Do you want to sell antiques in Florence or anywhere in Italy? Contact us now for more information.

APPRAISAL AND PURCHASE

OF CONSOLES, MIRRORS, AND BRONZE CANDLEHOLDERS WITH IMMEDIATE PAYMENT

Do you have valuable antique furniture? Let us assess its worth

Berti Antichità has been specializing in the purchase and sale of antiques across Italy for decades. We buy your antique consoles, mirrors, and bronze candleholders. Whether it's individual pieces or entire collections, including significant estates, we provide immediate payment. Send us a photo via WhatsApp, and we will get back to you promptly.

Berti Antichità offers appraisal services for antique furniture in Tuscany and throughout Italy. We specialize in items such as antique consoles, mirrors, and candleholders. On-site visits are always free, and the transportation of items is handled by Berti Antichità. Please note that visits are conducted only for serious sales inquiries. A market appraisal can only be performed by a professional, and Berti Antichità has been active in the antiques market since 1956.

The benefits of selling antiques with immediate payment include liquidity, transaction confidentiality, and the security of selling your items. Thanks to Berti Antiquariato's international reach, turning to a professional in the field ensures a reliable outcome.

Appraising and Purchasing Antique Consoles and Candleholders: Key Valuation Criteria

The first thing to consider when appraising an antique console, mirror, or bronze candleholder is the object's era—when it was made. A piece is considered antique only if it is original and built in the specific era of the referenced style. Otherwise, it cannot be classified as antique furniture.

Another important aspect is the condition of the item: the quality of the wood and other premium materials, the craftsmanship of carvings, and the construction and finishing techniques. Beyond these objective criteria, the overall aesthetic appeal of the piece is another factor, one that can only be assessed by a professional, such as an experienced antique dealer.

History of Antique Consoles

Emerging as a variation of the table, the console gained prominence in France during the 16th century and became more refined during the Renaissance. At this time, consoles were crafted with meticulous attention to detail, featuring elaborate carvings and rich decorations.There are two main types of consoles: one with two front legs and the other with four legs.

Consoles are designed to lean against a wall, as they are finished on three sides, leaving the fourth side unfinished. Antique consoles were often statement pieces, frequently paired with antique mirrors and bronze candleholders displayed above them.The antique console is the epitome of versatile furniture, evolving and adapting to the style of each era.

The design and materials of antique consoles varied by period and region, ranging from simple wooden constructions to gilded or lacquered wood pieces.

We assess your antique console—contact us via WhatsApp at +39 335 281 522 or email bertiantic@gmail.com.

History of Mirrors

The first antique mirror dates back to 3000 BCE. The mirror, as we know it today, emerged in the late Middle Ages. Its production was a challenging process, which only gained prominence during the Renaissance in Florence, thanks to the invention of the low-temperature lead backing technique.

It was only after this innovation that the Venetians rose to prominence. With their glass polishing and flattening techniques—allowing for perfectly flat and smooth mirrors—patented by Vincenzo Redor, they established a monopoly. This technique was so secretive and protected by the authorities that master glassmakers were confined to the island of Murano, almost like prisoners.

Despite these measures, Venice could not fully protect its trade secrets. Glassmakers faced great risks, the greatest of which was losing their lives or endangering their families. Nevertheless, some managed to escape and seek refuge in France. Soon, Venice found itself with a formidable competitor in France. Under Colbert’s direction, some Venetian glassmakers were bribed, enabling French production to reach high levels of quality by 1665, with widespread use in Baroque architecture.

From the 16th century until the mid-19th century, the mirror’s reflective effect was achieved using mercury combined with tin. This gave mirrors a sparkling appearance, but the process was extremely expensive. In 1835, German chemist Justus von Liebig invented the silvered mirror. This new process enabled large-scale production, making mirrors more affordable and accessible to all.

We Evaluate and Purchase Antique Mirrors, Consoles, and Candleholders
We buy antiques. Call us for more information or send us a photo at +39 335 281 522 via WhatsApp or email bertiantic@gmail.com.

Berti Antichità since 1956, we have been active in the world of antiques.

A Little History

HISTORICAL NOTES ON ANTIQUE CONSOLES AND MIRRORS

Antique Consoles

Born as a variation of the table, the console gained prominence and found its place in France. In the 16th century, during the Renaissance, it garnered greater attention: it began to be crafted with meticulous detail, richly decorated, and carved. There are two types of consoles: one with two front legs and the other with four legs.

Consoles are necessarily placed against a wall since they are finished on three sides but not on the fourth side, which rests against the wall.

The antique console was a piece of representational furniture, often adorned with antique mirrors and bronze candelabras above it.

The console is the epitome of versatile furniture, capable of evolving and adapting to every era. The style and materials of antique consoles vary depending on the period and geographical region. Antique consoles could be made simply of wood, gilded wood, or lacquered.

We evaluate your antique console contact us via WhatsApp at +39 335 281 522 or send an email to bertiantic@gmail.com.

Mirrors:

The first antique mirror dates back to 3000 BCE. The mirror, as we know it today, emerged in the late Middle Ages. Its production was a challenging process, which only gained prominence during the Renaissance in Florence, thanks to the invention of the low-temperature lead backing technique.

It was only after this that the Venetians rose to prominence. With their glass polishing and flattening technique, which allowed for perfectly flat and regular mirrors—patented by Vincenzo Redor—they established a monopoly. This production method was so secretive and protected by the authorities that master glassmakers were confined to the island of Murano, almost like prisoners. Even so, the Venetians were unable to completely safeguard their manufacturing secrets. Despite the enormous risks they faced—chief among them the possibility of losing their lives or endangering their families—some glassmakers managed to escape and seek refuge in France.

Soon, Venice found itself with a competitor in France. Under Colbert, some Venetian glassmakers were bribed, enabling French production to reach exceptional levels by 1665. This development led to a widespread use of mirrors in Baroque architecture.From the 16th century until the mid-19th century, the reflective effect of mirrors was achieved using mercury combined with tin. This gave mirrors a sparkling appearance; however, such processes were extremely costly. In 1835, German chemist Justus von Liebig invented the silvered mirror. This new method allowed for large-scale production, making mirrors accessible to everyone.

We Evaluate and Purchase Antique Mirrors, Consoles, and Candelabras
We buy antiques! Call us for more information or send a photo via WhatsApp at +39 335 281 522 or email us at bertiantic@gmail.com.

Berti Antichità since 1956, we have been active in the world of antiques.