How To Tell Antique Furniture

How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. The term antique generally refers to furnishing thats 100 years or older. Examine Bottoms Insides and Backs. If your piece is handmade it should show some irregularities on the bottom or back as opposed to the perfect finish of a machine-cut piece.

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If the piece has drawers remove a drawer and look closely where the front and back of the drawer are fastened to the sides of the drawer.

How To Tell Antique Furniture. When you are trying to determine the age of piece you cannot just look at furniture. Combines the neoclassic characteristics of Hepplewhite and Sheraton. On many occasions I have found myself evaluating a customers furniture only to be shown a very old and valuable antique.

By examining the shape and condition of the furniture nails and screws as well as the wood and finish you can get a fairly good idea of when the furniture was built and possibly by whom. The first aspect is the joinery. It is characterized by graceful straight lines light construction tapered legs and the use of inlay and contrasting veneers.

Named after English designer and cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite 1727-1786. Take a look at the joinery the spots in furniture where the pieces come together. All to often the antique turns out not to be an antique at all.

How To Date Antique Furniture