The value of a vintage piece comes from four things: proof of maker or designer, condition, rarity and current demand. You never estimate it realistically from a single asking price, but from the range that comparable pieces in similar condition have actually sold for. How to find that range, and what raises or destroys value, is what this guide covers — and if you want to sell, the direct route is selling at 2nd home.

The four factors that make the price

• Proof: A legible maker's or control stamp, a signature or serial number is the strongest value driver. Our guides on Thonet, Bauhaus classics and the LC series show where to find them.
• Condition: Patina builds value, damage does not. Grown surfaces, intact veneer and original upholstery count; cracks, missing parts and poor repairs push the price down.
• Rarity: Early editions, discontinued series, unusual colours and covers are scarcer than the standard version, and the market pays for scarcity.
• Demand: Values are snapshots. What the interior world currently loves rises; what is out of fashion waits. That is why ranges are more honest than single figures.

An asking price is not market value

The most common estimating mistake: taking the highest asking price you can find as your own value. Listings are wishes. What matters is what comparable pieces have actually fetched, and even that is a range, not a number. A realistic view takes the lower and upper end of sold comparables and places your own piece in between, according to condition and proof.

How to research comparable prices

1. Identify first, then search: Model number, maker and designer are better search terms than descriptions. The tricks are in our guide on finding vintage furniture.
2. Several sources: A single platform only shows its own market. Only several sources add up to a picture.
3. Normalise for condition: A comparable price only holds for comparable condition. Restoration needs belong subtracted from the value.
4. Use real ranges: Our category guides, for instance on USM Haller and Danish teak, carry measured price ranges from active, curated listings with an as-of date.

What destroys value

The most expensive mistakes happen before the sale: radical sanding that wipes out patina and often the markings. Lacquering oiled surfaces. Replacing handles and fittings without need. And painted-over or sanded-off stamps that turn a provable original into an anonymous piece of furniture. The rule is simple: gentle cleaning yes, substantial interventions only by a professional and only when the damage is bigger than the intervention.

The three most common estimating mistakes

• Believing the top price: The most expensive listing on the internet is not evidence, just the most optimistic seller.
• Pricing in memories: Emotional value is real, but not sellable. The market pays for proof, condition and rarity.
• Overrating your own condition: Other eyes see the scratches you have overlooked for years. Daylight photos help you stay honest.

When is a professional appraisal worth it?

If you suspect an early original, unusual provenance or a value well into four figures, get an expert look before you sell or restore. A photo of stamp, construction and overall condition is half the work.

Selling through 2nd home

If you want to realise the value rather than just know it: every piece sold through 2nd home goes through curation — condition, origin and classification are checked and described honestly, and your furniture reaches buyers who are specifically looking for vintage and design classics. How it works is on selling at 2nd home.

Frequently asked questions

Why do online prices for the same model differ so much?
Because condition, edition, proof and platform differ. That is exactly why only the range of sold comparables leads to a realistic figure.

Does restoration lower the value?
Professional, restrained work usually does not. Radical interventions like sanding and re-lacquering almost always do.

Is old IKEA furniture really worth something?
Discontinued series with proof can be. Classification and examples live among the IKEA vintage furniture.

Does 2nd home appraise my furniture?
When you sell through us, curation classifies every submitted piece and advises on a realistic price, honestly and based on real market data.