It's difficult to define "antique". In my shopping around and in researching people's treasures I've seen that word used to describe items from the 1960's. Because I grew up in an East Coast city, I was surrounded by "antiques". Most of us didn't consider Victorian furniture from the 1880's 1890's to be antique. It was just old. Antique was reserved for items before 1850. But then what is "vintage"? or "retro"? If you can determine the era when your furniture was made you can refer to it as that. Or pre WWII. If you can easily see the frame from underneath, can identify the style, the wood, the type of nails or screws, carving, it might help. Quality is important regardless of era. Best wishes, KB