How to Shop at an Antique Store in Lexington, Kentucky

A real antique and a well-made reproduction can look alike at first glance, but a close look at the construction and the signs of age will help you tell them apart. You protect both your budget and your home when you know what to look for at an antique store in Lexington, Kentucky. Use the tips below to size up any antique, then see where you can track some down right here in Lexington.

Inspect the Joinery and Hardware on an Antique White Dresser

Construction details offer some of the best evidence of age. Look closely at three areas:

• Joinery: Hand-cut dovetails often vary slightly in spacing and fit, whereas perfectly uniform joints suggest machine work. Factories began using power machinery in the 1830s, so uniform joints don’t necessarily rule out a late-1800s antique.
• Hardware: Original pulls and hinges, like those on an antique wood dresser, pick up a worn patina from decades of handling, while bright, matching hardware and screws can signal replacements or a newer build.
• Fit and finish: A drawer that sticks a little or sits slightly uneven can point to a handmade build, since hand-fitted drawers rarely sit perfectly flush. A drawer that glides with machine-like precision may signal a newer piece.

Check for Natural Signs of Age in an Antique’s Finish and Wear

Decades of use leave marks on the feet, edges, and drawer fronts of furniture, and a finish often darkens and mellows with age. Natural wear shows up in a pattern; the spots that hands and floors touch most wear the most, while protected areas, such as the inside of a drawer, stay lighter.

Some makers intentionally stain and distress reproductions. So, if you're inspecting what appears to be an antique grey dresser, run a finger along the drawer fronts and the corners, and check for color that looks identical on every surface. Crisp, sharp edges and uniform color from every angle typically indicate a newer piece.

An antique white mirror may show spots or dark streaks in its reflective backing, and an antique 3-drawer nightstand may have softened corners from years of use. A piece that looks flawless and showroom-new deserves extra questions, since it could be a reproduction or an antique that someone has heavily restored.

A reproduction isn’t a dealbreaker; a good one can be a smart buy. However, you deserve to know which one you’re bringing home and pay a fair price for it.

Plan Your Antique Furniture Shopping Trip

Shopping for antique furniture goes best with a little preparation. Measure the space you want to fill before you go, including the wall height. Browse our social media and online gallery to get a feel for what’s on the floor. Then, plan an in-person visit, since our inventory changes constantly, and online photos may not reflect current availability. Seeing a piece in person also lets you check its details up close. 

Be sure to consider transportation, too. Buyers have 5 working days to pick up purchases, and we work with partner delivery companies if you need a hand bringing your new antique treasure home.

Where to Find an Antique Store in Lexington, Kentucky

Another Man’s Treasure is a unique furniture store serving the greater Lexington area. We carry a mix of new, second-hand, and closeout pieces, plus a rotating selection of antiques you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. We’ve been locally owned and family-operated since 1991, and we’ve built our name on the different, the hard-to-find, and the one-of-a-kind.

Our inventory changes often, so the antique pieces on our floor this week may be gone by next. We carefully select distinctive, quality pieces, both antique and new, that you won’t find in a big-box showroom. You never know which piece will arrive next, and when you find the one that fits your home, the search pays off.

Make an afternoon of the hunt. Stop by and see us in Lexington, Kentucky, and take your time browsing our ever-changing selection in person. If you’ve been searching for an antique store in Lexington, Kentucky, we’d love to help you find a piece worth passing down to the next generation.