Becoming a furniture appraiser requires education, field research, and an encyclopedic knowledge of furniture styles, materials, and markings. Appraisers must also stay current on trends and prices to provide solid estimates. Education alone is not enough, and evaluators often appraise thousands of pieces of furniture and find apprentice positions to gain experience.
Television shows like the “Antiques Roadshow” helped popularize the world of furniture appraisal. One of the primary jobs of a furniture appraiser is to estimate the value, age, and producer of furniture parts. If you want to become a furniture appraiser, you will need to dedicate years of your life to education and field research. Fortunately, there are a number of schools and real-world opportunities that can help you build your knowledge base and become an evaluator.
To become a furniture appraiser, you need a sharp set of eyes and a talent for research. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking at an antique desk, an antique desk, or a department store knockoff, you need to evaluate the work and know how much it’s worth and where it came from. This requires an encyclopedic knowledge of furniture styles, materials, and markings.
Based on your findings, you’ll also need to provide an estimated value for a piece of furniture. This means that you must understand not only the history of the furniture, but also what the current market demand for a piece is. Many items gain value over the years, and some fluctuate wildly; therefore, if you become a furniture appraiser, you must stay current on trends and prices in order to provide solid estimates.
Gaining these skills is not a process that happens overnight or even over years. Education never stops if you want to become a furniture appraiser. There are rarely educational requirements for the job, but many appraisers study fine art or art history in college. This course teaches students about artistic values in various works and how to research art history. These skills are used by furniture appraisers on a daily basis.
Education alone is not enough, and some evaluators skip the classroom altogether. No matter how you start on your path to becoming a furniture appraiser, you will first need to appraise thousands of pieces of furniture in order to gain the understanding and confidence you need to consider yourself an appraiser. If you want to deepen your understanding, find an apprentice position at an antique shop or antique furniture gallery. These places will have expert raters you can learn from.
After inspecting countless chairs, tables, sofas, and more, you’ll be able to accurately assess furniture. The research and artistic skills required won’t be easy, but it will provide an incredible understanding of history as seen through the furniture. With ongoing study and passion for this art, you will be able to evaluate any item.
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