The Old Faust

The mirror is more than 6,000 years old. Early examples made of polished obsidian rather than glass date back to 4000 B.C. Handheld glass mirrors became popular in ancient Greece during the 5th century B.C. Find a diverse assortment of mirrors from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.

To tell how old your brooch is, flip it over and examine the back, searching for markings. You can use these markings to learn more about your brooch and get a rough idea of its age. Depending on where and when the maker produced the piece, you may find metal purity, assay marks, serial numbers, date codes or maker's markings. When present, maker's markings are a great starting point for your research. By comparing the marking to reference guides available on trusted online resources, you can typically use it to identify the maker. From there, you can educate yourself on when the maker was in business and review guides on how to date its pieces using makings and other characteristics. Serial numbers, date codes, assay marks and purity marks may also be researched to uncover information about your brooch. If you don't find any marks at all, your brooch is possibly an antique, as most European countries have required marks for centuries, and the U.S. began mandating various marks in 1918. If you run into any difficulty while performing your research, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable jeweler can assist you with the dating process. Shop a large collection of brooches on 1stDibs.

To tell how old an armchair is, first see if you can locate a maker's mark. It may appear on a cushion, on a leg or on the frame beneath the seat. Once you locate a mark, refer to trusted online resources to learn more about the workshop, artisan or company that produced your armchair. Find out when they were active and browse galleries of their work to find armchairs similar to yours. You can also read articles on how to use the maker's mark and other characteristics to date chairs produced by the manufacturer. If you can't find a mark or run into any difficulty, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of armchairs.

The easiest way to tell how old your chair is on your own is to look for a maker's mark or label. Usually, you will find it under the seat or on the base or frame. Once you know the maker, you can conduct online research using trusted resources to learn when it manufactured chairs similar to yours. If you can't find a mark, the materials, style and how the chair was made can help you estimate its age. Familiarizing yourself with different furniture styles can get you started. If you'd like assistance dating your chair, consult a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of chairs.

To tell how old your Wedgwood is, examine it for markings. Most Wedgwood pieces bear factory marks in an inconspicuous area, such as on the bottom or back. By comparing these markings to trusted online resources, you can usually get a rough idea of a piece’s age. For assistance with dating a particular piece, enlist the help of a certified appraiser or experienced dealer. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Wedgwood pottery.

To tell how old your ring is, look for markings that indicate its maker. By looking up the hallmarks in trusted online resources, you can determine who produced the ring and when the maker was active. From there, you can examine images of similar rings to narrow down the date of production. Alternatively, you can enlist the services of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer for an expert opinion on your piece's age. Shop a wide range of antique, vintage and contemporary rings on 1stDibs.

To tell how old your vase is, you'll need to do some research using trusted online resources. Begin by determining who produced your vase, if possible. You can start by examining your vase for a maker's mark. Then, you can learn more about the maker to find out when pieces similar to yours were produced. If you have difficulty locating a marking, try snapping a photo of your vase and conducting a reverse image search to try and identify your piece and learn its age. Alternatively, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you with the dating process. On 1stDibs, find a large collection of vases.

Having an expert identify vintage cufflinks is the best way to ensure an accurate evaluation. Cufflinks first made their appearance in the 17th century, and became popular through the 19th century. Shop a range of vintage and contemporary cufflinks on 1stDibs.

To identify old dishes, examine the marks that appear on the bottom. If they appear handwritten, your dishes likely date back to before the 19th century. You can use authoritative online resources to research the marks and figure out which company produced them. An expert licensed appraiser can also provide assistance with identification. You'll find a large selection of expertly vetted antique dishes on 1stDibs.

Old chandeliers first worked because of taper candles inserted into their frames and lit nightly to provide illumination for a room. In the 18th century, chandeliers produced flickering flames fueled by natural gas, butane, propane or a similar substance. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage chandeliers.

To tell how old jewelry is, you can compare its stylistic features to images of pieces featured on trusted online resources (engraving on a signet ring, for example, may indicate that a piece dates back at least to the 1900s). Another option is to look for a stamp or hallmark that indicates who the maker is. With some research, you may be able to determine where a manufacturer was located and how long the company was in business. It’s important to note that not all vintage or antique-looking jewelry is actually vintage or antique. Experts recommend that you take the jewelry to a certified appraiser who can evaluate and date the piece. Shop a range of jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

To tell how old a mirror is, examine its back. Many pieces will feature a maker's mark or logo. By researching the mark or logo using trusted online resources, you may be able to determine who the manufacturer was and when they were active. Wooden backs often signify that a mirror is an antique, while paper backings are usually found on newer mirrors. If you need help dating a mirror, consult a certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer. Shop a wide range of mirrors on 1stDibs.

You can often tell the age of an ivory piece by its color. Since ivory is a natural material, it acquires a patina over time. An ivory patina is usually dull yellow or brown — beware of a bright yellow patina, as this could indicate artificial aging. If your ivory piece doesn’t have a maker’s mark or date on it, take it to an expert to identify the exact era it came from. Shop a collection of vintage ivory art from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

To clean an old safe, open it up and shake out any dust and debris. Then, clean every surface with a degreasing agent formulated for the safe's specific type of material. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique and vintage safes.

Opinions on how old a rug has to be to be considered antique vary. However, most experts will apply the label to any rug produced more than 100 years ago, and call floor coverings produced 50 to 100 years ago vintage. Shop a variety of antique rugs on 1stDibs.