Among modern furniture designers, a name like Eames will come up often and these pieces are very collectible. Collector’s handbooks that are published for specific types of furniture, such as The Bulfinch Anatomy of Antique Furniture or the Field Guide to Antique Furniture, contain photographs of antique furniture details along with lists of maker’s marks. Furniture making in America in the 19th century ranged from the small shop, like that of Duncan Phyfe in downtown New York at the turn of the century, to the huge factories of Grand Rapids and Buffalo at the turn of the next century. The two styles look similar, but to the trained eye, there are distinct differences. Choose from 20,000+ items of Antique Furniture, prices from £100 to £195,000. Antique wooden drawers had joints that weren't machine-cute until 1860. This group is to find information out regarding antique or vintage items or you may want to just show off your new find ... as a group, knowledge can be shared, as well as how to find informative... Identify My Vintage And Antique Items The identification of antique furniture is a subject that covers a very broad area. When trying to identify antique furniture, dedicated antique hunters search for beautifully preserved pieces, armed with pins, magnifying glasses, spirit levels and all sorts of testing equipment. Examine wooden details. Antique Furniture.. Pottery and porcelain marks are often very visible, you simply need to look on the bottom or back of a piece to locate them. Contact an expert in the field of furniture, such as a furniture … Learning how to distinguish reproductions from genuine antiques may not be the easiest thing you can do, but it's worth the effort and sure is a lot easier on the pocketbook. A trusted antique guide on general antiques is often a good place to start with research. So not being able to find any other examples for sale of antique furniture like yours might mean that it is scarce, but unless there is a sizeable demand for pieces like it, this may not mean it is exceptionally valuable. How much is my antique furniture worth? There are many different woods used to make antiques. The first step in changing the look of a residence with house style suggestions is to change the wall color. Good morning – just got an antique writing box (the original laptop :)) the top and side were damaged by the spruce construction splitting at the knots and the veneer was irreparably damaged on 2 sides – I can repair/replace the substrate And i would like to match the Veneer as close as possible -can you identify the wood from these photos? 2. The term "antique" generally refers to furnishing that's 100 years or older. Phyfe was one of the rare early century cabinetmakers who actually used paper labels and tags to identify some of his work. A southern antique is a piece made before the Civil War. An antique sofa may be very finely carved but should still show signs of being handmade. Download. The wood used to construct the buffet/sideboard often determines the era. Furniture is a category unto itself in the world of antiques. Find similar antique furniture values in print. I’m super happy with this piece of furniture, and how it looks in the living room entry area. In the East, an antique is Queen Anne or earlier; in the West, it's any piece of furniture that came across the mountains in a wagon. The furniture shelving form known as an étagère was born in this period, allowing Victorians to have more room to display their treasured collections. My applied methods in identifying furniture age to this piece completely confirmed his story. The higher the demand and the scarcer the items, the more valuable they are. Significant Furniture Design Periods. A piece of advice: You shouldn’t expect someone to do this for you for free. She's written over 400 articles on antique collecting for The Spruce Crafts. A single piece of antique furniture is more than a collection of nails, boards, and wood stain. How to Identify an Antique Dresser by Its Signature. Furniture can also be labeled, so be sure to check inside drawers and on the backs and undersides of pieces for a manufacturer or craftsman's name. There are many other Mid-Century furniture designers that made pieces that are collectible today as well. Wherever you look, it's a sure bet that you won't find a genuine antique from 1500 or 1600. Identifying Genuine Antiques. Jan 28, 2017 - Explore Queen City Salvage Design's board "Identifying Antique Furniture ", followed by 486 people on Pinterest. https://antiques.lovetoknow.com/Free_Antique_Identification It’s unlikely that real antique furniture is made with the same type of wood throughout. How to Install a Fluorescent Light in 4 Steps, Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. Also, if you collect Bakelite, you'll definitely want to know how to identify it by using various methods. Furniture that had mechanical parts was also embraced by the Victorians of this era. What are the dangers of mercury exposure? Identifying Antique Furniture or Good Reproductions. How to Identify the Wood Used to Make Antique Furniture. 