How do I identify early American furniture?

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.

What is the early American furniture style called?

The early American furniture style is often called the Colonial style. During the 17th century, American craftsmen drew inspiration from medieval and Renaissance furniture. By the 18th century, the William and Mary style that had emerged in England began to heavily influence the American Colonial style. Characteristics of Colonial-style furniture include turned legs, ornamental carvings and richly finished cherry, walnut and mahogany wood. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Colonial-style furniture.

Early American Pewter

Candelabra 1930 Art Deco

Colonial American Silver

Pewter Candelabras

19th Century Coffee Pot

Saloon Furniture

Pewter Cupboard

Chamber Candle Stick Holder

Pewter Tea Pots

Early American Pewter Mustard Pot

$371Sale Price|25% Off

H 5 in W 3.5 in D 2.5 in

Early American Pewter Mustard Pot

Located in Sheffield, MA

An exceptional collectable piece of antique pewter ware. Although not recommended for actual use

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Colonial Pitchers

Materials

Pewter

Early 19th Century Pewter and Granite Coffee Pot, Dated 1818

$760Sale Price|39% Off

H 11 in Dm 5 in

Early 19th Century Pewter and Granite Coffee Pot, Dated 1818

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Early American pewter and granite coffee pot in fantastic form. This wonderful goose neck coffee

Category

Antique 19th Century American Tea Sets

Materials

Granite, Pewter

19th Century Native American Missouri War Axe

$23,000

H 23 in W 9 in D 9 in

19th Century Native American Missouri War Axe

By Native American Art

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Native American Missouri war axe. Pewter blade with inlayed brass weeping heart on one side and

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Brass, Pewter

Collection of Eight American Pewter Ice Cream Moulds

$2,459 / set

H 4.34 in W 3.55 in D 2.76 in

Collection of Eight American Pewter Ice Cream Moulds

Located in London, GB

Collection of eight American pewter ice cream moulds American, Early 20th Century Largest: Height

Category

Early 20th Century American Tableware

Materials

Pewter

Pair of American Country Pewter Pediment Top Wall Sconces

$450 / set

H 12 in W 4.75 in D 3.5 in

Pair of American Country Pewter Pediment Top Wall Sconces

Located in Queens, NY

PAIR of American Country pewter wall sconces with single arms and pediment tops. (PRICED AS PAIR

Category

Early 20th Century American Rustic Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Pewter

Collection of Rare 19th Century Granite and Pewter Goose Neck Coffee Pots

$1,996Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 11 in W 9 in D 7 in

Collection of Rare 19th Century Granite and Pewter Goose Neck Coffee Pots

Located in Los Angeles, CA

. The mix of pewter and enamel looks great with any collection of antique pewter serving pieces. One is

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Classical Serving Pieces

Materials

Pewter

Recent Sales

2 Antique Lambert Hitchcock American Pewter Plate Candle Holder Sconces 11"

Sold

H 10.75 in W 3.75 in D 7.75 in

2 Antique Lambert Hitchcock American Pewter Plate Candle Holder Sconces 11"

By Lambert Hitchcock

Located in Dayton, OH

Rare antique L. Hitchcock early American pewter plate sconce candle holders. Dimensions: 7.75" x

Category

Early 20th Century American Shaker Candle Sconces

Materials

Pewter

Wolfgang and Pola Hoffmann ashtray

Sold

H 3 in W 2 in D 3 in

Wolfgang and Pola Hoffmann ashtray

Located in Chicago, IL

Pewter ashtray from a series designed by Wolfgang and Pola Hoffmann for the Early American Pewter

Category

Vintage 1930s American Ashtrays

4 Early American Antique Pewter Dinner Salad Side Plates Marked

Sold

H 0.5 in W 8.5 in D 8.5 in

4 Early American Antique Pewter Dinner Salad Side Plates Marked

Located in Dayton, OH

Set of four pewter dinner / salad sized plates, one unmarked, and the others showing several

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Colonial Serving Pieces

Materials

Pewter

Pair of American Art Deco Pewter Candelabra

Sold

H 4.25 in W 11.5 in L 4.25 in

Pair of American Art Deco Pewter Candelabra

Located in Chicago, IL

A fantastic pair of early 20th century American Art Deco pewter two-arm candelabra with a fun

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Candelabras

Materials

Pewter

Rare American Arts and Crafts Pewter and Ebony Inlaid Armchair

Sold

H 42 in W 28 in D 32 in

Rare American Arts and Crafts Pewter and Ebony Inlaid Armchair

Located in Essex, MA

Rare American Arts and Crafts Armchair with Ebony and Pewter Inlaid Ornamentation in the Mission

Category

Early 20th Century American Armchairs

Materials

Pewter

Antique 19th Century Sellew & Co Pewter Teapot Tea Coffee Pot Acorn Finial

Sold

H 11.125 in W 10.5 in D 6 in

Antique 19th Century Sellew & Co Pewter Teapot Tea Coffee Pot Acorn Finial

Located in Dayton, OH

"Antique mid to early 19th century American pewter teapot with acorn finial by Sellew & Co of

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Early Victorian Tea Sets

Materials

Pewter

Antique 19th C. Oak Step Back Pewter China Hutch Farmhouse Cupboard Bookcase

Sold

H 80 in W 43.5 in D 17 in

Antique 19th C. Oak Step Back Pewter China Hutch Farmhouse Cupboard Bookcase

Located in Dayton, OH

Early 19th century American Primitive pewter hutch or china cupboard. 2 piece design made from oak

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American Classical Cabinets

Materials

Oak

2 Antique Early American Pewter Baluster Taper Candlesticks Candle Holders 7"

Sold

H 7.25 in Dm 3.75 in

2 Antique Early American Pewter Baluster Taper Candlesticks Candle Holders 7"

Located in Dayton, OH

Pair of antique early American baluster style pewter candlesticks.

