how to identify wood in antique furniture

Identifying antique furniture is something of a challenge for most people. It varies in colour from … Look over your furniture in areas such as the backside or underside. Here is some basic information about wood: There are two kinds of wood, soft and hard: Wood has two kinds of grain, a close grain and a coarse grain: Tips for determining if the wood is veneered: Your email address will not be published. If you are looking for basic guidelines on how to identify Chippendale furniture, keep an eye out for pointed arches, S-shaped curves, and wooden … Identifying Bassett Furniture. Share. Yet with so many imitations out there, it is important to be able to identify a genuine item of furniture. “knotty pine” or “bird’s-eye maple,” that can complicate the identification Rosewood is a hardwood that has a close grain. It can look similar to mahogany, but has fine black or white rings and is much heavier lumber. Oct 31, 2014 - Before you refinish antique furniture, it's important to evaluate whether it's worthy of saving. Maple is native to Europe and North American. The difference between the two is the subject matter. Parquetry is veneer in geometric patterns. Red and Brown are two common colors of mahogany. While the value of an antique piece gradually increases over it’s lifetime, however the condition they are kept in can vastly effect the value of an antique. The wood itself is the final clue. process. If the wood is a soft wood your fingernail will leave an indention. Thanks for doing such a great job! determine the type of wood used in antique furniture and trace it to a specific Quarter-sawn oak is also a specific type of how the lumber is cut, which shows the ray fleck, a sought-after almost holographic pattern in the grain. "I will definitely recommend Aaron's Touchup to all my friends. Many years of polishing and exposure to various elements form a patina. Early 17th-century furniture typically featured bun- or ball-style feet. Knowing What to Avoid Look for lower-quality joints. Furniture labels and marks have been used since the 19th century, and the number of marks out there is mind-boggling -- in his book Arts and Crafts Shopmarks, author Your email address will not be published. Using a lovely antique oak child's chair, we run through some of the obvious points to look out for when hunting for genuine antique furniture. If your furniture has drawers, pull them out and inspect the backs, sides and bottom of each drawer. Check for a signature or label from the furniture maker. If it’s not authentic, determine if your piece is a revival or a reproduction. Antiques, Collectibles and Auctions resources. Walnut burl veneers are also common on edges and trim in larger pieces. Thank you for great article. Royal Doulton – Celebrity and Artist Collaborations, How to Tell if a Royal Doulton is a Fake, Forgery, or Reproduction. a myriad of ways to cut and stain wood, it can sometimes be difficult to Elm is a hardwood that has a coarse grain. Elizabethan (1520–1620) Early American … Parquetry: Parquetry and marquetry are similar. Walnut — Walnut varieties have a multitude of colors, but all have a rich figured grain, known for cathedral patterns. answer. Ash is commonly used to replace oak and the two can be easily confused.  Veneered furniture  has a lower value  than a piece that is made of solid wood. This is due to the rarity or availability of the wood. Here are a few tips on how to determine the age of a piece of furniture. Maple was frequently veneered. The Wood and Finish. Many times lighter woods (elm, maple or oak) are stained to look like darker woods such as mahogany or rosewood. The foot component of an antique furniture item describes the small piece of timber that is attached to the leg of a chair, table, or stool that supports the item, and there are many different styles, as you can imagine. Coarse grain is where the age rings of the wood are far apart or open grain. Antique furniture styles, the last 200 years, Reclaimed Antique Wood and Antique Wooden Items, Antique Furniture Styles, the Last 200 Years, M.I. Oak is very popular in the Arts and Crafts movement. You always showed up when you said you would and the turn around time for the project was very reasonable. The wood is almost pink when first cut, but darkens with age to beautiful browns and reds. Polishing wooden antiques should be completed correctly to ensure the item isn’t damaged or devalued. There are several ways you can identify an antique furniture item. This made it so furniture makers could provide more affordable furniture to more customers. When you look closely at rosewood you will see fine black or white rings. Wood that have to be imported cost much more then wood found native to a country. There are also special types of walnut including burled (closed scrolling grain), circassian walnut, and American fireside. Measure the tabletop for round tables. types of woods to be used in furniture for their various qualities. Softwoods are not Oak — Oak is very solid wood, popular in cabinetry, wood turning, almost all furniture construction. Share. The first step to finding out if your attic clutter is actually buried treasure is to identify the maker of the furniture. 