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How do I identify an antique table?

2 Answers
How do I identify an antique table?
You can identify an antique table in a number of ways. The first clue that a table is antique is the joinery. If a piece of furniture is dovetailed by hand, it only has a couple of dovetails, which are uneven. Also, antique tables are not defined by perfect symmetry. Lastly, antique tables were typically made of oak, mahogany, and walnut.
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
In addition to the joinery you can check the bottoms of the drawers and the backs of the cabinets. If they were made prior to 1850 then the wood will most likely be dimensioned by hand. It will be uneven to the touch. The secondary wood that receives the veneer will have been scraped smooth but drawer bottoms, backs and bottoms are often left less finished.
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Post Modern Square Mersman End Table designed by Lou Hodges for Mersman c. 1970s
By Mersman, Lou Hodges
Located in New York, NY
Chic, architectural sidebar end, table designed by Lou Hodges for Mersman, circa 1970's. The table features a sculptural solid oak frame with a bevelled tinted glass top. This exampl...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern End Tables

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Glass, Oak

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By Mersman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
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Category

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By Mersman
Located in Germantown, MD
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Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

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Mersman Mid Century Walnut and Formica Top Small Side Table
By Mersman
Located in Germantown, MD
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Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

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Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of walnut one drawer bottom shelf rectangle end tables mint condition.
Category

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Materials

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Mid Century Modern End Table with Single Drawer by Mersman
By Mersman
Located in Freehold, NJ
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Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

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