9 Ways to Help Identify Antique Furniture QUESTION: Some friends of my mom’s gave me what looks like a Chippendale desk. Each antique style has specific identifying features, often named after the reigning monarch of the time, or for the designer who created the style, such as Thomas Chippendale, Thomas Sheraton or George Hepplewhite. Related Articles. There are many different types of antique chairs, and each has a unique appearance. If you can't find out anything else about this item it is best to find an antique furniture dealer in your area and have him take a look. These books can offer a good foundation as you expand your learning on your favorite types of antiques. It can be difficult to tell these woods apart and if the wood has been stained or painted it can be even harder to identify them. The higher the demand and the scarcer the items, the more valuable they are. Multiple types of wood is a good thing. Whether you visit the library, a bookshop, or purchase a book on Amazon, there are a ton of publications about identifying and valuing antique furniture. My Antique Furniture Collection. Examine the level of work that went into the furniture from the joinery, finishing, knobs, and more. The name is derived from Ambon Island in Indonesia, where much of the figured wood is believed to have been initially exported. When identifying antique furniture, one of the first things to look at is the style or period. So not being able to find any other examples for sale of antique furniture like yours might mean that it is scarce, but unless there is a sizeable demand for pieces like it, this may not mean it is exceptionally valuable. Is your piece a reproduction? It's very common to find marks on costume jewelry, for instance, they're just really small and often hidden in an obscure spot. Weird & Wacky, Copyright © 2020 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. The woods preferred by makers of this period were walnut and oak, with some use of mahogany and rosewood. The woods preferred by makers of this period were walnut and oak, with some use of mahogany and rosewood. Antique furnishings can tell a story one that may only exist in the imagination of the lucky person acquiring the piece. Whether it is a mahogany cabinet or a Georgian sofa set that you bought at an auction or inherited from your family, appraisal of antique furniture is best done by an expert. Maybe you have actually observed that by making the color of a large room darker, it is given the appearance of being smaller. Multiple types of wood is a good thing. The marks sometimes changed over the years they were doing business, so these identifiers may be able to tell you more about the age of the piece as well. Elizabethan (1520–1620) Early American Style (1640–1700) Determining the age of antique furniture is the first step in establishing a proper valuation, as well as verifying that the piece is indeed an authentic furnishing from the era in question. 2. Manufacturers often reproduce pieces from other eras, and some styles, like Shaker wood furniture, never really go out of fashion. Many of the best pottery houses have very well-known marks that are easy to identify. If you can't find out anything else about this item it is best to find an antique furniture dealer in your area and have him take a look. These experts are excellent resources, and if you approach one who can’t help, they should be able to direct you to another local professional who can. Determining the age of antiques is half the fun! Here is a quick guide to help you distinguish between the different looks. Do you have something of value? Collector’s handbooks that are published for specific types of furniture, such as The Bulfinch Anatomy of Antique Furniture or the Field Guide to Antique Furniture, contain photographs of antique furniture details along with lists of maker’s marks. It will also help you pick out the one that closely matches your décor and taste. Identify Antique Glassware; Identifying Antique Silverware Patterns; This knowledge will also help you know what to look for so you can avoid being taken by fakes. Chippendale is a style of furniture that was crafted in the mid- to late-1700s while Queen Anne furniture dates to earlier in the century. There is some detective work to be done if you want to really ensure that the antique is real, and a qualified inspector should be hired if you're spending any appreciable sum of money. What exactly do you have? Date of Manufacture declared on all items of Antique Furniture. When identifying antique chairs, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. If you know how to read them, they can tell you the maker, the country of origin, and in some cases even the date they were made. And even though it isn’t a genuine ‘antique’ I’m totally fine with that. By using The Spruce Crafts, you accept our, How to Identify and Price Chippendale Furniture, How to Identify Roseville Pottery Reproductions, How to Make Money Buying and Selling Antiques, How to Identify Pottery and Porcelain Marks, Know Your American Antique and Collectible Furniture, Researching Antiques and Collectibles on the Internet, How to Identify and Collect Snow Babies Figurines, How to Find Values for Your Antiques and Collectibles, How to Identify and Value Depression Glass, Researching Silver and Silverplate Online, Overview of the Chippendale Furniture Style, Ways to Test Antiques and Collectibles With a Black Light. Last updated: April 10, 2009 by admin. The two styles look similar, but to the trained eye, there are distinct differences. December 2019. Use this guide to learn how to identify the different styles. See more ideas about antique furniture, furniture, antiques. For instance, did you know that a sideboard and a buffet are basically the same thing? Furniture that had mechanical parts was also embraced by the Victorians of this era. It is also a subject that can seem overwhelming and confusing to someone with a new interest in antique furniture. Jorge Royan / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0. Close examination of the furniture’s construction can indicate if it’s a real antique. