The Ethical Debate

against alteration

Those who argue against alteration tend to view vintage and antique items as historical documents, similar to fine art. Vintage and antique items are rare, sometimes one-of-a-kind and often no longer produced. The objects exist as remnants of history; they tell stories of a specific moment of the past, like a Louis XV commode created just before the French Revolution or a vintage wedding dress made during the roaring 20’s. They were created in a specific time and place, loved by people in past eras, and can be studied like art historical documents. Even damage on the items can reveal hints about how they were used and the places they’ve been before you found them. Therefore, like fine art, rare vintage and antique objects should be protected and preserved. It is one thing to restore an item into good condition, however altering an object drastically, like painting a piece of antique furniture a bright color, constitutes as destroying a historical document, erasing memories of a past time and culture. 

pro alteration

Those who argue in favor of alteration agree that modifications are perfectly ethical and can often make an item more attractive. Unlike fine art, people use clothing, furniture, and jewelry. The objects get handled and loved in ways that fine art doesn't. Therefore, you should alter items in order to enhance their usability. Moreover, those in favor of alteration believe that the owner of an object can do what they want with the product they’ve purchased, no matter the ethics. If you own an antique dresser and feel like painting flowers on it, go ahead! The choice is yours and you should feel comfortable with altering old items if it makes you happy. 

in between

Then, there are those whose opinions fall in somewhere in between the two polars mentioned above. In my research, I found that a majority of people belonged to this category, believing that the ethics of alteration should be judged on a case-by-case basis. In some situations, altering an item seems ethical, and in others, modification feels unethical. For instance, many people believe that you should alter vintage clothing so that it fits you. After all, there is little point in owning an article of clothing you cannot wear. Others believe that modifications are ethical as long as the changes can be removed and the item isn’t altered forever. For example, certain kinds of paint are easier to remove than others. If you plan to use the wrong type of paint, or the material you’re working with makes the removal process difficult—like mahogany wood, for example—then some view the alteration as unethical. A number of people believe that altering vintage and antique items is perfectly fine as long as the general structural integrity of the piece remains intact. Opinions on the topic vary, but a majority of people agree that the issue should not be painted as black and white.