Your Antiques Could Be TOXIC—Experts Share What to Watch Out For
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When it comes to decorating a space, we are all for choosing beautiful antique objects. Not only do they add unique character to a space, but shopping them is far more environmentally friendly than buying new. Plus, no contemporary piece of furniture—no matter who designed it or where—can match the level of charm of a real antique. That said, as much as we love their one-of-a-kind vibe, they're not all equally worthy. In fact, some aged artifacts may be harboring toxins that could be detrimental to your health.
If your heart just skipped a beat, worry not. It's fairly easy to discern which antiques are safe to bring into your home and which aren't—we chatted with two experts: Lindsey Owen, an International Society of Appraisers member and former operations director of Chicago's The Conservation Center, along with Ali Mahon, a Connecticut-based antiques dealer. They told us exactly what you should be aware of on your next trip to the flea market.
If you've ever seen mold on the vents in your bathroom or on something in your fridge, you already know how gross (and potentially dangerous) it is. According to the Cleveland Clinic, black mold is a fungus that can upset your immune system, and common symptoms of exposure include sneezing, coughing, congestion, and eye irritation. Unfortunately, mold is a common issue with antiques.
"Without a doubt, mold is the most common hazardous condition I run into in my line of work," says Owen. "It can affect all media, from furniture to drawings and everything in between." It's more about the conditions the antiques are kept in than the antiques' quality.
"In some cases, a piece of antique furniture sat for years against a damp exterior wall, and the mold wasn't visible until it was moved," Owen adds. "Mold happens fast, and I've worked on several water damage insurance claims where the mold appeared within a day. It's just not worth the risk, especially if you're prone to respiratory issues."
Her number-one rule? "Have mold professionally mitigated before bringing it home," she insists.
Even if you don't get grossed out easily, discovering that your new antique purchase is riddled with pests—like bed bugs—is a nightmarish situation that no one wants to encounter.
"People don't always realize how easily pests can survive in antique furniture," Owen says. "I would be especially cautious about purchasing anything with any evidence of bed bugs because pest treatment can be exceptionally difficult, and some methods may cause irreversible damage to the object."
If you find an antique you love and can't live without, though, you don't need to accept that you'll never be together in the same room. "I recommend working with a professional company that uses preservation-safe methods, like freeze-drying or an anoxic chamber, to ensure the piece is treated without harming its condition," Owen adds.
In the year 2025, it's common knowledge that lead exposure is dangerous. According to the World Health Organization, "Exposure to lead can affect multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of childbearing age." Unfortunately, many older objects may still contain traces of lead—it was banned in the production of U.S. paint in 1978. So, you'll want to be cautious of any painted pieces of furniture that you find at the vintage market.
"I steer clients away from chipping paint that a child could pick off and eat," says Mahon. "I recommend having a professional test a painted surface—especially if it's going to be a dining table."
Until it was banned in 1978, lead was the leading material in most paints in both the U.S. and abroad.
Unlike the harmful effects of lead, the possible dangers of old wiring in electronics, including lamps, are not as well-known among the general public. As you may be able to guess, wiring that's several decades old is probably not the safest, as it's likely degraded quite a bit over time. You may not be able to see potential hazards, such as frayed cords, but the hazards are definitely there. Old wires can lead to an increased risk of electrical shock or even a house fire.
"Many old lamps, especially European ones, do not have the proper prong plug, so it is safer and easier to bring these electrical items to a local lighting expert who can update the wiring to be safe and secure and up to code with the proper wattage and voltage," Mahon adds. "It is worth the peace of mind to have old wiring replaced and have an old lamp like new."
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