| When it comes to furniture, antique is glorious word. If | | | | constructed entirely from one type of wood. |
| you are wondering how to know if it is antique | | | | Another characteristic to look for is to examine the |
| furniture, we have your answer here. | | | | way that the joints are held together on the piece of |
| For the modern collector looking to decorate their | | | | furniture. A piece built during the 1800's or 1900's will |
| home with antique furniture, there are many different | | | | have joints that are reinforced with woodworking |
| types and styles to choose from. You can choose | | | | techniques such as dowels, splines, or a mortise and |
| from the various styles of Chippendale furniture, such | | | | tenon, or hand carved dovetails. Again, a modern |
| as the French influenced pieces, the Chinese influenced | | | | reproduction will show different methods of connecting |
| pieces, the Gothic influenced pieces, and the Queen | | | | the wood-to-wood joints, with the use of a hot glue |
| Anne style. Or if you prefer a more American feel, | | | | gun being most common. Additionally, the nails used in |
| you can choose Boston Colonial pieces, New York | | | | genuine antiques will be smaller "finishing" nails, with |
| East Lake pieces, or Stickley pieces with which to | | | | heads that are nailed down under the surface of the |
| furnish your home. | | | | wood so as to be almost invisible, as opposed to the |
| However with all of these possibilities, you also need to | | | | larger, more visible "common nails" used in modern |
| be aware of the fact that many companies, often | | | | manufacturing. |
| from Asia or Latin America, have manufactured | | | | Finally, if you are looking to purchase painted furniture, |
| "reproductions" of these types of furniture but attempt | | | | a close inspection of some aspects of the painting |
| to pass them off as "antiques". Fortunately for you the | | | | techniques can also help you discern between a |
| consumer, there are a few tips and tricks you can use | | | | genuine antique, and a recent reproduction. For |
| to tell the difference between an "old" antique, and a | | | | example, craftsmen of the 18th and 19th century only |
| recently manufactured "new" antique. | | | | painted the exposed areas of their furniture. So if the |
| The first tip to keep in mind when you are attempting | | | | piece you're considering is painted on the inside of its |
| to authenticate antique furniture is to remember that | | | | drawers or the underside of a table, more than likely it |
| furniture that was actually constructed during the 18th | | | | is not a genuine antique. Additionally, the wear on the |
| and 19th centuries is made up of several different | | | | paint should be random and irregular, the kind of wear |
| types of wood. Typically there was one, more | | | | and tear that occurs as a result of everyday life. If the |
| expensive type of wood used on the surfaces that | | | | wear on the paint appears too regular or as if it is in a |
| were exposed, and a secondary, less expensive | | | | pattern, it is likely that the piece is a modern |
| wood, used on the surfaces that were hidden from | | | | construction and was "distressed" by hand in order to |
| view. In comparison, a reproduction will often be | | | | make it appear older than it is. |