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How do I identify early American furniture?
1 Answer
To identify early American furniture, you can evaluate your piece on your own or seek the opinion of a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. Although many pieces from the Colonial era are unmarked, double-checking your furniture for signatures, stamps and labels is still a good first step. Using trusted online resources, you can research any markings to determine if the maker was active in America during the 16th and early 17th centuries. When identifying unmarked furniture, it's generally necessary to consider the style and details of the piece. Due to its handcrafted origins, early American furniture tends to have visible tool marks and irregularities in its carvings. Early American furnishings tended to be simple in style but often had one or two refined details, such as cabriole legs. Looking at images of authentic early American furniture can be helpful when making an identification. On 1stDibs, find a collection of 18th-century American furniture.
1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
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Shop for Antique American 18th Century Furniture on 1stDibs
Native American Pipe and Bag
By Native American Art
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Native American pipe bag. Original catlinite pipe bowl and stem. Comes in a buffalo hide pouch
Category
Antique Late 18th Century American Native American Objects
Materials
Stone
$12,000
Large Brazilian or Guyana Amazon Indigenous Macana War Club, 18th or Earlier
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brazil, Wapitxana group of the Aruak peoples, 18th century, possibly earlier
Measure: H. 43 cm
The
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Brazilian Native American Objects
Materials
Hardwood
18th Century American Ladderback Armchair
Located in Rochester, NY
Mid 18th century American ladderback armchair in maple and oak with beautiful rich honey colored
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century American American Colonial Armchairs
Materials
Rush, Oak, Maple
18th Century American Giltwood Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Hand-carved in the 18th Century, the gilt wood frame of this mirror is decorated with elegant
Category
Antique 18th Century American Wall Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
18th Century Early American Ash Burl Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible 18th century early American ash burl bowl from New England, possibly New York, with a
Category
Antique 18th Century American American Colonial Decorative Bowls
Materials
Ash, Burl
18th Century South American Silver Bowl
Located in New York, NY
South American silver bowl from the 18th century, apparently unmarked, from the Colonial era, with
Category
Antique 18th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Sterling Silver
Materials
Silver
