Identifying antique furniture is a difficult task if you’re not sure what to look for. To be able to tell if your piece is a reproduction or if what you own is something of value, you need to know what style or famous markers an antique of that type would have. When it comes to antique furniture the first identifier that you should look for is style or period. Chippendale, a style from the mid 1700s, and Queen Anne, from the early 1700s, are two similar style but have significant difference between the two styles. Eastlake, a style from the late 1800s, is noticeably different, as well.

Machine cut furniture wasn’t made until after 1860, so that is a distinct giveaway that a piece is not an antique. For instance, when looking at a drawer check the back, bottom, and sides for nicks in the wood. Nicks or cuts on the wood indicate that the piece was most likely cut with a spokeshave or drawknife. If you notice circular marks, it was cut by a circular saw, which was not available until about 1860. If you believe your furniture is a valuable antique, call Brian at Kittelberger Galleries for details or schedule an appointment with us using our form.