I remember some years ago at an antiques fair in London having a particularly pretty corner washstand on sale. One lady looked at it and went away mumbling 'It's what I want but I don't want to make a decision now'. When she returned half an hour later I was selling it to a second lady. FIGHTING NEARLY BROKE OUT AS THE FIRST LADY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT IN SO SHORT A TIME I COULD HAVE FOUND ANOTHER CUSTOMER.

Ever after my advice has been;
1. If you like it
2. If you need it
3. If you can afford it
4. Then buy it.

Now is probably the best time to buy antiques and particularly antique furniture since the late 1980s.

With the exception of very rare pieces, prices have remained very stable and in some cases have come down.

Be it our wine merchant, our dentist, our solicitor or our doctor, we tend to try and find someone we like and someone we feel we can trust. In the case of antiques we also want to have sympathy with the style or stock held by the dealer.

If you have someone near you who fills those criteria then make friends with them and I would hope that they would look after you and help you to furnish your home or to build a collection.

Obviously, members of responsible trade associations are worth seeking out, as are exhibitors in Antiques Fairs where proper vetting takes place. This is a system whereby all the pieces for sale are looked at by committees of experts to ensure, as far as is possible, the objects for sale are genuine and correctly labelled.

The Trusted Experts on the site will advice you about restoration and many other matters related to what we hope will be a very enjoyable and at times profitably hobby and past time.

Information compiled by Roger Heath-Bullock - www.heath-bullocks.com