The world of antiques is probably one of the most fascinating, challenging and, to newcomer, one of the most confusing and impenetrable. The complete antique guide covers all the essential categories of interest, such as porcelain, glass, clocks, textiles and furniture. Antiques are compilation of many styles from many periods and countries. Keen collectors have extensive understanding of what is collectable and how to identify and compare.
Unlike chairs or tables, cabinets and safes have changed radically throughout their history. While their function has always been primarily for storage, in certain period, particularly during 18th century, they became a symbol of the owner’s wealth and position in society. As such, they were displayed in a prominent position in the main room of the house, the drawing room.
Truth is that every safe in particular is valuable as well as extremely beautiful. Antique wooden safe are special in creating a history. They are all hand constructed and many people argue them as works of art. During the 13th century, the wooden safes were simply hollowed-out logs with outsides squared off and the lids attached by raised peg hinges. The next advance was a safe constructed from roughly hewn boards that were fixed together with wooden dowel pegs, shaping the taller ends formed simple feet.
They were made secured by crude iron strap hinges and locks. Most decoration was crude, although the earliest forms of carving are found as well as some paintwork. The next major development was made in late 15th and early 16th centuries, was the frame or panel safes. The panels were simply fitted loose into grooves in the style, rails and muntins, which allowed for shrinkage without the wood splitting. This time onwards, many wooden safes were highly carved. By 16th century decorative inlays of bone and of wood were as found. Early patterns includes linen fold pattern, which perhaps mimics the natural ripple in the wood. Carving became more and more extensive during 17th century. Giving each wooden safe the distinctive style of manufacture and decoration. Same era introduced the mirror plates or hand blown glass door to many safes.
From there new style and kinds of safes came to the world of furniture. The basic types of safes were the moslers safes, the die bold safes, circa and victor etc. They were made for storage purpose; later their versatile looks made them an important part of decoration and symbol of an elite class. Now all these characteristics made the antique collectors to keep them in the priority. An antique lover try to look for the best condition oldest safe, especially they collect which was in use of most important historical figure.
Antique pie safe is the most commonly used wooden safe as it is contracted purely with the pinewood. It was introduced by the Germans to united state. They used it for storing the food articles such as cakes, bread, pie and other bakery. It is very useful in kitchen; it adds a decorative style to it. Especially with the beautiful carving of flowers and leaves. Now a days many people place in the bathroom for placing towels in them.
For the antique collectors antique wooden safes are available in many online shops and antique stores. All one need is know the technique to distinguish between antique and fake antique safes.
