how old is that sofa in the window?

Tips for telling the age of antique furniture

Libby Callaway, Flora Vintage

Telling the age of a piece of furniture isn’t rocket science. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Luckily, GasLamp Antique & Decorating Mall dealers are willing to share their secrets for telling whether the armoire you’re eyeing is really as old
as the owner says it is.

Sheryl Horton, who with her husband Rick runs Exquisitiques out of B227, says any thorough examination begins with an overview of the craftsmanship. Simply put, older, more valuable items are probably made with care and more capable crafts men than newer pieces. “The quality of carvings and other details will be finer than those of reproductions,” she says.

Howard Diehl of B204 agrees, adding that it’s always important to do a hands-on examination of the piece you like – even those at auctions. “Something that may look old from where you’re standing might not be up close,” he says. So try and come early to check out things you like before the auction begins.

Another way to tell if a piece is old or new is by examining its condition. “Look for cracking and how it has worn,” Howard suggests. Also, he says, notice the way the sides of drawers are connected.

Older pieces utilize a dovetail design, so called because of its triangular shape. (Howard notes that American furniture makers produced chunkier dovetails than their European counterparts, which are daintier.) Drawers can be the portals to lots of important clues.

For starters, a lot of new pieces have their name stamped inside the drawer, says Jessica Boudinot of B101.

This is also a place where cheap, new particle board is used as a replacement for the original wood – something you want to watch out for on the back, bottom and top of large chest-like pieces, as well, she says.

Drawers are also a good place to look to find out whether it’s been painted or refinished. Look for brush mark edges left behind after an application of paint or varnish. Look for signs of common wear from use, which indicates age.

For instance, Sheryl says, “look for signs of natural wear – like how the light has shown through a window” and caused fading.”

When you’re checking out chairs, look for scuffs at the bottom of the legs, says Howard.

Also, are the legs pegged or glued? “Pegged or doweled legs will be older in most cases,” he says.

Diehl says checking hardware isn’t necessarily the best way to determine age, since these are easy to switch. However, the area behind the pulls – again, this is probably inside a drawer – is an important place to examine, Howard says. “Extra holes are sometimes made in the wood when pulls are changed. This isn’t very desirable.”

Jessica has a test for checking the finish for age.

“Scratch the wood on the back” where it has the least wear, she says. “If what you scratch off is clear, it probably has age. The lighter the color, the older it is.”

Sheryl says the heavier the wood, the more likely it is to be old. “Older pieces are made from trees that were allowed to grow longer,” she explains. “Now they cut them down so much earlier than the wood has less weight.”

For similar reasons, large slabs of unseamed wood from older, larger trees also indicate age. Look for pieces like this on buffets and tables, says Sheryl.

Most of all, says Jessica, it’s important to chill out before you make a rash purchase. “Open your eyes and look at it like a dealer would. Check all around,” she says. “It’s hard to do sometimes when you’re excited, but you’ll be happy if you do and a lot better off.”

That said, the bottom line is that if you fall head over heels for a piece that perfectly fits your needs, who really cares how old it is? “On an older chair it may be a little wobbly,” says Sheryl, “but if the pieces are still in good condition, don’t worry about it. Over time, glue dries and screws come loose.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean its bad; it just means it’s old! It can be fixed. The most important thing is that you love it.”