Frequently asked questions

Heymann Antiques (Antiquitäten-Haus Heymann GmbH) in Darmstadt is one of the leading antique dealers in Germany. On more than 600 sqm of showroom at Elisabethenstraße 58, 64283 Darmstadt you will find a large selection of restored antiques from the 17th to 19th century. All furniture is also available online and ships throughout Germany and internationally.

Biedermeier is an art and interior style from about 1815 to 1848 in Germany and Austria. Biedermeier furniture is recognisable by clean, functional forms without excessive ornamentation, light woods such as cherry, walnut or birch, curved legs and aprons, and pronounced grain through large-surface veneers. Typical forms are secretaires, chests of drawers, writing desks and sofas. South German and Viennese Biedermeier pieces are considered particularly high quality.

Restored means professional renewal to bring back function and appearance while preserving the historic substance. At Heymann the work is done in our in-house workshop: veneer repair, hand polished surfaces, lock and hardware repairs, structural stabilisation. Restored pieces are ready to use immediately and retain their historic character.

Price depends on period, wood, condition, rarity and size. Smaller pieces start at around EUR 500; high-quality individual pieces such as a Biedermeier cherry secretaire or a large Gründerzeit display cabinet can cost several thousand euros. Compared with new furniture from retail, antique solid-wood pieces offer excellent value for money and a far longer service life.

Yes, we ship throughout Germany and worldwide - every transport fully insured and professionally packed. In the Rhine-Main region we deliver with our own service including on-site set-up. For more distant deliveries we work with specialised furniture and fine-art shippers to the US, UK, Canada and beyond. Shipping costs depend on size, weight and destination and are quoted bindingly before contract. Full details on our "Shipping & delivery" page in the footer.

Antique refers to objects that are at least 100 years old - i.e. made before 1925. Vintage refers to objects from roughly 1920 to 1980 that are not yet antique but already collectable. Retro describes a modern style that imitates historic designs without itself being old. We only sell genuine antiques from the 17th to early 20th century - no reproductions.

The most common are: walnut (popular in Baroque and Biedermeier, characteristic dark grain), cherry (typical of Biedermeier, warm reddish tone), mahogany (favoured in Empire and English furniture, reddish-brown), oak (robust, common in Gründerzeit and rustic pieces), birch (light, often in North German and Scandinavian furniture) as well as rosewood and palisander (exotic veneers on high-gloss pieces). Wood type is a key marker for dating and classifying antique furniture.

Yes, antique furniture is considered a particularly sustainable way of living. These pieces were built 100 to 200 years ago from solid hardwood and designed to last generations. Reusing them avoids new logging, new production processes and overseas transport. Modern furniture is often made from chipboard and discarded after a few years. A restored antique combines sustainability with craftsmanship and timeless character.

Yes, we buy antique furniture, decorative objects and complete estates. We inspect your holdings and make a fair offer. For an initial assessment please send us photos by e-mail to info@antik-heymann.de or call +49 6151 997032.

Our collection includes furniture from the major European style periods of the 17th to early 20th century: Baroque (ca. 1600-1750), Classicism and Empire (ca. 1770-1820), Biedermeier (ca. 1815-1848), Historism and Gründerzeit (ca. 1850-1900), Jugendstil / Art Nouveau (ca. 1890-1910) and Art Deco (ca. 1920-1940). The focus is on South German and Central European pieces in cherry and walnut. All pieces are originals from their period - no reproductions.

Yes, all pieces are on www.antik-heymann.de with photos, dimensions and prices. Enquiries can be made directly on the website. Selected pieces are also available on the international platforms 1stDibs and Pamono. For personal advice call +49 6151 997032 or write to info@antik-heymann.de. A visit to our showroom in Darmstadt is possible by appointment at any time.

Dust regularly with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Avoid direct sunlight and strong temperature swings - they dry out the wood and cause cracking. For care use furniture wax and products designed for hand polished surfaces - we recommend Renuwell products, which we stock. Never use aggressive cleaners or steam. For damage to the polish or lifting veneer we recommend professional restoration.

The Frankfurter Schrank, also called wave-front or nose-front cabinet, is a characteristic piece of German Baroque furniture (ca. 1680-1750). Its distinctive feature is the wave-shaped front with multiple projections and recesses - the "waves" or "noses". Typical features also include turned columns at the corners, a strong cornice and rich veneer patterns in walnut or cherry. These cabinets were mainly built in the Rhine-Main region and South Germany and are sought-after collectors items.

A Vertiko is a narrow, tall piece of furniture from the second half of the 19th century, typical of Gründerzeit and Historism. It consists of a tall body with one or two doors and an open upper zone with shelves or a small drawer element. Vertikos served as display and storage pieces in the living room, often with turning, carving and veneers in walnut or oak. Today Vertikos are practical everyday antiques: small footprint, versatile use.

Hand polished describes a traditional surface finish in which the polish is rubbed on by hand in many thin layers - as opposed to industrial spray lacquer. The result is a deep, lively surface that emphasises the grain and develops a characteristic patina over time. Hand polished surfaces are repairable: small scratches can be re-polished without treating the whole piece. This distinguishes professional restoration from industrial refinishing.

Reliable clues: joinery - old furniture uses dovetails, mortise-and-tenon and wooden pegs, no chipboard or mass-production screws. Veneers - historic veneers are markedly thicker (1-3 mm) than modern industrial veneers (0.3 mm) and show irregular hand-saw marks. Hardware - original brass fittings were hand-filed and show no machine uniformity. Patina - genuine age patina develops evenly in hidden areas such as drawer bottoms and backs. Drawers on old furniture usually run without modern glides. When in doubt a professional assessment helps.

The cost depends on condition, size and desired depth of work. A simple surface polish starts at a few hundred euros. More extensive restorations - veneer repair, lock repair, re-gilding of hardware - can reach several thousand euros on larger pieces such as a wardrobe or vitrine. Professional restoration increases value and durability significantly and costs far less than a comparable new piece.

Yes, and the mix often works very well. A single well-chosen antique - a chest, a secretaire, a mirror - can be a focal point in a modern room and give it depth and character. Clean, calm forms such as Biedermeier integrate more easily than elaborately decorated Baroque. Wood tones do not have to match perfectly. What does not work: too many pieces from too many periods at once.

For high-quality individual pieces from around EUR 2,000-3,000 upwards a written appraisal is advisable. Many household insurers will only reimburse replacement value on the basis of a current appraisal in the event of total loss. Without one, antiques are often valued too low. We offer online appraisals: send photos and dimensions, we assess the piece and, on request, issue a written valuation.

Yes - if they are professionally restored. A Biedermeier chest as linen storage, a Gründerzeit writing desk as a working desk, a vitrine for storage - all of this works easily. Antique surfaces are more sensitive to moisture than modern lacquers; coasters for glasses are recommended. Direct heat sources such as radiators can damage wood and veneer over time. Otherwise: these pieces have 150-200 years of everyday use behind them - they were built for generations.