How can you tell if furniture is solid wood?

How can you tell if furniture is solid wood?

How to tell if it’s wood veneer or solid wood

1. Solid wood furniture is usually heavier than a veneered piece.
2. You’ll be able to feel the grain if a piece is made of solid wood.
3. Veneered furniture tends to have a uniform, “finished” appearance on all sides.
4. The use of edge banding is another mark of a veneered piece.

Which is the most fascinating part of antique furniture collecting?

Antique Furniture is one of the most fascinating sections of antique collecting. Primarily because so many of us naturally do what’s most important when collecting antique furniture. We buy what we like. Most antique furniture tends to be purchased by ordinary everyday people, rather than dedicated antique furniture collectors.

How can you tell if furniture was made before 1860?

Handmade dovetails almost always indicate a piece made before 1860. It’s easy to spot an antique by the drawers because joints were not machine-cut until about 1860. If it has only a few dovetail joints, with pins narrower than the dovetails, then the joint was made by hand.

How can you tell if a piece of furniture is antique?

There are several ways you can identify an antique furniture item. The first aspect is the joinery; machine-cut furniture was not produced until about 1860. If the piece has drawers, remove a drawer and look carefully where the front and back of the drawer are fastened to the sides of the drawer.

Where can I find an appraiser for my antique furniture?

Contact the American Society of Appraisers, the International Society of Appraisers, or the Appraisers Association of America to obtain recommended appraisers of antique furniture. Locate a nearby antique furniture appraiser by performing an online search.

Where can I find antique furniture and hardware?

Robinson’s Antiques carries original antique hardware dating from 1680 to 1925. Mowery Antiques specializes in restored antique hardware for furniture and houses. In the past, finding original hardware for antique furniture has often been challenging and frustrating experience.

Where do you find old pieces of furniture?

You may come across old furniture handed down through your own family, or at a resale or antique shop. The maker may seem a mystery at first, because the original owner or maker of the piece is not around to tell you about the furniture.

What’s the best way to identify antique furniture?

When trying to identify antique furniture, dedicated antique hunters search for beautifully preserved pieces, armed with pins, magnifying glasses, spirit levels and all sorts of testing equipment. Other interior or home decorators tend not to take things so seriously but are still interested in items, history and authenticity.

Handmade dovetails almost always indicate a piece made before 1860. It’s easy to spot an antique by the drawers because joints were not machine-cut until about 1860. If it has only a few dovetail joints, with pins narrower than the dovetails, then the joint was made by hand.