| Is It Antique? |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-102 |
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Q: My wife and I are filling a new home and spending lots of time at weekend antique shows. We both are afraid of getting ripped off by buying a reproduction rather than an original. Any tips?
A: (Bruce Johnson, Ask DIY Woodworking Expert) Antiques are hot. And anything that is hot is probably being reproduced. If you don't know how to tell the difference between something that was made a hundred years ago and something similar that was made last year, you can get burned. With the prices being paid for many antiques, it could be a serious burn! Here are a few ways to tell if you have an antique: - Expect to find signs of age on an older piece, such as boards separating on the seam separation. A new piece will look flat and smooth on top. Other indications that you've got an "oldie but goodie": black marks that indicate there's been water on the piece at some time (perhaps from a plant), nicks and dings on the corners, and even worm holes (but make sure a worm, not a drill, made them!).
- Look closely at the hardware to see whether it displays legitimate signs of age (figure A). Each piece of hardware on an antique should also differ at least slightly from the others, while the hardware on a new piece will be regular -- so regular in fact that it's too perfectly "old" looking (figure B).
- Take out all the drawers and examine the bottoms and sides. An antique will have irregular dovetail joints, while a new piece will have perfect joints, cut by a computer-aided machine.
- A single slot screw is another sign of age.
- Also examine the drawer's runner (figure C) for signs of wear -- the indication that it's been opened thousands of times over the years.
Web Extra:
- Other indications that a piece of wood furniture is a recent make include consistent color, factory-rounded corners, and modern screws. Another thing to note: odor. A new piece simply smells newer.
More questions for Bruce:
Q: I have an old dresser with worm holes and square nails. I'm almost certain it's an antique, but is it possible to duplicate these features in a reproduction?
A: Generally speaking, square nails and worm holes together would indicate an antique. But somebody could build a new piece with old nails, or use old wood with new nails, so look carefully.
Q: Should an antique be appraised before you buy it? If so, how much should the appraisal cost?
A: At an antiques store, you may have the luxury of having your piece appraised, but at an auction or flea market you're on your own. If you do decide to have a piece appraised, make sure you pay an appraisal cost per piece. Don't get locked into a situation where you'll pay a percentage of the value of the piece to have it appraised. If you do, the appraiser might be tempted to bump the price up a bit.
Q: Is there a way to tell whether an antique has been refinished?
A: Yes, and this is very important, because we know now that antiques with an original finish are worth more than the same antiques that have been refinished. What you have to do is turn the piece upside down or on its back and look for the telltale drips and runs that indicate the piece has been worked over. Web site resources for furniture reproductions and antiques:
American Reproductions information Tomlinsons Web site information Victorian and French reproduction and antique information Leonards Direct Web site information Book:
Medieval Furniture -- Plans & Instructions for Historical Reproductions
By Daniel Diehl and Mark Donnelly
1999, Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Rd.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Fax: 717-796-0412
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