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Did you know the biggest difference between a genuine Rolex watch and a fake? It’s the second hand. On a real Rolex, the second hand “sweeps” around the face instead of “ticking” off the seconds. When investing in antiques, nobody wants to feel like they’ve been ripped off buying something that isn’t genuine. It might be that the person selling the piece has no idea. That would happen if you’re shopping at a yard or estate sale. There are ways to spot a real deal antique. Here’s what to look for:
The Wood
Look under the piece or anywhere that wood is exposed to see if there are different types of wood blended together. Most genuine antiques would have this quality. Reproductions are all made from the same single piece.
Signs of Wear
You might not sit in on your antique furniture but when it was first made it was just furniture. That means it could have signs of wear from use. The arms of chairs would be a noticeable place for wear. The bottom of a dining room chair would also be worn down from sliding in and out of the table.
Cushion Stuffing
It wasn’t until the 1920’s when synthetic materials were used to stuff furniture upholstery. Any piece dated before that time would be stuffed with natural materials like horsehair or even hay.
Hand Carving
Before mass reproductions, furniture was made by hand. Any detail carvings wouldn’t be symmetrical. That’s a good thing. You can spot the craftmanship right away. A modern reproduction will have clean lines and carvings that are matched up because they were probably produced by a machine.
Gluing
In addition to glue, older antiques used the mortise or tenon approach to assemble. Simply put that means slotting pieces together like a puzzle.
You can always go to a genuine antique store to look for some of these signs yourself. That’s good practice for when you go shopping. Before you bring your new treasures home, you’re going to want to make room for them. A session with Junk King Dayton can help with that. How many bulky and heavy objects would you like to get out of your house? Let Junk King Dayton clear out all your unwanted items to make room for the special antiques.
