Vance Kelly

There are number of different ways that you can spot a good antique item. The first thing to look for is when the item was actually made and how it was made. Pay attention to the drawers. Remove them and see how they operate. If a joint was dovetailed that is a strong indication that was made before 1860.

Furthermore, look carefully at the bottom and sides. If you find nicks or cuts it may have been cut with a plane. If you find arc shaped marks it may have been cut with a circular saw. Circular saws were not used until after 1860.

When searching for antiques for sale, another indication of the time the piece was created is the wood. Shellac and other finishes were not developed until the mid-1800s. If the piece is very old it may contain oil and wax. However, it isn’t always possible to examine the finish inside the showroom. But if you can manage, you can test it on a hard to see area with denatured alcohol. If the finish is dissolved it is most likely made with shellac.
Finally, most furniture created before the 1700s tend to be made of oak. After that time period, mahogany and walnut or more common. However, most pieces made in America tend to use pine as it was easy to work with. Understand that better pieces are not made with pine. You can find many excellent items at Classifieds Australia.