Antique furniture holds significant value — but only if you know what you have. Whether it's a Victorian parlor chair, a Georgian writing desk, or an Arts & Crafts sideboard, accurate identification is the first step to knowing what it's worth.
Typical Value Range
$50 – $50,000+
depending on style, maker, period and condition
What to Look For
How to Identify Antique Furniture Authenticity & Value
Construction method
Hand-cut dovetails and hand-planed surfaces indicate pre-1860 pieces. Machine-cut joints suggest post-industrial production.
Wood type
Mahogany, walnut, and rosewood were favored in fine period furniture. Oak dominated Arts & Crafts; satinwood was popular in Regency.
Hardware
Original brass pulls and escutcheons add value. Look for hand-filed asymmetries on pre-Victorian hardware.
Maker's marks
Check the back, underside, and inside drawers for stamps, labels, or branded marks from workshops.
Patina
Authentic aged patina develops over decades. A warm, uneven sheen in hard-to-reach areas suggests genuine age.
Common Items
Popular Antique Furniture Items We Identify
Victorian armchair
Georgian secretary desk
Chippendale highboy
Arts & Crafts settle
Empire sofa
Hepplewhite sideboard
Windsor chair
Sheraton card table
Get Your Free Antique Furniture Appraisal
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Antique furniture is generally 100+ years old. Key signs: hand-cut joinery, irregular handmade hardware, secondary woods like pine or poplar on hidden surfaces, and natural patina that can't be faked.
18th-century American pieces (Chippendale, Queen Anne, Federal) and signed European pieces command the highest prices. Condition and provenance significantly affect value.
Local auction houses and certified appraisers are options, but our free AI appraisal gives you an instant estimate before you seek a formal opinion.