What Furniture Is Considered Vintage?
marc van bekkumShare this blog
A Clear Guide from a French Vintage Furniture Expert
It is a question I hear often: what furniture is truly considered vintage — especially when searching for pieces with character, history, and quiet soul.
The word vintage appears everywhere today. In interiors, on marketplaces, across social media. It is often used generously — sometimes too generously. Furniture that merely looks old is quickly labelled vintage, while truly time-shaped pieces are sometimes overlooked.
Vintage furniture is not defined by trend or surface style. It is defined by age, craftsmanship, materials, and the quiet imprint of lived time. This guide offers a clear, experience-based answer to what qualifies as vintage furniture — and what does not.
Some of these pieces have passed through my hands over the years; others I still live with every day.
What age is considered vintage furniture?
In general, furniture is considered vintage when it is approximately 30 to 80 years old. This typically places vintage pieces between the 1940s and the late 1980s.
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Furniture older than 80–100 years is usually classified as antique
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Furniture younger than 30 years is better described as second-hand or retro
Age alone, however, is never enough. Time must be accompanied by quality and intention.
What qualifies as vintage furniture?
For furniture to truly qualify as vintage, it should reflect more than a date on a calendar. Authentic vintage furniture typically shows:
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solid, durable construction
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natural materials such as wood, stone, or metal
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design rooted in a specific historical period
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wear that feels natural, earned, and coherent
A mass-produced cabinet from the 1970s made with low-quality materials may technically be old, but it lacks the depth that defines vintage. A simple French farmhouse table from the same era, shaped by daily life, very much qualifies.
Vintage furniture is not about perfection. It is about endurance.
What is the difference between vintage and antique furniture?
The distinction is largely based on age, but also on character.
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Antique furniture is typically over 100 years old and often preserved rather than used daily
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Vintage furniture remains practical, functional, and deeply suited to contemporary living
Vintage pieces bridge past and present. They were made to be used — and they still are.
Is furniture from the 1980s or 1990s considered vintage?
Furniture from the early 1980s can sometimes be considered vintage, particularly when craftsmanship and materials remain strong.
The 1990s and later are more ambiguous. Many pieces from this period were produced quickly, cheaply, and without longevity in mind. While exceptions exist, most furniture from the 1990s does not yet carry the substance or patina associated with vintage furniture.
What is often mistaken for vintage furniture?
A common source of confusion comes from furniture that is:
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newly made in a vintage style
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artificially distressed
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reproduced at scale
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designed to look old rather than age naturally
True vintage furniture does not attempt to appear old.
It simply carries time within it.
How can you tell if furniture is truly vintage?
There are a few reliable indicators used by experienced professionals.
Construction
Look beneath the surface. Solid joinery, traditional techniques, and thoughtful assembly are key signs.
Materials
Vintage furniture relies on honest materials — not composites disguised as something else.
Patina
Wear should appear where hands naturally rest, where feet touch the floor, where drawers open and close. It should never feel staged.
Presence
Vintage furniture has weight — physically and visually. It feels grounded, calm, and settled.
Many of the pieces I encounter come from rural French homes, where furniture was made to be used daily and kept for generations.
A common mistake buyers make
Many buyers search for vintage furniture that looks untouched. In reality, furniture without signs of life is often not as old as it appears.
Patina is not damage.
It is memory made visible.
Lessons from experience
Over the years, I have seen pieces mistaken for vintage simply because they follow a trend. I have also seen humble, understated furniture overlooked despite its authenticity and quality.
There are moments when choosing not to label a piece as vintage matters more than selling it as such. Integrity is part of the craft.
Is vintage furniture a strict definition or a flexible one?
Vintage furniture exists between structure and nuance.
There are clear guidelines — age, materials, construction — but vintage is also shaped by use, intention, and survival. It is not a label applied afterward. It is something furniture becomes.
Why vintage furniture matters today
In a world driven by speed and disposability, vintage furniture offers continuity. It brings depth, texture, and quiet confidence into modern spaces.
Vintage pieces do not shout.
They anchor.
In essence
If vintage furniture can be defined in one sentence:
Vintage furniture is not simply old — it is shaped by time and still strong enough to live with today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 20-year-old furniture considered vintage?
No. Most professionals consider furniture vintage at around 30 years or older.
Does vintage furniture have to be valuable?
Not financially — but it should hold material and functional value.
Can modern furniture become vintage one day?
Only if it is built to last, both structurally and aesthetically.
About the author
With years of hands-on experience sourcing, evaluating, and living with vintage French furniture, the marc van bekkum works daily with pieces shaped by time, craftsmanship, and use. His approach values material honesty, quiet character, and furniture that continues to serve modern life without losing its past.