What we know today as antique makeup vanities had their beginnings in the 18th century. It was a time when fops came on the scene. So these vanity, mirror, and bench sets were accoutrements used by gentlemen. It was only a little later when the ladies caught on. Now, when the ladies want to doll themselves up and look pretty, this is the furniture just for that purpose. Of course, men still use them too.
In today’s antique markets, the best examples of a genuine antique makeup vanity are French 18th century period pieces. They are known as elaborate, handmade pieces, richly carved out of the best woods. Oak, cherry, maple, and mahogany were popular choices. Artisans inlaid them with ivory or mother-of-pearl. These woods last longer than wood employed for mechanized furniture making in our time.
If you’re looking for genuine antiques, they’re sure to have a hefty price tag. But many furniture makers today make modern reproductions of these styles. They use the same woods, designs, fabrication methods and finishes. These vanities are updated with new original designs, built-in lights and additional storage areas.
By definition, antique vanities, the real ones can also come from other historical periods. Furniture, including some vanities from 1876, when the U.S. celebrated its centennial have patriotic motifs on them. The cylindrical foot on an antique vanity is the elongated bulb foot that’s found on 18th and early 19th century furniture. The trumpet leg was a feature of the furniture style typical of the mid-17th and early 18th century. Finding a vanity with these legs would make it a very valuable antique. One very unique antique vanity is the Japanese kyodai, a mirrored dressing stand, used by coiffed geisha in kimono way back in the 1600s.
Antique Bedroom Vanities
As they age, these antiques appreciate in value. For your teenager’s bedroom, browse among the many antique bedroom vanity collections. They’re an invaluable coming of age gift for a young lady. This depends, of course, on the rest of her room décor. But with such a beautiful and precious centerpiece, you’d want to make the whole room over.
Antique Bath Vanities
Antique bathroom vanities add an aesthetic touch to that room. Find an antique bathroom vanity with a wide enough marble countertop. An antique white bathroom vanity would look less heavy than its equivalent with darker finishes. An antique bath vanity with a darker finish would add old-world charm to a lighter-colored bathroom.
Buying a furniture piece for the home is never a casual enterprise. You’ll spend hours online, with antique suppliers, in flea markets, looking for that antique make-up vanity that looks just right. When you finally find one, you’ll know it was worth all the time it took to find one.
Leave a Reply