining room only got used on holidays when we had guests over. Not sure why you haven't seen as much. Might have to do with the size of the house, demographics, or region. But boy, are they stupid. Rooms everyone thinks they need, but nobody uses.