Turn the piece over and examine the bottom of the chest of drawers for a paper label or stamp . Look at the back side of the chest of drawers and inside all the drawers. A label or stamp often contains the name of the company that made the chest of drawers and, in some cases, lists the year or city of manufacture.
How do you date an antique chest?
If the handles are original it will give a very good indication of the age of the chest. A pear drop handle will suggest the chest will be William and Mary or Queen Anne period whereas a swan neck handle would be found on pieces that post date 1750. Drawer mouldings will also give an indication of the age of the chest.
How do you date antique drawers?
If the handles are original it will give a very good indication of the age of the chest. A pear drop handle will suggest the chest will be William and Mary or Queen Anne period whereas a swan neck handle would be found on pieces that post date 1750. Drawer mouldings will also give an indication of the age of the chest.
What do the numbers on the back of furniture mean?
A number could indicate the style , the maker, or even a patent granted to the company. The furniture back. Some manufacturers used less expensive wood on the back of a bureau, and they placed the label there, where it wouldn’t damage the finish.
How do I identify an antique chest of drawers?
Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer ; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860.
How do I identify my furniture maker?
A telltale sign of the furniture’s maker is a manufacturing tag, label or stamp bearing the name of the creator . Such a marking or label may have been placed inside a drawer on an old dresser, on the back of a chest of drawers, or on the underside of a chair or sofa seat.
How old is chest of drawers?
Chest of drawers, type of furniture developed in the mid-17th century from a chest with drawers in the base. By the 1680s the “chest” was entirely made up of drawers: three long ones of varying depth, topped by two short ones side by side.
Are old steamer trunks worth anything?
These are the two most important factors in determining the value of your antique steamer trunk. Louis Vuitton trunks will sell for between $3000 and $20,000 while an unmarked steamer trunk will only sell for between $75 and $100. Martin Maier and Goyard steamer trunks may sell for between $500 and $3000.
Why is it called a steamer trunk?
Cabin trunks, which are sometimes called “true” steamer trunks, were the equivalent of today’s carry-on luggage. They were low-profiled and small enough to fit under the berths of trains or in the cabin of a steamer , hence their name.
When did they stop making dovetail furniture?
Hand-cut dovetailing was the default until 1860 when uniform machine-cut joints were introduced. But fine cabinetmakers persisted in fitting their joints by hand until the early 1900s , and cabinetmakers in Europe cut dovetails by hand well into the 1930s.
How can you tell if furniture is mid century?
Mid century furniture is characterised by clean lines, open sides and classic shapes . If a piece looks ornate or has what feels like extraneous details then treat it with caution. Mid century furniture is often crafted from solid woods, notably teak, elm, beech and rosewood.
Do couches have serial numbers?
Most couches will have a serial number— Yes , even the newer ones! If you have a newer couch, you can expect to find the serial number on the product tag. This is usually located on a label attached to the inside of the arm of the couch, the bottom of the couch, or under the seat cushions.
How do you identify Lane furniture?
Usually Lane cedar chests have serial numbers that are stamped or applied to the bottom of the chests . You can read the serial number BACKWARDS to determine the production date. For example: serial number 753150 would have been produced on 05/13/57.
How do I find out what year my furniture was made?
Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860 .
Is Duncan Phyfe furniture marked?
Many Duncan Phyfe-era cabinetmakers placed their company’s name on every finished furniture piece. Phyfe, on the other hand, put his signature on only a few creations. This means that the great majority of Phyfe furniture pieces have no signature or other identifying marks .
Is there an app to identify furniture?
The Google Goggles app is an image-recognition mobile app that uses visual search technology to identify objects through a mobile device’s camera. Users can take a photo of a physical object, and Google searches and retrieves information about the image.
