Most furniture made before 1980 was built to be repaired. Most furniture made after 2005 was built to be replaced. That one fact explains why estate furniture is usually the best value in the secondhand market — and why the price tags confuse people in both directions.
Worth buying almost every time
Solid-hardwood case goods. Dressers, commodes, desks and library tables built from oak, walnut, mahogany or teak. The quartersawn oak library table in our current catalogue has figure you cannot buy new at retail price.
Chairs with corner blocks. Flip the chair and look under the seat: wooden blocks glued and screwed across each corner mean it was built to be sat on for decades. The Louis XVI-style fauteuils in The Vault are seventy-plus years old and still tight.
Small tables with age. Tilt-tops, nesting sets, two-tier side tables. Old small tables were built like furniture; new ones are built like packaging.
Worth buying if the price is right
Upholstered pieces with good frames. Recovering costs real money — get a quote in the room, not after you're home.
Veneered mid-century case goods. Fine when the core is solid or plywood; see our guide to solid wood vs. veneer.
Unfashionable eras. Edwardian and Mission oak are currently priced far below their build quality. Fashion moves; joinery doesn't.
Skip it
Anything with visible particleboard sag. Water-ringed veneer over MDF. Mattresses. Most electronics. Anything with a motor and a smell.
Why estate-run pricing works for buyers
Every piece we list is measured and photographed exhaustively, with condition stated up front — because our sales are final except wrong-item or damage. A firm-sale policy obligates the seller to show you everything before you commit. That's the trade, and it favors careful buyers.
Frequently asked questions
Is estate furniture sanitary?
Wood cleans completely. Upholstery depends on condition — smell it before you buy it, and budget for cleaning or recovering.
How do I get large pieces home?
Our lots ship or can be picked up locally in Charlotte — the listing states which. Bring a second pair of hands and blankets for pickups.
Why is some estate furniture so cheap and some so expensive?
Price follows maker, materials and provenance, not size. A small signed piece can be worth more than a full bedroom set. Browse the furniture collection to see the range.