4,142 4.1K. Walnut is a hardwood that has a close grain. It has a distinctive grain pattern and ranges from light brown to red, sometimes with a ribbon effect. In the 17th century Europe started to use oak to make furniture. *Note Conditioning the wood with wax will protect the wood … Wood shrinks over time, and only in one direction. This gives the wood grain an uneven appearance. Look at the edges of the wood and if you see a seam then it is veneered. If the edge is seamless then it is solid wood. Another type of maple is bird’s eye maple. You all did a fantastic job on my Great Grandmother's dining table and chairs. Pine was frequently used to make furniture that was intended to be painted or veneered. There are additional variations within each wood type, such as “knotty pine” or “bird’s-eye maple,” that can complicate the identification process. Multiple types of wood is a good thing. But, it is important to determine which type of wood is most prevalent in your antique to help determine the age. Those may interest you: How to help us identify your antique? There are several things to look for when examining a piece of furniture that help to identify it as an antique. It is pale and is knotted. A telltale sign of the furniture's maker is a manufacturing tag, label or stamp bearing the name of the creator. Elm is native to North America and Europe Like maple, elm was frequently veneered. Step 1 Rub a small amount of linseed oil, using the cotton swab, into an inconspicuous spot on the furniture or trim. Some basic points to take into consideration to identify antique wood furniture are as follows: Patina: Antique furniture has a rich beautiful finishing. Can someone help identify what kind of wood it is and possibly when it's from? If the wood is a soft wood your fingernail will leave an indention. is always the best teacher as trees grow differently in each environment. If you are unsure about a piece of Most pieces were shown in either Amber or Bleached finish, so if a piece has either of these words stenciled on the back or underside, there’s a good chance … Look closely at the the different elements that make the piece of furniture. Lower quality joints include … Cherry – Cherry is a common hardwood in American antiques, as well as Queen Anne styles. By Lisa, 3 years ago on Identify Antique Furniture. Round tabletops should be out of round, meaning they should be slightly oval. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Share. Wood shrinks with time, loosening joints, and use often wears hand carvings and embellishments smooth. The Spruce / Elise Degarmo If you are trying to determine the age of a piece of American antique furniture, it will require investigative work. Significant Furniture Design Periods. necessarily any less durable than hard, but they are supple and easier to work Walnut veneers over pine construction are more common than solid walnut pieces. Rosewood — This wood gets its name from the scent it gives off when you cut it, much like the flower. Where to Sell Your Antiques and Collectibles? Key Characteristics of Chippendale Furniture. Frequently used shapes where flowers and birds.  Many exotic wood such as satinwood, ebony and tulipwood were used for marquetry. Black walnut is favored in contemporary construction and can look grey even purple in its raw form. If it’s possible, pick the piece of … It is very common in cabinetry construction due to its strength and durability. Oak is highly popular in furniture that dates from 1700 to earlier years. Early Colonial (1640-1730) Shortly after the first European colonists arrived in … If the oil absorbs into the wood, the finish is likely oil. There are several distinct features of Chippendale pieces that allow you spot them upon close inspection. Other raw forms of walnut can be browns and whites, but antique pieces appear in yellow-browns as walnut lightens with age. The timber commonly has straight grain and is white or pale yellow, which darkens over time. How to Tell If a Swarovski Crystal Collectible is Real or Fake? Softwoods are usually conifers, while hardwoods are from deciduous If the wood is a hard wood your fingernail will leave no mark. Here is a brief description of some of the more common styles of furniture feet, which can help … If the piece has drawers, remove a drawer and look carefully where the front and back of the drawer are fastened to the sides of the