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Author Topic: How to date furniture?  (Read 15093 times)

MrMahoot

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How to date furniture?
« on: November 07, 2013, 02:35:58 pm »
What or where is the best place to go to get info on dating a piece of furniture? I have found some basics in books but being a complete novice t is proving harder than I thought to date things. Is there a decent website or sites that will help? some of the site seem to contradict each other.

regards
MrMahoot
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bigwull

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2013, 03:04:55 pm »
Get yourself, an antique collectors Bible..."The Millers Antique Guide,..lots on ebay...much cheapness
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MrMahoot

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2013, 03:20:30 pm »
I picked up an octagonal occasional table, from the Miller guide the legs look like they are dated at 1810 but I am unsure. I think it is rosewood and it measure 27" high by 30" across. There are no circular saw marks on the wood, other than that I don't have a clue.

« Last Edit: November 09, 2013, 03:35:00 pm by MrMahoot »
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bigwull

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2013, 03:30:05 pm »
circular saw marks...i should bloody well hope not...
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jalcon

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2013, 03:46:11 pm »
Quote from: bigwull on November 07, 2013, 03:04:55 pm
Get yourself, an antique collectors Bible..."The Millers Antique Guide,..lots on ebay...much cheapness

Which one? The one by Judith Miller or the one by Martin Miller?
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mart

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2013, 03:59:28 pm »
That's a tall order !! There are many things that will help but just remember that when dealing with furniture,,nothing is cut and dried,,,yes or no !! There will be a lot of maybe`s !! I have a few sites that will help you as far as style and what to look for !!   Best thing is to post your pics here and then ask questions !! Start small with one style and read what you can about it, look at google images and see all the variations and again ask questions before you try to take them in all at once !!~ And remember that even though one style was 19th century,, there will always be the revival styles that are 20th century !!    Let me look and see whats on my desktop !! Should keep you busy a while !!
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mart

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2013, 04:20:19 pm »
http://buffaloah.com/f/glos/legs/legs.html

This is a good site to help you know all the bits and pieces of furniture !!

http://www.gustavstickley.com/stickley-furniture.html

This might be of interest if you like the Arts & Crafts period !!
« Last Edit: November 07, 2013, 04:32:52 pm by mart »
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bigwull

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2013, 04:34:46 pm »
Quote from: jalcon on November 07, 2013, 03:46:11 pm
Quote from: bigwull on November 07, 2013, 03:04:55 pm
Get yourself, an antique collectors Bible..."The Millers Antique Guide,..lots on ebay...much cheapness
......

Which one? The one by Judith Miller or the one by Martin Miller?
Mmm!!...another rivet counter...just what this place needs..we,ll go with..JM...as MM...was a Czech actor... ;D
https://www.google.co.uk/search?newwindow=1&q=martin+miller+actor&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAx8HixKXfq6-QXKZeVZlSafXpCvVCUbLc1TmaLXF7iwu2sN0EwBk6s3AKwAAAA&sa=X&ei=dhR8Utf_PNKqhAev7oHoBg&ved=0CKsBEOkTMBE&biw=1184&bih=573.
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mart

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #8 on: November 07, 2013, 05:40:12 pm »
Turn the table upside down and take a pic of the underside please !!  Are you in the U.S ??
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bigwull

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2013, 06:01:57 pm »
What!!....no bottom...you and your sidekick..are becoming like twa peas in a pod... ;D
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greenacres

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2013, 06:10:19 pm »
It looks like Rocco style furniture.
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mart

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #11 on: November 07, 2013, 07:25:07 pm »
He is either not in the U.S or its an import I think !!
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jacon4

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2013, 05:25:34 am »
How to date furniture?

Construction details is the best way, actually, it's about the only way really.

 For instance, your table appears to be Eastlake, C 1870-1900 in style because of the clean, incised lines on the apron and the fretwork on legs below. Is it a period Eastlake piece? I dunno but, the construction details would reveal that info pretty quickly.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1113522
« Last Edit: November 08, 2013, 05:46:20 am by jacon4 »
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Ipcress

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #13 on: November 08, 2013, 06:14:16 am »
Quote from: bigwull on November 07, 2013, 03:04:55 pm
Get yourself, an antique collectors Bible..."The Millers Antique Guide,..lots on ebay...much cheapness

That's only visual.

Exhibitions, galleries, auction houses, even just " window shopping " at respected outlets - see things first hand.
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Ipcress

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Re: How to date furniture?
« Reply #14 on: November 08, 2013, 06:23:37 am »
Quote from: jacon4 on November 08, 2013, 05:25:34 am
How to date furniture?

Construction details is the best way, actually, it's about the only way really.

 For instance, your table appears to be Eastlake, C 1870-1900 in style because of the clean, incised lines on the apron and the fretwork on legs below. Is it a period Eastlake piece? I dunno but, the construction details would reveal that info pretty quickly.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1113522

The wood doesn't look as old as that to me, also the over elaborated legs....

American furniture is best left to the Americans.

It's inferior anyway  :P
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