Buying an antique without seeing it in person takes a certain amount of trust. That trust has to be earned with information — not just a good photograph. Here's what actually matters when you're evaluating a piece online.
What Is Provenance, and Why It Matters
Provenance is simply the documented history of an object: where it came from, roughly when it was made, and how it has passed through hands since. It doesn't just satisfy curiosity — it's what separates a genuine antique from a convincing reproduction, and it's what protects the value of a piece if you ever choose to sell or insure it.
How We Verify Authenticity
Every antique in our antiques collection — clocks, sculptures, jewellery caskets, tapestries — is hand-selected across Europe and evaluated on its materials, construction technique and period-consistent detailing before it's listed. Where documentation exists, it's included with the piece. We describe condition honestly, including wear consistent with genuine age, rather than presenting an item as flawless.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Buy
- What is the approximate period or date of the piece, and how was that estimated?
- Is there any restoration, and if so, what was done?
- What is the material construction — solid metal, plated, veneered?
- What documentation, if any, accompanies the piece?
A seller who can answer these clearly is generally one worth buying from.
Living With Antiques
An antique clock or sculpture doesn't need a museum setting to earn its place — it needs a home where it will actually be seen and used. Most of the pieces we source, from mantel clocks to classical busts, were made to be lived with, not preserved behind glass.
Read more about how we source and select every piece in our story, or browse the current antiques collection.