The belief that old equals valuable costs more money in this category than any courier ever has.
What moves the number
Maker and origin, where they can be established.
Period and style, which is not the same as a guessed date.
Condition — including honest repair, which is normal, and undeclared restoration, which is not.
Originality — original, repaired, restored, or married from parts of more than one piece. The four words.
Whether it has been refinished, which usually subtracts.
Why two of the same differ
One has its original surface and a seller who said where the repairs are. The other was polished last week. Patina is value, and removing it is not restoring it.
How to find out rather than guess
Compare completed sales of the same form, maker and period, in similar condition. For unattributed pieces, compare on size, material and quality of work.
Where you cannot identify something, say so and start low. In this category the room is frequently better informed than the seller, and the bidding is a real valuation.
Why a valuation is not a price
An insurance or replacement valuation answers a different question from "what will somebody pay for this today". Do not price against one.
Questions people ask
Should I restore before selling?
Almost never. Buyers here often prefer honest damage to an unknown repair.
Is a married piece worthless?
No — worth less than an original, and perfectly saleable when declared.
Does woodworm destroy value?
It reduces it and must be disclosed, with whether it is old and inactive.
More: pricing antiques, selling antiques.