I love antiques and antique shopping. It was my mom who got me into antique hunting. So I can happily blame her for my obsession. Our antique shopping forays went on for decades. It was during these antique excursions that I learned about furniture quality and construction.

Good antique furniture was highly priced on the market a few years back, but with the housing crisis and recession fewer people are buying and antique furniture has also dropped in price. Even the highly prized Arts and Crafts movement pieces are priced better now. Checking auctions results, I notice most furniture items barely reached or were sold under expectations

Much higher in quality than most anything new on the market now, antique furniture runs the gamut of styles and trends. You can find items from modern mid-century to ornate Victorian at pricing that is lower than normal. It’s a good time bargain hunt.

When I wondered in to Studio Antiques in El Segundo, I wondered in to my favorite kind of antique stores. A little cluttered and dusty with a bit of everything. It’s not an upscale showroom setting, but a treasure hunt with real treasures. Several antique clothing armoires that caught my fancy. These were thinner British Armoires and most came in at $260- $550 with my favorite Art Nouveau Armoire coming in at only $450. Normally I’d expect to pay $650-$700. Years ago these would have been $800-$950 each. Several larger ones were up between $1400 - $1800 and were stunning pieces. A round mahogany art deco curio cabinet was well priced at $698. An Antique art deco sideboard was well priced at $330 as was an oak highboy dresser at $298. An old 1920’s double school desk was $225 and a really nice, English oak sideboard hutch was $950. This would go for $1100 or more elsewhere. Though a bit highly priced, a stunning English oak secretary side by side was in mint condition at $2400.

There are other goodies here in pottery, artwork, jewelry and other Bric a brack, though the pricing seems to be about average market on these items. A green glass 1940’s glass dresser set was $98. The deals here seemed to be in furniture pieces.

Shopping here is part rummaging and part treasure hunting, so a little work and a sharp eye is needed. Many items are not priced, but the furniture pricing here tends to run 15%-25% lower than other antique dealers. When you find a piece you like, do talk to the owners to get an idea of the pricing. They seem to be willing to dicker a bit. The pricing here is very reasonably for the quality though you should be willing to do a little polishing and waxing as some items are not in pristine condition.

Their Richmond St store is having a 33% off storewide sale (except on consigned items) and the El Segundo store has the same 33% off everything except brand new arrivals. So that English side by side secretary priced at $2400 would come down to $1680 making it a heck of a good buy. But the sale won’t last forever, so antique enthusiast should march on over and pounce. Oh and I am still mulling over the Art Nouveau armoire. I need to convince “him” that we need it.

Studio Antiques
337 Richmond St., El Segundo CA 90245
and
401 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 322-3895 Phone
(310) 416-1233 Phone
info@studioantiques.com

They have a website www.studioantiques.com and an Ebay store so you can peruse and then pick up if you want http://stores.ebay.com/Studio-Antiques

Suzanne O'Connor