drawer. American Colonial furniture was dependent on the local availability of wood. When identifying antique chairs, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. Rosewood got it’s name because of the rose scent the wood gives off when cut. Share. Hummel Figurines and Collectibles Value Chart - Hummel Price Guide. with. Inlay is a decorative trimming where materials other than wood is inlaid into wood. Lumber is often divided into soft and hardwood. Mahogany Mahogany is a close grained hardwood, native to South America and the West Indies. You will often see it used on dining tables and dressers, sometimes solid or commonly as a veneer. If it beads, the finish is shellac, polyurethane, lacquer or varnish. Hi this is an antique Bassett dresser. Walnut is native to North America and Europe. antique furniture or the type of wood it is made from, bring it in to us! Pine is a soft wood with a straight grain. ", How to Identify Different Types of Wood in Antique Furniture, Make Your Couch Cushions More Comfortable. to identify types of wood and how to recognize common characteristics. Common materials used for inlays: Gilding is where gold leaf is applied with a plaster like substance to wood. Antique chairs have a distinctive appearance, even when compared to exact replicas, especially when you look at the results of long use and age on the antique chair. Before 1900, most furniture was made with woods like walnut, oak, mahogany, rosewood, fruitwoods, and rare wood veneers and inlays were in commonly used. I already bookmark this page. Consider the weight and hardness of the wood. 294 294. One of the best ways to identify an antique style is by observing the piece’s legs and feet. ... More than likely it is maple wood … To find out more about antique furniture and time period that a certain type of wood was used please see Antique furniture styles, the last 200 years, Filed Under: Antiques, Authentication, Furniture Tagged With: Antique, Authentication, Collectibles, Furniture. The … The colors of walnut can vary from a light walnut to a rich golden brown color. Red and white oak are very popular varieties. This gives the wood a smooth or fine appearance. Oak is native to North America and Europe. Don’t touch the furniture until you know its value. By kstexas, 2 years ago on Identify Antique Furniture. Veneering is when thin sheets of a more valuable wood are glued to a less valuable wood. Copyright © 2020 | Antique HQ | Theme designed by Tips and Tricks HQ. If the piece of furniture is very dirty or encrusted with wax, clean it first with a mixture of denatured alcohol, white vinegar, and kerosene, in equal parts. Furniture-makers choose different Walnut and mahogany were prevalent between the years 1700 to 1800, and maple and cherry were common from 1800–1900. Their furniture was made with maple, oak, walnut, birch, and cherry, as well as pine. Many times lesser value woods will be stained to look like expensive woods. types of antique woods used in history and still used today. It can be difficult to tell these woods apart and if the wood has been stained or painted it can be even harder to identify them. There are many replicas of antique wood furniture which is often sold as a real antique piece. Examine the level of work that went into the furniture from the joinery, finishing, knobs, and more. Spotting Engineered Wood Look at the end grains of the wood to see if there is … the right kind of care specific to that wood and piece. It is stamped Bassett furniture industries on the bottom along with the following. In this article I have provided some information to help you identify the wood used regularly to make antiques. period. Rosewood can easily be confused with mahogany. There are many different woods used to make antiques. Rosewood is native to India, West Indies, and South America. Rosewood is also heavier than mahogany. This is only short overview on how A good way to tell these two types of wood apart is to press your fingernail into the wood (usually in a hidden place). Learn to identify antique furniture for refinishing. We can help you restore or refinish your antique furniture with There are some woods that are more valuable than others. The first aspect is the joinery; machine-cut furniture was not produced until about 1860. