The art of seeing what others miss

The best flea-market find is rarely the one that looks most impressive on the shelf. More often it comes down to material, proportion and craftsmanship – or to seeing the potential behind a scratch, the wrong colour or a layer of dust. This is Prestaged's guide to what we look for before anything comes home with us.

1. Start with the material

Try to look past colour and surface and ask instead: what is the piece actually made of?

Solid wood, stone, glass, metal and well-made ceramics often age in a way that becomes more beautiful over time. A less attractive finish can sometimes be changed, too.

On furniture, look at the underside, the insides of the drawers and the edges. They often reveal more than the visible front.

Prestaged notes: A scratch in solid wood can be less of a problem than a flawless surface on a badly built piece.

2. Learn to tell patina from damage

Not everything old needs to look new.

Small marks, darkened edges, faded timber, oxidised metal and light wear can give a piece character.

Be more cautious with:

• deep water damage
• a strong musty or cellar smell
• wood that feels soft or porous
• large cracks in load-bearing parts
• veneer that has lifted over large areas
• unstable construction

The question is not always "can it be fixed?", but "is it worth the work?".

3. Test the piece before you fall for it

Check whether chairs and tables wobble, look at the joints, open drawers and doors, and look for earlier repairs.

An old piece of furniture may well carry traces of its life. The construction, however, should still work.

4. Veneer is not the same as poor quality

Many very fine older pieces are veneered and can be far better built than modern furniture in cheaper materials.

Look at:

• the quality of the wood beneath
• how well the veneer has been laid
• whether the edges have lifted
• whether larger pieces are missing

5. Look for proportion before trend

Ask: does the piece have good proportions even if I ignore the colour?

It is often the form that keeps a flea-market find relevant many years later.

A chair with a fine silhouette, a table with the right balance or a lamp with a beautiful shape can be worth considering even if the finish is not perfect.

6. Lamps: buy the form – but respect the wiring

Old lamps can be wonderful second-hand finds.

Check:

• the flex
• the plug
• the lampholder
• visible damage
• discolouration from heat

If you are unsure about the electrics, have someone with the right expertise check the lamp before use.

Factor any rewiring into the real cost.

7. Ceramics – look for the hand behind them

Always turn the piece over.

Look for:

• signatures
• stamps
• glaze
• form
• weight
• the base
• handmade variations

An unsigned piece can still be a far better find for your home than something well known that you do not actually like.

8. Silver, silver plate and metal

Turn the piece over and look for hallmarks.

But do not buy for the metal value alone.

A beautiful silver-plated tray can be a better find for your home than a piece in sterling silver that you do not really like.

9. Textiles and upholstered furniture

Be especially critical.

Check:

• smell
• stains
• damp
• the underside
• seams
• the condition of the stuffing

An armchair with a superb frame can still be worth buying if you budget for reupholstery.

10. Measure before you go

Keep key measurements saved on your phone:

• maximum width
• doorways
• the lift
• your car's boot space
• height beneath windows
• relevant measurements at home

11. Add up the real cost

A piece may be cheap at the flea market but still need:

• transport
• reupholstery
• repair
• sanding
• new foam
• new wiring

So judge what the piece will cost once it is finished, not just the price tag in the shop.

12. The best find is often slightly wrong

The wrong colour. An ugly lampshade. Brass that has darkened. A table standing in entirely the wrong setting.

Try to imagine the piece without everything around it.

A flea market is rarely a particularly good stylist.

The Prestaged method

• Material – is the foundation good?
• Form – would I still like it in another colour?
• Condition – patina or real damage?
• Proportion – does it work in my home?
• Cost – what will it cost once finished?
• Feeling – would I want it even if nobody told me what it was worth?

The finest find is not always the most expensive or the rarest. It is the one you saw something in before anyone else did.