Collecting antique furniture is really a very rewarding endeavor.
However, it is very important that before you start buying pieces you do your homework.
One of the things that makes a big difference is being able to recognize the different styles of antique furniture.
Being able to recognize the different style will help you date them and evaluate them.
Though Canadian antique furniture is not a style of its own but is based on many of the major style of history it none the less is unique in its character.
So what is unique about Canadian antique furniture? Well depending on where in Canada the furniture was made it certainly will have a different look and feel to it.
In Quebec and eastern Canada the French influence is certainly evident.
Those who created these pieces of furniture just loved to paint.
Not only that but as they have been passed down from one generation to the next, they were painted and repainted time and again.
This means that there are quite a few layers of paints on them.
They were usually painted in colors of red, blue and yellow.
Some enthusiasts like to try and strip away all the extra layers in order to reveal the original way it was painted in.
If you check around I'm sure you could find an Empire chest from the 1800s.
A chest like this usually has two drawers over three and is often built by master craftsmen out of Cherry wood, bird's eye Maple, or Tiger maple.
It is not easy to find an example like this that is well-preserved and in marvelous condition but they can be found.
With some persistence you could also find a fabulous Queen Victoria pressback rocker, from around 1900.
It truly would be a fabulous find if it was in unrefinished condition with its darken patina blackened through time.
This is how you wish you could find all the antique furniture you are looking for.
It is always wise to do some research before traveling across the border or to a new area of Canada to try and locate places to check out.
The internet is a very useful tool for doing this.
Though not all the place in small communities have a presence on the web certainly the large shops will.
These shops may not be where you want to buy because their prices can be a bit higher than the small shops but you don't want to travel for nothing.
And while you're at the larger shops you can see some great examples and maybe a larger variety of Canadian antique furniture.
While you're in the area you should also check out some of the flea markets or thrift stores you'd be surprised by what you might find.
You can also shop for Canadian antique furniture without leaving your home by shopping online.
This could be done by finding a dealer or dealers online that might have what you're looking for.
One big problem buying this way is you aren't able to inspect the furniture yourself before purchasing it.
You also could look at any one of a number of online auctions like eBay.
But dealing online always has the same problems.
That all means you need to only shop where the dealer has a very good and reputable business.
Do your research well when it comes to buying Canadian antique furniture so you have a good amount of knowledge before you start shopping.
This knowledge you help keep you from making mistakes and help you negotiate the best deals.
Canadian antique furniture has an ambiance of its own and brings that into your home.
It gives you a relaxed country feel.
So if you are anxious to relax when you come home by having a country feel to your home then this furniture just what you are looking for.