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Elizabethan (1520–1620) Early American Style (1640–1700) You might turn to internet research for some quick tips, but having a good library on the topics you specialize in can also be very helpful. There are various styles, famous makers, and a number of confusing terms that you need to know. Only Genuine items of Antique Furniture Approved. Significant Furniture Design Periods. Learn 10 specific steps to establishing an accurate age for your antique furniture. There are a number of ways to test antiques and collectibles for authenticity, some of which employ very clever methods. When identifying antique chairs, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. Not only does Eames furniture have a unique, clean style that's easily recognizable, but you'll also find labels underneath the pieces. Likewise, Eastlake is the name of a style from the late-Victorian period (late 1800s) that is distinctly different from its contemporaries. How to Identify Antique Furniture. The only problem is that I can’t seem to find out much about it. According to Museum Furniture, Queen Anne style buffets and sideboards will have carved scallop shells with graceful, bowed legs. Early wood furniture crafters, much like other artisans, often left their signature, also known as a maker's mark, on completed furniture pieces. Pamela is an antique expert and the author of three books on the subject. Getting stung by a reproduction is one way to "pay for your education." Looking at particular styles of furniture and the components can also be very helpful in figuring out what you have and how old it might be. If you need additional assistance, the best source is an antiques or vintage furniture dealer. Consult antique furniture guides to compare photographs and details of identified antique buffets and sideboards to your buffet/sideboard. He may be able to identify who has made this dresser, give you an estimate of the age and the value. Without knowing more it is hard to say one way or the other. Knowledge is power in the antique marketplace and anything you can do to research your antiques or those you're thinking of buying will help. Amboyna is among the most expensive and sought-after of all burls in antique furniture and boxes and is frequently used as veneer. The Spruce Crafts uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Glassware marks are not as common as on other items, like pottery and porcelain, but they do present from time to time. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. At Mearto, professional antique furniture appraisers are ready to help you find the value of your antique furniture. Without knowing more it is hard to say one way or the other. The first step in identifying and valuing antiques and collectibles is often determining the maker of the item by researching a mark or signature. If you are trying to determine the age of a piece of American antique furniture, it will require investigative work.Look closely at the the different elements that make the piece of furniture. Find the period to which the antique chair belongs by evaluating its shape and comparing it to a chart or guide in a book or online. Home Decoration Suggestions for the Wall Surface Shade . The furniture shelving form known as an étagère was born in this period, allowing Victorians to have more room to display their treasured collections. Amboyna is commonly seen on fine quality pieces of antique furniture. Article from mandmsq.hubpages.com. Need some help with identifying antique furniture? Unfortunately, identifying the style of a piece of furniture won't help you determine if it's an antique. A Guide to Antique Chair Identification With Photos. Lots of questions come up when it comes to antiques. Likewise, silver and silverplate marks are often a series of small symbols placed inside squares. With a little effort, you can learn how to identify your antiques and research their values. When identifying antique furniture, one of the first things to look at is the style or period. How much is my antique furniture worth? At Mearto, professional antique furniture appraisers are ready to help you find the value of your antique furniture. Whether it is a mahogany cabinet or a Georgian sofa set that you bought at an auction or inherited from your family, appraisal of antique furniture is best done by an expert. One of the easiest ways to find out how much your antiques might be worth is to set up an appointment with someone who specializes in appraising antiques for a living. For instance, a black light can be very handy for testing everything from porcelain to works of art. A good place to start when identifying furniture is often to figure out what period it's from. It’s unlikely that real antique furniture is made with the same type of wood throughout. Hopefully, you can use some of these clues to identify a vintage Heywood-Wakefield piece. 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