Caring for Antiques in the Colder Months
Discoveries by The Lifestyle Historian
Winter has always influenced the way people care for the objects they live with. In earlier centuries, families prepared their homes for colder weather by tending fireplaces, sealing windows, rotating textiles, and observing how furnishings responded to shifts in air. Today we rely on central heating and modern insulation, yet antiques still react to winter much as they always have. Colder months bring drier air, lower light, and quick temperature changes indoors. For collectors, this season offers an ideal moment to pause, observe, and give thoughtful attention to craftsmanship that has already lived many lifetimes.
Humidity is one of the most important considerations during winter. Historic homes held more moisture because heat came from stoves and fireplaces rather than forced air. Modern systems dry the environment quickly and wood responds by contracting. This is especially sensitive for veneered surfaces, marquetry, and pieces with delicate joinery. Keeping humidity at a steady level supports antique furniture and reduces stress on finishes and adhesives. A small humidifier placed in a room can make a meaningful difference, especially for pieces such as the Primitive Wood and Stone Wheat Thresher. Crafted in Greece with natural wood and embedded flint stones, this eighteenth century style artifact carries the kind of handmade structure that responds best to gentle, stable air conditions.
Temperature also shapes the way antiques age during winter. While they do not need a precise setting, they respond best to consistency. A drafty window at night followed by direct warm air in the morning can affect finishes, old glues, and metallic ornamentation. French-polished surfaces, gilded wood, lacquered trays, and shellac treatments stay in better condition when kept away from vents or fireplaces. Even modest adjustments in placement can help. Moving a mirror like the 19th Century French Giltwood Mirror with Bow Crown a little farther from a heat source supports the integrity of its carved frame, beaded border, and historic glass plate which has developed a patina many collectors look for.
Light deserves equal attention. Winter sunlight sits lower in the sky and can reach a room more directly than many expect. Historic textiles, tapestries, watercolors, and silhouettes can fade when exposed to these concentrated rays. Past households often rotated curtains and decorative items with the seasons and doing the same today protects fragile materials. Shifting a painted tray, a framed print, or a porcelain vessel to gentler light helps maintain its depth of color. A Delft Style Ceramic Flower Brick, such as our early 20th century blue and white piece with hand-painted decoration and a pierced top for stems, will remain vibrant far longer when it rests out of the path of strong winter sun.
Ceramics and porcelain benefit from seasonal care as well. These materials are highly responsive to temperature changes. A cold vase filled immediately with warm water can expand too quickly and develop subtle internal fractures. Historically, families warmed tablewares before large meals. While that practice has faded, allowing porcelain to adjust naturally before washing or arranging flowers remains a wise habit. Heavy stoneware, majolica, and earthenware also appreciate slower transitions. Felt pads beneath them prevent strain on tabletops, particularly when both the object and the surface feel cool to the touch.
Metalwork has its own relationship with winter air. Brass and bronze develop patina faster in dry conditions, and gilt surfaces prefer the lightest possible handling. Dusting with a soft brush preserves the details that make a bronze lantern such as the Art Deco example from the 1920s and 1930s so compelling. With its geometric lines, floral motifs, and verdigris surface, the craftsmanship deserves gentle care and minimal contact during this time of year. Silver also responds well to restrained maintenance rather than frequent polishing. Patina carries evidence of age and craft and winter often brings out these subtleties.
Stone and marble require thoughtful care during this season. Marble is porous and can absorb moisture, creating faint rings from winter beverages or condensation. A console or table with a marble top benefits from coasters and protective layers, especially during gatherings. Stone planters and cast iron that spend summers outdoors should be shielded from extreme temperature shifts. Moisture within stone can expand and create subtle surface changes over time. A Reconstituted Stone Planter in the Celtic style, like the mid-20th century English example with sculpted handles and traces of its original paint, works well indoors during colder months and can hold branches or greenery without exposure to freezing temperatures.
January is also a meaningful time to observe changes that may have been overlooked during the holidays. A drawer that sticks, a chair leg that feels slightly loose, a veneer panel beginning to lift, or a shift in a cabinet door often signals that a piece is responding to the season. Historic housekeepers once conducted winter inspections, noting how furnishings adjusted as temperatures dropped. That practice remains useful today. When noticed early, most changes are simple to address and protect the long life of the piece.
Winter invites us to live with our surroundings more intentionally. Antiques respond to the season with the same need for steadiness and attention that they have always required. Caring for them supports the work of the makers who shaped them, the families who lived with them, and the stories they carry forward. It is a wonderful form of stewardship.
Modern Antiquarian’s collection reflects this sense of care. The pieces offered each season, whether sculptural, functional, decorative, or architectural, continue to show how historic objects enhance the way we live. Each one offers an opportunity to style a space with intention and to care for objects that enrich a home in every environment.
Explore Modern Antiquarian to discover antiques that remain beautiful through winter and continue to grow in character with thoughtful attention.
