![]() And look out for staples, which came into play about the same time. Round nails were not introduced until about 1900, before which they were square cut.If furniture is extensively glued together, as opposed to using joints, then it’s probably a reproduction.The tell tale signs of a handmade screw are: little or no taper, misaligned slot on the head and a much shallower spiral. Screws were handmade until about 1880, when machines took over.Once machines were introduced in the mid-19th century, joints became neater and more consistent. The wider and less delicate the dovetail, the older the piece: Back in the day, craftsmen used hand-cut mortise-and-tenon joints, dovetail joints and wooden pegs.Run your hands along any exposed surfaces and if it’s too smooth, then it’s probably been machine sanded. Generally antiques are hand sanded, giving a slightly rougher finish.The way something is constructed is also a good indicator of era. What it’s made of is only one piece of the puzzle. If something has been built using a mixture of different woods, it’s a good sign that it’s an antique: Less visible parts of the furniture, such as the back of draws, were often made of a cheaper wood than the rest of the piece, such as pine wood, because it was easier and cheaper to get hold of.On the other hand, plywood or particle board were not used in furniture making until the 1930s, so steer clear of furniture made from these woods.Furniture made from oak, walnut, mahogany, cherry, and maple, can date back from as early as the 17th century So if you come across one of these, it has a good chance of being an antique.Let’s get to work! Wooden Furnitureīased on the type of wood used, you can normally decipher the age of the furniture, and thus whether it’s an antique. Though remember great fakes can even fool the masters, which is why we’re encouraging you to do a little of your own detecting. Sounds obvious, I know, but the dealer should be honest as to whether it is a replica, a restored antique or the real deal- all three are valuable in their own rights, as long as sold as such. ![]() So anything which dates prior to 1900, is definitely an antique. After all, The devil is in the detail.īut first, what is an antique? There is much dispute over the details of what classifies something as an antique, however in its most basic definition, it is something over 100 years old. ![]() We have broken it down into the most popular antique categories, pointing out some specifics on what to look out for and what to equip yourself with. So we’ve put together a handy checklist, to help you identify the real from the reproductions. The more you know about antiques, the better. So, when it comes to spotting fake antiques, you’re going to need more than just good instincts – though they will help! ![]() As with many things in life, if it’s a good fake, it fools everyone. ![]()
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