Question 1

How do I identify my antique furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify your antique furniture, look for an engraving, tag, label or other marking that indicates who produced it. You may find it on the bottom or back of your furniture or inside a drawer or cabinet. Once you have located the marking, you can snap a photo of it and use a reverse image search to try and identify the maker. Or, you can type a description of the mark into a search engine. Alternatively, you can use the services of a certified appraiser or antiques dealer to get assistance with identification. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of antique furniture.

Question 2

How do I identify my furniture?

Accepted Answer

An easy way to identify your furniture is to look at the manufacturing label, stamp, or tag which shows the name of the creator. There might also be a signature from the furniture maker instead.

Question 3

How do you identify antique Chinese furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify antique Chinese furniture, look carefully at its details. Chinese craftsmen often built furniture using mortise and tenon joinery, eliminating the need for nails and screws. If you see this type of hardware, your piece is likely not at least 100 years old, especially if the hardware still looks new and shiny. Since antique furniture was handmade, you will normally see slight imperfections, such as tool marks or slight variations in carvings. Pieces that appear completely uniform and pristine are less often genuine antiques.

When present, maker's marks can also be helpful. Research the marks to learn more about when the maker was active and producing pieces like yours. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer evaluate your furniture for you.

Shop an assortment of antique Chinese furniture.

Question 4

How do I identify Kroehler furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Kroehler furniture, search the back, underside, drawer interiors and other inconspicuous areas. Most Kroehler pieces have a stamped or branded maker's mark that bears the Kroehler name. As this mark has changed over the years, comparing the logo and wording on your piece to images published on trusted online resources can help you estimate approximately when it was made. In some cases, the mark may include a production date or a collection name, making a furnishing simpler to identify. If you need assistance with the identification process, consider consulting a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of Kroehler furniture.

Question 5

How do I identify Craftsman furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Craftsman furniture, first search for a maker's mark on hidden areas, such as the insides and undersides of drawers and under seats and tabletops. If you locate a mark, look it up using trusted online resources to identify the maker of your furniture and research whether they worked in the Craftsman style. Furniture from certain makers, such as Gustav Stickley, Greene & Greene, Roycroft Community, Charles Limbert and Lawrence Peabody, is often Craftsman style. Because many Craftsman pieces are unmarked, familiarize yourself with common characteristics of the style, such as evenly spaced slats, understated round or square drawer pulls, straight lines and exposed dowels and tenons. If you'd like an expert opinion, have a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer inspect your piece. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Craftsman furniture.

Question 6

How do I identify Hekman furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Hekman furniture, refer to its markings. You can typically find them in hidden areas, such as inside drawers and beneath tabletops and seats. Since Hekman changed its marks over the years, you can often use it to determine the approximate age of your piece. One of the earliest maker's marks was a letter “H” positioned beside a red shield, which often appeared next to the words "HEKMAN FURNITURE CO., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH." Hekman replaced the shield with a laurel leaf wreath during the 1940s, and the 1960s brought a new logo — a circle that enclosed a letter “H” and the Hekman name. You can find images of all of Hekman's historic marks on the pages of trusted online resources. If you'd like further assistance, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can provide you with an expert opinion. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of Hekman furniture.

Question 7

How do you identify TESSA furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify TESSA furniture, look for a maker's marking. Virtually all pieces produced by the Australian maker are marked. On tables, you will normally find the brand name under the tabletop, while chairs typically display the name under the seat. For casegoods, check the back, base and drawer interiors. Upholstered furniture will have a tag sewn onto one of its cushions. If you struggle to locate a marking, a certified appraiser or experienced dealer can help you with the identification process. Shop a variety of TESSA furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 8

How do you identify Colonial furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Colonial furniture, first look the piece over from top to bottom. If you see any maker's marks, conduct research using trusted online resources to find out who produced your item and when the maker was in business. Pieces made in the USA between the mid-16th and mid-17th centuries are usually classified as Colonial. Should you be unable to locate a marking, the materials and style can provide clues.

Most Colonial furniture was made of pine, elm, oak, mahogany or walnut wood. During the period, furniture tended to be simple overall, but it did include a few flourishes, such as turned cabriole legs. Because Colonial furniture was handcrafted, furnishings produced during the era usually have visible tool marks and slight irregularities in their carvings. Because there are numerous reproductions of Colonial pieces, you may wish to seek the opinion of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer.

On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Colonial furniture.

Question 9

How do I identify bamboo furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify bamboo furniture, use a magnifying glass to examine the grain pattern on your piece. Bamboo has a distinct grain consisting of short, straight lines and small nodes running in the same direction across a surface. Whirled or irregular grain patterns typically indicate that a piece is wood, not bamboo. If you wish to learn who produced your furniture, search the item for a maker's mark and then use trusted online resources to identify the manufacturer. Should you need any help with the identification process, consider using the services of a certified appraiser or experienced dealer. On 1stDibs, find a collection of bamboo furniture.

