Most furniture being made of wood will tell its age. By recognizing the use of tools in history we can roughly narrow down in which century the furniture was constructed. Some furniture, like that predating the industrial era, is considered collectible. People who collect antique furnishings are likely to take interest in purchasing your old furniture. Be better informed about the true age of your furniture before you try to sell it.
Instructions
1. Look for signs of manufacturing. Some furniture will have a signature. If you find the signature you can ask a furniture antiquarian shop, or you can look the name up on the Internet. Furnishings predating the 19th century will have been constructed by hand.
2. Look for nails in the furniture. If the nails are square, then the furniture has a good chance of being as old as 1830. If the nails are shaped like a rose bud, then you may have some furniture that is dated as far back as the late 1700s. Headless nails are the mark of the carpenters of old, dating as far back as the late 1800s.
3. Examine the upholstery. Pins from the industrial era are finely shaped, almost perfect. The hand pins predating 1830 will be a little off track or protrude, as the wood will have naturally expanded over the centuries.
4. Double-check the woodwork. Gaps in the wood scream authentic old furniture. Feel around the wood for indentations, undulations and generally any repositioning of the wood boards, and extended or protruding wood pegs. Very old tables will be less circular, and lean more toward oval shaped.
5. Have a paint specialist test the paint on your furniture. When you have a rough idea of what age your furniture is, then it may be time to take it to an appraiser. You’ll be better informed by doing your initial inspection before trying to sell.
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