Antique Furniture Restoration
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Overview
Antique furniture restoration preserves and restores valuable antiques using period-appropriate techniques and materials.
With antique furniture market strong and proper restoration critical for value, restoration generates revenue of $110,000-$390,000 with 70-85% margins.
The business requires skilled workshop, traditional tools and techniques, finishing materials, historical knowledge, and insurance.
Services include antique furniture conservation, veneer and inlay repair, French polishing, period-appropriate hardware, structural repair, and appraisal assistance.
Pricing typically $500-$3,000+ per piece.
Success factors include historical furniture knowledge and period techniques, understanding conservation vs restoration, working with collectors and dealers, maintaining antique value through proper restoration, and reputation for quality work.
Most focus on specific periods or styles.
Marketing focuses on antique dealers, collectors, estate sales, and furniture shows.
With antique furniture valuable and requiring expert restoration in 2025, antique restoration offers heritage opportunities requiring advanced expertise.
Required Skills
- Antique furniture knowledge
- Period restoration techniques
- French polishing
- Veneer and inlay work
- Conservation principles
- Historical finishes
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very high per-piece revenue
- Working with valuable antiques
- Specialized expertise
- Collector and dealer market
- Preservation satisfaction
Cons
- Advanced skills required
- High responsibility for value
- Long training period
- Expensive mistakes risk
- Niche market
How to Get Started
- Develop restoration expertise
- Study furniture history
- Learn period techniques
- Set up traditional workshop
- Build antique dealer network
- Get insurance
- Focus on quality reputation
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