Antique Architectural
Architectural Salvage—Reuse For A Beautiful Purpose
A lot has been written about recycling what can be salvaged in order to protect the environment from the overuse of landfills and extraneous waste. A great way to do your part in reclaiming and reusing where you can is to utilize architectural salvage to adorn your home and garden. Many of the vintage doors, door hardware, windows, stained glass and wrought iron pieces you find show remarkable workmanship that in many cases is unmatched today, and these types of architectural salvage antiques also offer the beauty that comes with age and the patina of use.
Antique salvage can be identified as items that are anywhere from fifty to one hundred or more years old, and are priced based on their condition, rarity, utility and beauty. If you live in a home of this same age, you can use architectural salvage pieces on your residence and they will blend in beautifully. However, you can also use antique salvage items on a newer home to give it the appearance of a vintage one as well.
Architectural reclamation is energetically sought after by historic home and building owners, because when you need to replace a window or door, for example, modern equivalents just do not come close to matching the style and design of the vintage home. Antique salvage is often found at collectables shows, which is a show where vendors specializing in antiques and architectural salvage come together to offer their wares to the public. There are also stores, both brick-and-mortar as well as online with a focus on architectural antique pieces for use inside and outside the home.
Many times, creative homeowners also use architectural salvage antiques in ways outside of their original purpose. You might take a beautiful door, for example, and re-purpose it for a magnificent large tabletop as a way of adding period ornamentation to your vintage home's dining room. Architectural reclamation can also be used as decorative elements for adding historic flair to your staircases, corners of rooms and doorways, and even as ornamentation for your garden.
Some architectural antique pieces are so well-preserved that they can be used in their current state. Others may need refurbishing and refinishing to increase their strength or to repair broken or missing parts, or simply to refinish the surface to bring the piece back to its original luster. Some historic pieces may be more valuable left in their original states with the original finishes, so this is something to research and discuss with your salvage store.
It is a great idea, if you are considering the purchase of architectural salvage, to read up on it at your library, online and to consult with knowledgeable sellers of these fine home antiques.
About the Author
Susan Slobac writes about-- architectural salvage
Wayne Towle Antique & Architectural Finishing - Furniture Refinishing & Repair, Needham, MA
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 SHABBY n CHIC ARCHITECTURAL ROSETTE HUGE CHIPPY PAINT ANTIQUE VINTAGE $29.95 Time Remaining: 12d 5h 51m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 Buy It Now |
 Antique WROUGHT Iron WINDOW GATE Architectural Salvage $74.99 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 11m |
 Antique Vintage Fancy Iron WINDOW GATE Architectural Salvage $74.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 7m |
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 Antique Architectural Trim Canton Georgia Main St Home 2 Large Corbels Painted $10.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 4d 2h 23m |
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 Antique Wooden Wood Leaded Glass Cabinet Doors Windows Architectural Salvage $32.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 53m |
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 GREAT SET OF ANTIQUE FRENCH DOORS DOUBLE DOORS ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE $399.00 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 45m |
 ANTIQUE TUTTLE BAILEY 1886 ORNATE ARCHITECTURAL HEATING GRATE VENT TRENTON $27.00 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 4h 30m |
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 A 1937 CARRARA GLASS BATHROOM DECOR ARCHITECTURAL MODERN $21.95 Time Remaining: 1h 50m |
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 FABULOUS HUGE ANTIQUE WOODEN FINIAL OLD ARCHITECTURAL PIECE MUST SEE $15.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 13m |
 Vintage John Follis Architectural Pottery Planter in Yellow California Modern $494.99 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 42m |
 Wonderful Antique Wood Pediment Architectural Salvage $39.99 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 27m |
 1948 magnet master architectural toy by chicago architect arthur carrara $99.99 Time Remaining: 19h 25m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 Buy It Now |
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 Lot 14 Antique Metal Door Knob Plates w Key Hole Architectural Salvage + PARTS $15.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 17h 49m |
 NICE ANTIQUE STAINED GLASS DOOR QUEEN ANNE ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE $250.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 4d 22h 46m |
 Antique Iron Windmill Top Blades Primitive Metal Industrial Architectural $30.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 4d 4h 9m |
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 L39 ANTIQUE VINTAGE GILT ARCHITECTURAL PEDIMENT OVER DOOR DRAPE ORNATE $44.99 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 23h 6m |
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 Vintage Antique Architectural Metal Wrought Iron Scrollwork Garden House Art $19.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 7h 39m |
 Antique Architectural Wrought Iron Salvage Gate Fence Finials Wall Garden Art $34.99 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 36m |
 Compendium: Architectural Antiques Sale Price: $409.15 See Reviews For This Product DescriptionA full overview of what can be found amongst 'construction antiquarians' today.  |
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