Antique…..Or Not? What To Look For (Part One)

 

     When it comes to recognizing a potential bargain at a Flea Market, antique store or auction house, nothing beats having had to dismantle a chair or table for restoration purposes, analyze it’s parts, and then restore the piece using the same materials, tools and techniques used when the piece was made. Knowing how to use a chisel and handsaw and understanding the types of markings they leave behind is invaluable when trying to determine when a piece of furniture was made.

To date a piece and distinguish antiques from reproductions or fakes, you need not just in-depth knowledge of historical styles and construction techniques but powers of deduction worthy of a detective.

There are a number of questions you should be asking yourself when trying to determine a piece of furniture’s true age. What “style” is it?  Did the decorative motifs match that given style? Was this type of furniture used during that time period?  What species woods and veneers were used on the exterior and interior? How thick Is the veneer? (Rule of thumb…the older the piece, the thicker the veneer will be.)  Are the insides of the drawers finished, or the outside back? (a common practice used on reproductions or fakes to hide the coloration of the newer wood.) Are there normal and logical signs of wear in the right places? 

Well….my morning writing time has expired and I’m off to work on furniture in my Studio. I will continue with Part two tomorrow and we’ll take “What to look for” a step further.

Cheers…Rodney Keyser