Casters and Antique Furniture

Just a general question for antique furniture lovers. We know that alot of 19th century furniture had casters. Originally it was functional, so pieces could be dragged from room to room when many households did not have an excess of furniture.

As furniture pieces multiplied in houses during modern times in the 20th century, many folks removed the casters and plugged the holes with metal divots of some sort.

Does it make a difference to you to restore pieces as closely as possible to their original appearance, including restoring casters? I know it's a minor issue, but it can make a noticeable difference.

 

Interesting question, Ghopper. I always grab antique casters (metal, porcelain, and wood) from the basements of estate sales I go to. I've never sold any and they're starting to accumulate. It's the matching set thing that is my problem. I have a bunch of one or two-offs. My hoarder tendencies don't allow me to pitch them.

I am currently making a small table where the top is an old wood split pulley and the bottom is the base off an antique wood swivel chair. The chair has cheap newer casters on it, and I'm undecided if I want to eliminate or replace them. Wood split pulley is similar to this one:

 

Sometimes you see 17th & 18th century furniture that originally did not have casters but had them added in the 19th century.
Generally speaking if it's supposed to have casters & doesn't, i vote to add them, not a big deal usually.

 

oh, I don't mind stuff rolling around...no reason to caster-gate yourself over something like that....

 

OUCH!!