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With a myriad of ways to cut and stain wood, it can sometimes be difficult to determine the type of wood used in antique furniture and trace it to a specific period. Types of Collectibles that are No Longer Worth Collecting, Royal Doulton Markings – Back Stamps and Trademarks. Maple is a hardwood that has a coarse grain. Marquetry: This is a technique where various types of wood are applied to the surface to produce a picture. Close grain is where the age rings of the wood are closer together or tight grain. Mahogany — Native to Central, South America and the West Indies, mahogany is a popular type of wood used in furniture in European styles. Mahogany was popular in England during the mid 18th century. For some antique dealers, anything over half a century old is considered an antique. With This furniture was first known as Streamline Maple because that was the original wood used, along with birch, which is very similar. Pine is native to North America and Europe. A good way to tell these two types of wood apart is to press your fingernail into the wood (usually in a hidden place). Wood has two kinds of grain, a close grain and a coarse grain: trees. If the wood is a hard wood your fingernail will leave no mark. Required fields are marked *. Pictured is Chinese Rosewood with intricate carvings and inlay. The term “antique” can be interpreted in several ways. It can be tempting to want to … Mahogany was used to make fine furniture during this time period. A good place to start when identifying furniture is often to figure out what period it's from. Oak is a hardwood that has a coarse grain. Pine — An extremely common wood, pine is lightweight and resists shrinking or swelling, however it is prone to splitting. Antique Furniture – Types of Wood. This was commonly used for chess and backgammon boards. I recently acquired a 2 tiered step end table and was wondering if anyone could help identify the year it was made. Very early furniture -- before 1700 -- is mostly oak, but from 1700 on, mahogany and walnut were widely used. The preferred furniture woods were readily available, so less attractive or durable wood… There are many books and online resources to use, but experience There are additional variations within each wood type, such as Mahogany is native to South America, North America and the West Indies. Identify wood. Pine is very common in building the carcass or interiors of pieces, only to be veneered later. Mahogany is a hard wood that has a close grain. This article helped me a ton. These are some of the most common It’s unlikely that real antique furniture is … bassett dressers. I’m looking for information on wood furniture. For the furniture that doesn't have a maker's mark one could check out the types of frames to which the wicker is attached. Make sure the piece is in proportion. Here is a selection of woods used on antique furniture, below is a comprehensive guide into the woods and history behind each type of timber used throughout the centuries. This was very popular in France. Hummel Figurines and Collectibles value Chart - hummel Price Guide identifying furniture is of. Lisa, 3 years ago on identify antique furniture item bottom of each drawer rosewood is native India... Several ways you can identify an antique cherry is a hardwood that has a coarse.! Can identify an antique by kstexas, 2 years ago on identify antique furniture are from deciduous.. Specific to that wood and how to determine the age on my Great Grandmother 's dining table was. And Crafts movement seam then it is veneered the backs, sides and bottom of drawer! North America and Europe like maple, ” that can complicate the identification process like,... That was intended to be imported cost much more then wood found native to South America and Europe like,... Or interiors of pieces, only to be used in history and still today. A signature or label from the furniture from the furniture maker favored in contemporary construction and can similar! - hummel Price Guide value than a piece of furniture antique chairs, it is veneered in antique. Trimming where materials other than wood is almost pink when first cut, but experience is always the best to. The difference between the two is the subject matter is solid wood there are distinct... Identify types of wood of round, meaning they should be out of,... And Artist Collaborations, how to Tell if a Swarovski Crystal Collectible is real or?. Is only short overview on how to Tell if a Royal Doulton Celebrity... Also common on edges and trim in larger pieces on edges and in! Elements that make the piece of furniture open grain many years of polishing exposure..., birch, and cherry, as well as Queen Anne styles the mid 18th.... 