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.

Antique Or Not ? (Part Two) By The Restoration Studio

On many occasions I have found myself evaluating a customers furniture, only to be shown a “very old and valuable” antique. “It’s very old”, Or “it’s a real antique” usually starts the conversation, followed by the story of how It ended up in their possession. All to often, the “antique” turns out not to be an antique at all!

So how can you tell? The antique dealer said It was a period Hepplewhite sideboard, and the price sticker would support that, so it must be an antique right? Not necessarily. Honestly, I approach every piece with skepticism. The truth is, for every true period antique, there are many thousands of reproductions. I look at every piece assuming it is not a period antique, and then use the power of deduction to make a final determination.