Question 10

How do I identify Bassett furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Bassett furniture, look for the maker's stamp. You will usually see it in an inconspicuous area, such as on the underside of a tabletop or seat or on the back or base of a casegood. Some pieces will also bear a style number or serial number. You can cross-reference these numbers with information provided by trusted online resources to learn more about your piece. A knowledgeable dealer or certified appraiser can also help you with the identification process. Shop a diverse assortment of Bassett furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 11

How do I identify Dunbar furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Dunbar furniture, search your piece for maker's markings. Some pieces feature a D-shaped metal tag, while others bear a metal plaque with the brand name etched on its surface, with or without the company's location: Berne, Indiana. Dunbar also branded its name onto the wood frames of certain furnishings. Upholstered pieces will most likely have the brand name on a label sewn onto a cushion. If you have difficulty locating a maker's mark, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer will assist you. Shop a variety of Dunbar furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 12

How do I identify Chippendale furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Chippendale furniture, first examine its overall shape. Chippendale furniture tends to have curved lines, such as arching arms on chairs and cabriole legs on seating, tables and case goods. Claw feet and batwing hardware are also common features of furnishings in the Chippendale style. The name Chippendale comes from Thomas Chippendale, a well-known London cabinetmaker, and the style was popular in the U.S. during the 16th century. Contemporary furniture designers continue to produce pieces in this style to this day. Find a selection of Chippendale furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 13

How do I identify Salterini furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Salterini furniture, first look for the brand's logo, which should be stamped into the piece in an inconspicuous place. Since this mark has changed over the years, you can compare the stamp on your piece to images shared on trusted online resources to determine its approximate age. Other signs that a particular item is a Salterini include indentations that suggest a piece was hammered by hand and stylistic flourishes such as delicate S-like scrolls on armrests and legs and the maker's signature detail, a tightly woven basketweave effect. If you need help identifying a particular piece, seek the help of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Shop an assortment of Salterini furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 14

How do I identify McIntosh furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify McIntosh furniture, examine it carefully and look for a maker's mark. Over the years, McIntosh has used three different metal tags to mark the majority of its pieces. Once you've located the one on your piece, compare it to images shared on trusted online resources to determine authenticity. Also, keep in mind that these tags were usually riveted onto the wood rather than glued, so if you don't see visible hardware, a piece may be a replica. Newer furniture may instead display two stickers: one round and one rectangular. Again, you can find photos of these markings online for reference purposes. If you need assistance identifying your furniture, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of A.H. McIntosh furniture.

Question 15

How do I identify Victorian furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Victorian furniture, look closely at the details. Victorian furniture is regal, ornate and luxurious. Growing out of the earlier Gothic and Louis XV styles, it came into its own in the mid-1800s, during the reign of Queen Victoria in England. Some key characteristics of furniture from the period include curved lines and stately proportions, floral and geometric patterns, highly detailed embellishments and the use of rich, often exotic woods. If you are unsure whether a particular piece is Victorian, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can assist you. Find a wide range of Victorian furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 16

How do I identify Mastercraft furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Mastercraft furniture, look for the signature features of their designs. The furniture maker often finished pieces in veneers made of exotic hardwoods like burl, fruitwood, yew and amboyna. Brass trim is a characteristic of many of their pieces. Find a range of Mastercraft furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 17

How do I identify my Gillows furniture?

Accepted Answer

Gillows of Lancaster & London was an 18th-century furniture maker who created high-quality wood furniture designs. Many pieces may have a Gillows stamp along with a series of letters and numbers marked under tabletops, along the top edges of drawers or some other hidden spot. The materials used and craftsmanship will also help identify an authentic Gillows piece. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your piece. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a variety of expertly vetted antique Gillows furniture.

Question 18

How do I identify Empire furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify French Empire furniture, look for characteristics of the period. Pieces typically have substantial, weighty silhouettes and ornate details. You will often find Greek and Roman motifs included in their designs. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of expertly vetted Empire furniture.

Question 19

How do you identify Lane Furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Lane furniture, look for the manufacturer's mark. On a Lane cedar chest, you'll find it on the bottom. Other pieces may display the marking on the base or back or inside a drawer. Most pieces will also have a serial number. Read the digits from right to left to determine the year of production. For example, a chest that says 850303 indicates that Lane produced the piece on March 30, 1958. In some cases, you may see one extra digit at the end. This number represents the plant that made the piece. If you're unsure about the authenticity of a Lane chest or other furnishing, a certified appraiser can assist you with the identification. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Lane furniture.

Question 20

How can I identify old furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify old furniture, search inconspicuous areas for maker's marks. Look under seats and tabletops, inside and underneath drawers, on bases and backs and in other hidden areas. Most vintage and many antique furnishings will feature some type of marking, which you can look up using trusted online resources to determine who produced them. When no maker's mark is present, experts recommend consulting a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of antique and vintage furniture.

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