Incollect Magazine - Issue 4

2023 Incollect Magazine 103 Condition is the next aspect. A piece in bad condition got that way for a reason. Was it poorly made to begin with or was it just badly abused? There is poorly made 18th-century furniture, just as there is badly designed 18th-century furniture. There are a couple of things that will denote condition pretty quickly — is there any color, for example? No color would indicate that something has been done that should not have been, such as replacements, or stripping and sanding. Other things such as new hardware, new legs, new anything indicates that there has been an issue. It may be completely resolved, but it is nice to know that it existed in the first place — it’s sort of like knowing the mileage of the used car you are buying, except perhaps that you want more mileage, rather than less. 3 condition clues George II drop leaf mahogany tables suffer endless damage along the hinges unless the craftsmanship is good. This table is relatively unscathed and a deep rich color, with each section a single board. Carved knees and ball and claw feet on tables this size, over 5½ feet in diameter, are rare. From Clinton Howell Antiques.