Seeking advice from someone with years of experience who has closely studied antique furniture is the only sure way of safely buying in this field, but here are some handy tips on what to consider. By furniture specialist Richard Coles, director of Godson & Coles in Fulham.
1) Overall look
Stand back and look at the overall design. Is it balanced and do all the elements fit seamlessly together? In the 18th century, designers and makers had an extraordinary sense of design and rarely got it wrong. If the piece is a copy or has been altered, it will inevitably look somewhat awkward and not have the effortless flow of an original.