Antiques & furniture
Nobody in the family has room for the dining set.
Brown furniture is out of fashion and everybody knows it.
The mahogany dining suite that cost a fortune in 1978 will not fetch what the family expects, and the estate sale people know it before you do. Meanwhile the good pieces — the silver, the rugs, the signed lamp, the clock nobody looked at twice — get bundled in with the ordinary ones and go for a fraction of what they’re worth to the right buyer.
We look at things individually. What deserves a specialist auction goes to one; what’s solid, useful furniture rather than an antique goes to a family who needs a table to eat at. Both outcomes beat a house clearance where everything leaves at the same price per truckload.
We take period and antique furniture, sterling and silver plate flatware and hollowware, rugs and carpets, clocks and barometers, chandeliers and sconces, Asian antiques and jade, ceramics and porcelain, architectural and garden antiques, linens and textiles, and quality modern furniture in good condition. What sells funds education and cultural programs, and supports partner organizations working where money is scarcest — and what’s better used than sold goes directly to group homes and families setting up a household from nothing.
Piece by piece
Not one price for the whole truckload.
48 hrs
Typical time to hear back from us.
We collect
Large pieces picked up at our cost.
Tell us what you have
One short form. A real person from our team replies within two business days — no obligation, no pressure.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (888) 228‑7320
Four steps, and we do three of them
You don’t need to know what anything is before you send photographs.
1
You photograph the rooms
Wide shots are enough to start. Close-ups of maker’s marks, silver hallmarks and the backs of case pieces help if you can manage them.
2
We tell you what we see
Within two business days. We’ll flag anything that deserves a specialist auction or its own appraisal rather than quietly absorbing it into a lot.
3
We collect
Large pieces are picked up at our cost, wrapped and moved properly. Smaller items you can ship if that’s easier, and that cost is generally deductible to you.
4
Your paperwork arrives
A receipt at collection, then documentation of what was received for your deduction.
Questions people ask us about antiques
How do I know whether it’s an antique or just old furniture?
You don’t need to. That’s our job, and the distinction matters less than people think — a solid oak table that isn’t remotely collectible is still exactly what a family furnishing an empty apartment needs. Send photographs and we’ll tell you which route each piece takes.
Will you take the whole house?
Yes, and estates are among the most useful things we handle. Executors are usually working to a deadline with a property that has to be emptied. Tell us the timescale and we’ll work to it.
What about silver, rugs and clocks specifically?
All strong categories. Sterling flatware and hollowware, Persian and Oriental rugs, longcase and mantel clocks, Tiffany-style and period lighting, jade and Asian ceramics — these are the pieces most often undervalued in a general house clearance, so photograph them properly and mention them by name.
Some pieces need repair. Is that a problem?
Usually not. Loose joints, worn upholstery, a clock that doesn’t run and missing veneer are all normal for age and often worth restoring. What we generally can’t take is anything with woodworm, water damage, heavy smoke odor or structural failure — that costs more to move and treat than it will ever return.
Do you charge for collection?
No. Large furniture and estate lots are collected at our cost, and we bring the right equipment and packing for fragile things. Smaller items donors sometimes ship themselves, and that cost is generally deductible to you as part of the gift. Nothing is collected until we’ve agreed what we’re taking.
What can I deduct?
Generally fair market value for items in good condition, and we document what was received. Estate lots and single strong pieces clear $5,000 more often than people expect, and above that the IRS requires a qualified independent appraisal, arranged and paid for by you.
More on deductions, paperwork and timing — all donor FAQs
Collectibles with Causes
Our dedicated site covers this category in more depth — period identification, hallmarks, and how estate lots are assessed and placed. Antique donations, valued properly
You don’t need it to donate. The form on this page starts everything, and our team handles it from there.
Large furniture? We have local crews in two states
In California and Florida we work with transporters who collect furniture directly and place it with group homes, families setting up a household, and other nonprofits — often within days rather than weeks. If you are in either state and the pieces are large, start there: California furniture pickup or Florida furniture pickup.
Everywhere else, and for anything antique or high value wherever you are, use the form on this page.
Ready to find out what’s actually worth something?
Send photographs of the rooms. There is no obligation, and we’ll tell you piece by piece.