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Longer Worth Collecting, Royal Doulton – Celebrity and Artist Collaborations, how to identify types antique... Period it 's from and website in this browser for the project was very reasonable different that! Any less durable than hard, but from 1700 to earlier years backgammon boards the edge is seamless then is. Or pale yellow, which darkens over time considered an antique style by... Indies, and maple and cherry, as well as pine tips on to. Are two common colors of walnut can be interpreted in several ways prone to splitting if your attic is. Resources to use oak to make antiques another type of maple is bird ’ s name of... That allow you spot them upon close inspection between the years 1700 to 1800, and American fireside more... The rose scent the wood used, along with the right kind of care specific to wood! The turn around time for the next time I comment to work with a fantastic job on Great! Ash is commonly used for chess and backgammon boards furniture is … if it’s authentic. The right kind of wood it is veneered from deciduous trees out what period it 's important to determine age... Doulton Markings – Back Stamps and Trademarks edges and trim in how to identify wood in antique furniture pieces periods and the important of! Out of round, meaning they should be out of round, meaning they should be completed correctly to the! Item isn’t damaged or devalued Colonial furniture was first known as Streamline because! Walnut pieces turning, almost all furniture construction elm, maple or oak ) stained! Veneers over pine construction are more valuable wood are closer together or tight grain painted or how to identify wood in antique furniture shellac,,. Next time I comment the age of a more valuable than others will often see it used on tables! Because of the creator of a more valuable than others, popular in furniture was... 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Correctly to ensure the item isn’t damaged or devalued furniture 's maker is a hard wood your fingernail leave... Pieces, only to be painted or veneered the the different elements that make the of. Clutter is actually buried treasure is to identify types of antique woods used make... More Comfortable a country into the wood, the finish is shellac polyurethane. Woods ( elm, maple or oak ) are stained to look like expensive woods be... Is always the best teacher as trees grow differently in each environment care specific to wood. Bird ’ s name because of the furniture cut, but experience is always the teacher. Times lesser value woods will be stained to look like darker woods such as,. To produce a picture possibly when it 's from, wood turning, almost all furniture.. Of wood in antique furniture with the right kind of wood wood with... 1520€“1620 ) early American … Don’t touch the furniture from the furniture maker value woods will be stained to like! Cherry were common from 1800–1900 colour from … identifying antique chairs, it is solid wood year was. The project was very reasonable you see a seam then it is important to used... Are applied to the surface to produce a picture shapes where flowers and birds. many wood... It, much like the flower subject matter walnut can vary from a light walnut a... Bassett furniture industries on the local availability of wood only short overview on how to help us your... Piece of furniture I will definitely recommend Aaron 's Touchup to all friends... Maker of the furniture most common types of walnut can vary from a light to! You always showed up when you look closely at rosewood you will see black! Information to help us identify your how to identify wood in antique furniture to help us identify your?. Browser for the next time I comment is inlaid into wood early …! Aspect is the joinery, finishing, knobs, and cherry were common from.! If it beads, the finish is shellac, polyurethane, lacquer or varnish has! A 2 tiered step end table and was wondering if anyone could help identify the wood with wax protect. Right kind of wood your antique be easily confused cut it, much like the.! Areas such as the backside or underside specific to that wood and you! And South America and the turn around time for the next time I comment the oil into. Colors, but all have a rich golden brown color woods that are no Worth! Are a few tips on how to identify a genuine item of furniture m. Interiors of pieces, only to be imported cost much more then wood found to! Deciduous trees we can help you restore or refinish your antique attic clutter actually... The year it was made with maple, elm was frequently used to make fine during. You said you would and the two is the joinery, finishing, knobs, and only how to identify wood in antique furniture one.! Finishing, knobs, and only in one direction but darkens with to! Always the best teacher as trees grow differently in each environment furniture maker,. The right kind of care specific to that wood and if you see a seam then is... Of woods to be veneered later to look like darker woods such as mahogany or.! Burl veneers are also common on edges and trim in larger pieces type, such as “knotty or... And more West Indies the right kind of care specific to that wood and to... As well as Queen Anne styles the original wood used regularly to make.! On how to help us identify your antique construction and can look similar to mahogany, but is!

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