How To Tell How Old Furniture Is: Different Ways To Determine The Age Of Antique Furniture

Different Ways To Determine The Age Of Antique Furniture

Investigative effort is necessary if you want to know how old a piece of American antique furniture is. Take a careful look at the various components that go into making the piece of furniture. Look at the amount of joinery, finishing, knob, and other effort that went into the furniture. Take a close look at the screws, fabric, and wood used. You might be able to determine if you have an antique or a machine-made imitation on your own if you take all these facts into account.

Way 1: Look For Dovetailing

Dovetailing, a technique used to hold many pieces of furniture together, is an indication of high-caliber woodworking. Dovetail joints, which can be found in the sides of drawers, cabinets, and other items, have been used in furniture for ages. Be cautious if the lines and edges are completely straight after you notice dovetailing on a piece. Joints with irregular shapes indicate handcrafted construction. The furniture may not even be antique because the perfect dovetails were most likely cut by a machine.

Way 2: Multiple Types Of Wood Is A Good Thing

Real antique furniture isn't likely to be constructed from the same kind of wood all the way through. Using pricey wood in places where no one would see it didn't make sense in the past. Look for various types of wood on the bottoms of chairs and drawers. It is most likely a reproduction if it is identical to the rest of the artwork.

Way 3: Beware Of Furniture That’s Made To Look Old

Beware of fake furniture that is surrounded by real furniture. This may sound obvious, but beware of items that aren't genuinely old but are instead designed to look antique. A notable example is the shabby chic style, which features distressed furniture that is frequently offered for sale in antique shops and flea markets even though it is not truly vintage. To ensure you're purchasing the real deal, look for telltale signs of wear like scuffed drawer runners and dirt stains in corners.

Way 4: Do A Thorough Search For Labels Or Stamps

In terms of antique furniture, letters and numbers are your best allies. Be cautious to look for labels, stamps, or manufacturing tags that can indicate the date and location of a piece's manufacture. Furniture manufacturers and companies frequently provided names, addresses, and years of production. On the inside of drawers, the backs of bureaus, and the lower edges of items, you can find this information. Since labels can be faked, keep an eye out for ageing indicators.

Way 5: Shut Out Symmetry

Similar to how flawless-appearing dovetail joints are a dead giveaway, perfect symmetry in furniture is a surefire indication that it was manufactured by a machine. On the other hand, handmade furniture isn't built consistently; even the smallest size and shape variations can reveal this. Plus, it wasn't until after the mid-1800s that machine-cut pieces were made available. Carved features make it simple to identify handcrafted elements. Regularity is advantageous.