# Would I Destroy The Value of This Sofa? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533 "2012-12-19T15:51:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/1 "2012-12-19T15:51:27Z")
My wife bought an antique sofa at a yard sale. It is in excellent condition-except that the springs are coming loose, and the velvet cushions are faded. I would like to restore it (repaint/regild the frame), replace the faded fabric, and replace the springs with foam pads. Would I destroy any value it had by doing this? It has no identification on it-I suspect its from the 1920’s-so almost certainly a reproduction. Should I get some expert opinions before I do this? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/2 "2012-12-19T17:05:10Z")
From years of watching _Antiques Roadshow_, yes, you would destroy any antique value by repairing/refinishing/reupholstering. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/3 "2012-12-19T17:45:56Z")
My experience with Antiques Roadshow and similar shows lead me to suspect that there is no antique value in that sofa. Most old stuff isn’t worth anything. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/4 "2012-12-19T17:59:27Z")
Yes, you would destroy the antique value…which is currently zero. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/5 "2012-12-19T20:29:24Z")
Do you have a picture? I ask out of idle curiosity and an interest in decorating more than anything. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/6 "2012-12-19T20:50:58Z")
Link: [http://www.ebay.com/itm/French-Empire-Settee-/140897559423?pt=Antiques\_Furniture&hash=item20ce26237f](http://www.ebay.com/itm/French-Empire-Settee-/140897559423?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item20ce26237f) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/7 "2012-12-19T21:44:52Z")
IANA antique furniture expert (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express). You can do some research to find out if it is rare or unusual. But I’ve seen plenty of furniture like that get resold after reupholstering. It’s possible it’s already been refinished and reupholstered in it’s lifetime. Unless it’s a rare collector’s item it will have more value after being refurbished than before. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/8 "2012-12-20T12:42:03Z")
It almost certainly doesn’t have much monetary value anyway, and are you expecting to sell it on or just use it? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-destroy-the-value-of-this-sofa/644533/9 "2012-12-20T13:19:16Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > From years of watching _Antiques Roadshow_, yes, you would destroy any antique value by repairing/refinishing/reupholstering. Reupholstering typically doesn’t devalue a piece of antique furniture. I’ve seen one of the Keno twins reupholster seat cushions on pieces worth well over 6 figures.