Table of Contents
How do you date a chest of 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 is a tall chest of drawers called?
Vertical Chest Standard chests of drawers, also known as vertical chests, are tall and narrow storage pieces. If your bedroom is on the small side, a chest is an ideal option for clothes storage, although it typically will have less space than a dresser.
How can you tell how old a dresser is?
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 much is a vintage vanity worth?
Vintage Vanity Set Values On average, these vintage vanity sets are worth between $50-$200.
How can you tell the age of furniture?
How to Determine the Age of Antique Furniture
- Look Past the Style of a Piece.
- Examine Bottoms, Insides, and Backs.
- Check for Perfectly Matching Elements.
- Try to Figure Out What Tools Were Used.
- Look at the Wood and Upholstery Fabric.
- Investigate the Screws and Other Hardware.
What era is claw foot furniture?
Claw foot tables became a common fixture in many European and American homes during the 18th and 19th centuries.
How tall should a chest of drawers be?
This piece features a narrow frame, a single column of two to four shallow drawers, and a shorter silhouette than most dressers. Bachelor’s chests can usually be placed under a window without obstructing the view, adding storage to an under-utilized area.
What’s the difference between a bureau and a chest of drawers?
The difference is that the bureau is typically used in an office or a library, while the chest of drawers is used in bedrooms and closets.
When did they stop making dovetail furniture?
Wider, uniform machine-cut dovetails were common in factory-made pieces from 1890 until the modern era. If a piece has no dovetails, it can still be a candidate for refinishing if it’s sturdy and well-designed, but it’s not likely to be an old piece with antique value.
How do I know if my antiques are worth money?
“In addition to online services and search engines, it is possible to find out how much your antiques are worth by simply asking an antique dealer or an appraiser at an auction house, for instance,” Martin says.
What is an old dresser called?
In antique terms, a bureau is another word for a dresser. Chiffonier. One piece of furniture that few modern American buyers may have heard of is the chiffonier. This French style largely resembles a chest of drawers with a mirror placed on top.
How do I identify an antique?
How to Identify Antique Furniture
- Examine all sides of the piece. If it’s a table, turn it over and look for marks or labels.
- Check the surface of the piece. Do you see saw marks?
- Look at the joinery. Are drawers dove-tailed?
- Check the finish of the piece.