Category

Antique 19th Century American Colonial Candlesticks

Materials

Pewter

Pair of American Pewter Candlesticks, 1825-1835

Sold

H 8 in Dm 3.8 in

Pair of American Pewter Candlesticks, 1825-1835

Located in Kenilworth, IL

Pair of baluster form pewter candlesticks with roped edged bobesh and candle push-up ejectors

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American Candlesticks

Materials

Pewter

Antique Early American Chamber Stick

Sold

H 6.5 in W 6.25 in D 6.5 in

Antique Early American Chamber Stick

Located in Sheffield, MA

A fine and impressive antique pewter chamber candlestick has a plain round form with scalloped pie

Category

Antique 19th Century American Adam Style Candle Lamps

Materials

Pewter

Small Vintage Pewter Creamer Stamped Pierrepont

Sold

H 2.25 in W 3.38 in D 4 in

Small Vintage Pewter Creamer Stamped Pierrepont

By Meriden Britannia Company

Located in Sheffield, MA

The very petite vintage pewter creamer, while small but full of charm, has a beaded rim and is

Category

Early 20th Century American American Colonial Pitchers

Materials

Pewter

Pair of 19th Century Antique Saloon Liquor Bottles with Pewter Shot Glasses

Sold

H 11.5 in Dm 3.25 in

Pair of 19th Century Antique Saloon Liquor Bottles with Pewter Shot Glasses

Located in Bedford Hills, NY

Cool pair of clear thick glass Saloon liquor bottles with pewter shot glasses, very old, early 19th

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Colonial Barware

Materials

Pewter

Early American Pewter Cupboard

Sold

H 80 in W 38 in D 23 in

Early American Pewter Cupboard

Located in Sheffield, MA

Open-top pewter cupboard, pine, having a nice Spanish Brown color with a beautiful patina. The

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Cupboards

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Native American Tomahawk

$12,000

H 23.75 in W 7 in D 7 in

Native American Tomahawk

By Native American Art

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Classic Native American Eastern Plains Indian tomahawk. With tulip shaped bowl and maple wire wrapped shaft. One tin cone drop with horse hair. Beautiful layered steel blade with dar...

Category

Early 20th Century American Native American Objects

Materials

Metal

19th Century Northern Plains Spontoon Pipe Tomahawk

$20,000

H 22 in W 11.5 in D 3 in

19th Century Northern Plains Spontoon Pipe Tomahawk

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Northern Plains spontoon style pipe tomahawk with solid brass head, carved and file burnt and painted original haft. Period: 19th century Origin: Northern Plains Size: Head 11 1/2",...

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Antique Mid-19th Century American Native American Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Iron

Native American Sioux Catlinite T Pipe

$5,175

H 31 in W 9 in D 5 in

Native American Sioux Catlinite T Pipe

By Sioux Indian Art

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Sioux catlinite T pipe with fluted base and top. Has been smoked, with original stem. Collected by Charles Graves, Indian agent in 1928, South Dakota. Authentic. Period: First quart...

Category

Early 20th Century American Native American Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Other

Adorned Iron 19th Century Pipe Tomahawk

$25,000

H 21 in W 18 in D 3 in

Adorned Iron 19th Century Pipe Tomahawk

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Heavily adorned presentation grade pipe tomahawk with pewter inlaid fish, moon, acorn and war axe on cast iron blade. Period: Mid-19th century Origin: Eastern, US Size: Head 18", ov...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Native American Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Iron

19th Century Eastern Ball Headed War Club

$12,000

H 24 in W 4 in D 4 in

19th Century Eastern Ball Headed War Club

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Eastern (most probably Mohawk), circa 1880-1890, ball headed war club with antler spike. Still shows file rasp marks from carving. Decorated with dots and bird tracks. Made of fir. G...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Wood

19th Century Native American Pipe Tomahawk

$23,000

H 21 in W 10 in D 10 in

19th Century Native American Pipe Tomahawk

By Native American Art

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Native American pipe tomahawk with brass head engraved with American eagle having crest and "Hull Curttss, November 1, 1776". Shaft has tacks, pewter inlays and file burnt. Not sure ...

Category

Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Brass

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Early American Pewter For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the early American pewter you’re looking for. Each early American pewter for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, pewter and wood. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect early American pewter — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. An early American pewter made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with neoclassical — is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one early American pewter that is appealing in its simplicity, but Paul Evans, Chapman Manufacturing Company and Erwine & Estelle Laverne produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Early American Pewter?

The average selling price for an early American pewter at 1stDibs is $3,050, while they’re typically $95 on the low end and $210,000 for the highest priced.