Saw marks can help you determine dates. Straight saw marks signify antique chest of drawers from the first half of the 18th century. From the end of the century, however, circular saws were used, leaving visible circular saw marks on the inside of carcases. Don’t completely be put off by restoration.
How can I tell how old a chest of drawers are?
Look at the bottom board’s grain as well; if it runs from front to back, the chest was likely built in the early 18th century; if it runs from side to side, it was presumably made after 1750. The chest’s handles should also be examined to see if they are authentic.
How can you tell if a drawer is antique?
Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860.
How to date an old dresser?
Make sure to search for labels, stamps, or manufacturing tags that can tell when and where a piece was made. Furniture companies and makers often listed their names, locations, and year of production This information can be found on the inside of drawers, the backs of bureaus, and on the lower edges of pieces.
How can you tell a Georgian chest of drawers?
Georgian: Georgian chests of drawers are known for their balanced proportions and elegant designs. They are often made of walnut or mahogany, and they often feature brass hardware and marble tops. Chippendale: Chippendale chests of drawers are known for their elaborate carvings and intricate designs.
How can I tell how old a chest of drawers are?
Look at the bottom board’s grain as well; if it runs from front to back, the chest was likely built in the early 18th century; if it runs from side to side, it was presumably made after 1750. The chest’s handles should also be examined to see if they are authentic.
How to date antique furniture by drawers?
You can get an idea of the date of a piece of antique furniture by looking at the dovetail joint, as if it is hand cut you know its pre 1880 and the more primitive the cut usually means an earlier piece. Below you can see examples, the first is a 17th century drawer, pre dovetail so very primitive clout nails used.
How can you tell how old an item is?
Examine Any Letters And Numbers: Letters and numbers can help you to identify the age of a piece! Even if it may not look like a properly written date, numbers and letters can help you to identify a piece! In fact, some pieces are engraved with an actual date. You just have to do a little searching!
How can you tell if a dresser is vintage?
Condition of the Wood A few signs that furniture is newer include consistent color, lack of patina, machine-cut moldings/carvings, and modern screws or nails. Things like mortise-and-tenon joints, wood pegs, hand-cut dovetails, and rose head nails are typically found in antique furniture.
How to date antique hardware?
Dating antique furniture screws The head of an older screw will be less uniform and off-centre due to being manufactured by hand. Handles from the late 17th century onwards were secured with pomels and nuts, antique pomels were cast from a single piece of brass, with the grooves only running halfway up the length.
Is 40 year old furniture antique?
In the strictest sense, the difference between an antique and a vintage item is its age. Antiques are items which must be at least 100 years old. That means, as of the date of this posting, an antique item was made on or before April of 1918.
Is there an app for identifying antique furniture?
Hallmarks – The app Hallmarks – Identify Antiques is a good option for identifying random hallmarks on silver and other pieces. The hallmarks are alphabetical.
What year is Georgian furniture?
1714 – c. 1837. The Georgian period, spanning the reign of George I, George II, George III and George IV, was known for producing fine quality, well ‘balanced’ furniture.
What is the difference between Georgian and Victorian furniture?
Compared to Georgian Furniture of the 18th Century, which was predominantly made from Oak or Mahogany, Victorian design heavily featured the use of Walnut and Flamed Mahogany to give a more decorative finish.
What is the difference between Georgian and Regency furniture?
Regency furniture feels classical, but lighter and more refined somehow than the earlier Georgian styles. Lines were simpler, and upholstery fabrics were slightly more demure in colour.
Is there an app for identifying antique furniture?
Hallmarks – The app Hallmarks – Identify Antiques is a good option for identifying random hallmarks on silver and other pieces. The hallmarks are alphabetical.
Can you tell how old a piece of wood is?
Radiocarbon Dating Because wood can be dated directly and by radiocarbon, scientists used bristlecone pines to calculate a new calibration curve, and convert radiocarbon results into accurate calendar dates.
How to identify maker of antique furniture?
These marks can appear as ink stamps, ivorine (an early plastic from around 1900) labels, embossed metal tags, or are carved, branded or stamped into the wood. However, many will be paper labels with printed or handwritten details, usually the name of the furniture maker and their address.
How can I tell how old a chest of drawers are?
Look at the bottom board’s grain as well; if it runs from front to back, the chest was likely built in the early 18th century; if it runs from side to side, it was presumably made after 1750. The chest’s handles should also be examined to see if they are authentic.
Is furniture 50 years old antique?
“By definition, an antique is an item that is 100 years old or older,” says Brandon. This doesn’t matter whether it’s a book, a vase, some glassware, or even a piece of furniture—the rule of thumb remains the same.
Is 30 year old furniture considered vintage?
But what qualifies a piece to be vintage? It is a term that is loosely used to describe a previously owned piece of furniture; however for a piece to be considered “VINTAGE” it must be between 30 to 100 years old. Furniture that is at least 100 years old is classified as “ANTIQUE”.
How old is an antique dresser?
According to Merriam-Webster, an antique is “a relic or object of ancient times” or “a work of art, piece of furniture, or decorative object made at an earlier period and according to various customs laws at least 100 years ago.”
How to identify antique furniture brands?
Check drawers, the underside or back of a piece to find any stamp or tag that might be hiding there. If you don’t manage to find a maker’s mark on a piece, there may still be clues to its origin such as a guild or association mark. This can help buyers and sellers narrow down the probable history of a piece.
How do I identify wood dresser?
Softwoods usually have smooth grain patterns, while hardwoods have rougher, more porous patterns. Look at the grain and feel it with your fingertips to determine if it has the texture of a hardwood. Hardwoods come from flowering trees like walnuts, oak, and maple.
How can you tell the year of furniture?
Search for any labels, stamps or manufacturing tags underneath or on the back of furniture, or in the drawers. These marks will be able to tell you who made the furniture, where it was manufactured and often the year that it was made. If there is a label, look for signs of ageing as they can be faked.
How can you tell if wood is antique furniture?
The best way to tell if it’s real wood is to look at the end grain. This is the surface of the wood that is exposed when a piece of wood is cut across the growth rings or layers of the tree. Real wood’s end grain looks distinctly different from that of manufactured wood.
