Although replicas can be as beautiful as original pieces of antique furniture, they're devoid of the rich history that real antiques carry which can be a great asset when you incorporate it in your own life. It is for that very reason that antique collectors and affluent home owners seek after antique furniture for their living room, bedroom, dining room, and even kitchen. Many businesses also have antique furniture in their offices.

It's interesting to note that some furniture in the early periods was provided by nature as primitive folks lived off nature's bounty, and mainly served as basic functional utility. However, with the evolution of time and culture, many antique furniture pieces served more decorative than functional purposes. This has progressed for quite some time and has been confirmed through different excavations conducted over time. In today's world this trend goes a step further in that the possession of antique furniture is indicative of one's social stature. 

Furniture styles changed over time throughout Europe and Asia, giving furniture makers the opportunity to artistically express their talents. Hence, antique furniture dealing also became profitable. The variety of creations of these periods led experts to categorize antique furniture into different groups such as:

• Medieval

• Elizabethan

• Jacobean

• Restoration

• Queen Anne

• Gregorian

• Victorian

A lot of enthusiasm for antique furniture developed in the 1950's, redefining what these pieces of collectible utility would mean to collectors, the average consumer, and dealers.

So, where can you find antique furniture today? You can certainly visit your local antique furniture stores as well as specialty and retail shops specializing in antique furniture. However, the number and quality of items vary greatly among retailers. Therefore, it's always a good idea to do enough research so you will have some knowledge of what to look for in antique furniture and what kind of price you can expect to pay.

There're plenty of resources online to help with your research. While you're on the internet, you should also check out some antique furniture on eBay. There're many different types such as antique Chinese furniture, American antique furniture, and antique French furniture just to name a few. As with many other things, you can expect to find some great bargains there.