Victorian Antique Shop

Who Prefers Victorian Antiques Over New Furniture?

Written by lionmom on September 3, 2008 – 5:09 am -

This is a question recently posed by “manicbhpp” on an internet forum recorded by “Yahoo Answers”.  He elicited a range of responses from the participants. 
This is a question that touches on the issue of personal preferences.  Personal taste is something that it is really impossible to argue about, because everyone has their own likes and dislikes.  I personally love Victorian antiques.  However, I had an art history instructor who hated anything Victorian, decried the architectural “gingerbreading” and what she felt was the “overly ornate furniture”.  She believed that the ornamentation was a substitute for “style”.  I didn’t care, I loved it anyway. 

As you will see, a full range of opinions are expressed here.  They seem to fall into several primary categories:

Those who disliked Victorian style:  BUD said he “..sure didn’t like it”; while Dr_Phil_is_dead said to “..burn the Victorian stuff…”

Other participants said that they liked it for its craftsmanship and styling and felt that the modern furniture was not as good quality and was too similar.
 
Dirtfire said:”…in fact any period or style that uses real wood and fabric, with true craftsmanship, style and quality would please me more than almost any of today’s furniture. Most furniture made today reminds me of how most new cars are……. cut from nearly the same mold, and all plastic, all looking too similar. Carved wood, velvets, needle points, and brocades are so elegant and tasteful compared to factory tan manmade microfiber dual recliner- flopdown plastic table. Bleahhh.I’ll take a fainting couch over a beanbag anyday.  While Urban Hermit said “….modern furniture easily goes out of fashion…antiques are timeless.”

Still others preferred Victorian antiques for their “character”  Sybie said “I absolutely prefer Victorian antiques over the new styles of furniture. It has so much more character.”

Bellerosez and Happychick liked antiques for the “story they have to tell” and “the history behind things”

And lastly, there were those who qualified their answers by saying that it depended on the situation, that modern furniture was appropriate for some settings while antiques were appropriate for others.  While other liked some types of antiques such as brocade upholstry over velvet, or the comfortable over those that were not.

It was clear that there was quite a range of opinions here. I am sure that you may have your own opinion about antiques in general and Victorian antiques in particular.  Since you are visiting this site, I will assume that you are likely more positive about Victorian antiques than negative.  However, your reasons why are likely as varied as those expressed here.  I am hoping that you will share your own opinions why you like or dislike them in the “Comments” section.

Tags: gingerbreading, Victorian Antiques, Victorian Furniture, Victorian Style, Yahoo! Answers
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