Being surrounded by the spirit of antiquity never fails to be a pleasant sensation. Every piece of antique furniture has its own history that holds the story of how it was made, for which purpose exactly and how it was treated and stored throughout the years.

An antique is a piece of furniture with special value, primarily because of its age (objects labeled 100 years and older are considered antiques) and also because of the fine artistry techniques that have brought it to existence.

However, distinguishing original pieces from reproductions is not always an easy task. If you are a newbie on this subject, it is quite understandable to find the ability to identify genuine antique furnitures for sale overwhelming and confusing – it is a field that requires a broad area of expertise. Luckily, there are several tips that can help you deepen the knowledge and develop a sharp examining eye antique furniture wise.

• First and foremost, find a reliable antique shop known in the community for offering genuine antique furnitures for sale.
• Always check if there is a handwritten signature or a label from the furniture maker.
• Beware whether the piece you’re considering is in proportion or it is a marriage. Marriage is a term used for antique furniture when a piece is a mixture of two different elements. It is possible that the furniture is a marriage when the legs of the piece are not the right size or if the top piece is out of balance with the lower portion. Oddities like these should give you a hint that those two sections are joined together out of two different pieces and you wouldn’t like to invest in a Frankenstein-like table or chair, would you?
• Wood separation is one of the clues that can help you identify whether a piece of furniture is truly an antique. If you’re dealing with a true case of antiquity, there should be a gap between the joints of the two parts. Fine hairline cracks that run all the way through (mostly visible in doors and panels) are also a clue that the piece has seen the impact of time and all that it brings along – the humidity and the temperature fluctuations of a room. Wood separation is also commonly found on the back side of drawers. It is the kind of a sign that genuine antique pieces for sale rarely go without.
• Antique lovers, this tip is not to be skipped! You must become familiar with the basics of the furniture styles of the different period and eras. Although it may seem a lot, all you need is to do a quick overview of the main features a certain period bore and the impact it had on the manufacturing style. In order to make your research more thorough, try focusing on a specific type of antiques, such as old chairs, tables, wardrobes, buffet and many others – one kind at a time.

Finally, don’t forget to use these tips on your search for great antiques. They are worth it, every bit of crack!