Is Your Antique Real? Here’s How To Tell
Many love trawling antique galleries, flea markets and yard sales searching for that one lucky find. Many ruthless dealers neglect to inform a seller of the true value of their antique, offering way below market price or on the other hand, they often sell “antiques” for far more than their actual worth.
Identifying an authentic antique is a challenge in itself partly, just like identifying a dvd duplication, due to the fact that the supply is diminishing. Another issue is that most antiques require repairs before being sold, but how much restoration can be allowed before the piece is relegated to a mere reproduction of what it once was?
Unfortunately, there is not one simple answer to determine real from fake as there isn’t one single book that can help and it also depends on the type of antique you are looking for but there are certain things you can look out for:
1. Wooden Furniture: Check the dovetail drawer joint to see if it was cut by hand or by machine. It is quite simple to tell the difference at a glance as the machine cut piece will have evenly spaced pins that look identical whereas the hand cut joint is finer and not usually perfectly spaced.
2. Antique Mirrors: First, look at the veneer of the mirror. If it has a wooden frame, remove a screw which should be homemade. The spacing will not be even and the slots will be off-centre. The glass will be quite thin and wavy with a grayish tinge to it.
The best thing would be to contact a reputable appraiser to evaluate the piece you are interested before you buy, mainly to check the authenticity which requires much research but also to ensure you pay the right price. Happy hunting!
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