Lloyd’s Woodworking · Hudson, Massachusetts
By Lloyd’s Woodworking Inc.
How Can I Tell If My Old Furniture May Be an Antique?
DIRECT ANSWER:
Construction details, hardware, joinery, labels, marks, materials, design and family history can provide clues about age and origin, but photographs alone may not establish authenticity, maker or monetary value. Identification and appraisal are separate from restoration.
“IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER’S”
TELLS US SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
IT DOESN’T TELL US EVERYTHING.
LOOK FOR LABELS AND MARKS
Check safely for:
Paper labels
Stamps
Brands
Signatures
Metal tags
Handwritten notes
Retailer marks
Do not remove labels unnecessarily.
LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION
Potential clues may include:
Drawer joinery
Back construction
Fasteners
Hardware
Saw marks
Interior surfaces
Joinery techniques
But no single feature proves age by itself.
HARDWARE CAN PROVIDE CLUES
Look at:
Hinges
Locks
Pulls
Knobs
Screws
Backplates
Remember that hardware may have been replaced.
FAMILY HISTORY MATTERS
Write down:
Who owned it
Where they lived
When the family remembers acquiring it
Old photographs
Receipts
Letters
Estate records if available
BE CAREFUL WITH INTERNET IDENTIFICATION
A visually similar piece online does not prove:
Maker
Date
Rarity
Authenticity
Value
Frequently asked questions
CAN LLOYD’S TELL ME THE EXACT AGE FROM A PHOTO?
Not necessarily.
DO LABELS MATTER?
They can provide useful information.
DOES HAND-CUT JOINERY PROVE HIGH VALUE?
No.
IS IDENTIFICATION THE SAME AS APPRAISAL?
No.