Standing at the municipal waste site, it can be disheartening to see the seemingly constant stream of people throwing away old furniture. Much of it is broken down in pieces and much of it is made of wood. For some pieces, it is hard to judge whether the furniture was in reasonable condition prior to it being transported to the dump. As we’ve previously seen, making things of wood may be useful if it comes from sustainable woodland and is built to last.

Fortunately there is an alternative market for old furniture. Some charity shops are happy to sell furniture in reasonable condition. For the buyer there can be some good offers on some very presentable second hand wooden furniture.

Some of the older and better made furniture will be regarded as antique furniture. Antiques can be elegant and timeless. And for a lucky few, these may be worth a fortune. Buying antiques is often seen as a form of financial investment: their value might even increase with time. From an environmental perspective, antiques slow down our consumption of materials and this is very welcome. If they are made of wood then they will have a good chance of outlasting the lifetime of the tree that grew the wood and then they also represent a small and valuable carbon store.

Antiques may also come with their own stories. A story of craftsmanship, a story of a family, and a story of society and history. Have you had the good fortune to look after an antique? Perhaps you have a story to share?