In most cases only a professional will know how to date an antique bed. With so many copies and reproductions being made, sometimes only a well trained eye can tell the difference.

However, while you might not get an exact date there are several steps for how to date an antique bed.

If you’re buying a antique bed from an individual, it’s always a good idea to inquire about the beds history. If the bed has been in their family for a long time, they should be able to give you a good idea of when the bed was made.

They may even be able to tell you exactly when the bed was purchased.

Check for any labels or identifying marks

One of the first steps that you should take to determine the beds age is to check for any labels or identifying marks. In the nineteenth century, manufacturers began assigning numbers to each new patent.

If the bed has a number, you can search for it at the patent office to find the manufacturer and date.

Look at any hardware used on the piece

Another excellent way of dating a piece of furniture is to look at any hardware used on the piece. Prior to 1830, very few furniture makers used screws.

Instead, pieces of furniture were held together with the use of dowels or pegs. And, since they were made by hand they won’t be uniform in size.

The earliest screws were fairly short, generally no longer than one half inch and had flat heads.

The tips of the screws were blunt and the threads were barely visible. The slots in the screw heads were all cut by hand, so they aren’t generally centered.

Glue wasn’t used until the early eighteenth century.

Nails

If there are any nails in your antique bed, examine them closely even if you have to use a magnifying glass. The nail head should be square, but not perfectly square and it should be slightly worn down from age. If the nails show these signs, the bed might have been made before 1820.

The circular saw wasn’t invented until the end of the eighteenth century. Before that all wood was cut by hand and there should be visible signs of saw marks.

Often, the cuts weren’t completely straight and there may be slight gaps between wood pieces.

Veneer panels

If the antique bed has any veneer panels you might be able to get a close estimate of the date it was made by examining them closely. The earliest  veneers were made of walnut and were usually about an eighth of an inch thick.

And, often the grains in the veneers didn’t match perfectly.

The earliest pieces of furniture were constructed of solid wood. From around 1680, veneers became a really popular way to add decorative touches to furniture.

They were either cut with the grain of the wood to look fairly plain, or cut across the grain to be more decorative.

Because antique beds were made entirely by hand, they’re not completely perfect. And, since they are so old, they will generally show lot’s of signs of use.

Although, you can find some antique beds that have been kept in mint condition, if it looks almost new, it’s probably not very old.

These are just a few of the numerous ways of how to tell if a bed is antique. If it’s really important for you to know the exact age of a piece of antique furniture, you will probably have to have a professional dealer inspect the piece.

They will be able to distinguish whether you have a valuable antique, or just an older piece of furniture.

When you have an insect infestation in your antique wood furniture, like termites, this is a serious problem that must be dealt with effectively and efficiently if you hope to maintain the value of your piece and ensure that the problem doesn’t spread to other antiques that you have.

Termites are not a common problem when it comes to antique furniture, but depending on the location of the furniture and how long it was left unprotected, termites can easily move in and infest your precious antiques. So, what do you do to get rid of them?
Well, the first and most obvious answer is to take the piece of furniture to a pest control expert and fumigation specialist who deals in antique pieces.

They will be able to successfully get rid of the termites and any eggs that have still not hatched in the item without damaging the piece or reducing its value in any way. If there is already significant damage due to termites, your antique wood furniture might need to be restored and fixed to remove the holes and get it back to its original state.

To avoid doing certain things and taking care of your antiques correctly is the easiest way to get rid of termites before they even become a problem.

One thing that you must do is be careful of where you place your items. Termites like water and so placing it in a position that gets moist very quickly will attract them. Not only this, but the moisture can also damage your antique in other ways.

Checking your house for termites often will prevent them from nesting in the first place. If you find that there are small exit holes where termites or other bugs have been, you can take the item (if it is just a drawer for example) and place it inside a bag along with the appropriate poison for about 2 weeks.

Another way to get rid of bugs and termites that you think are inside your piece of antique furniture is to bag the items, if they are small enough and place them inside a freezer for 2 weeks. This will kill any termites and you will then need to leave them in the bags for another 2 days once they are out of the freezer to warm up again. This will ensure that no moisture condenses on the wood which will cause mould.

When it comes to antiques, you should try to use any non chemical product wherever possible, and you can find an exterminator that offers chemical free fumigation using special green products like they use to treat wood in green building, this could be the best answer. These products are natural and do not pose any threat to the antique piece.

They will get rid of the termites without damaging the finish of the wood or that actual grain. You should also always use protection methods to ensure that you don’t get termites.

If your antique is stored in your attic or not displayed in your house, there is more chance of it getting termites. Rather, instead of hiding your antique, display it and ensure that it gets dusted regularly. If you don’t want to dust it too much, you can use a special antique cover, but having it out in the open rather than locked away amongst a whole lot of other items, is much better and will keep any bugs including termites away.

Over time it is not unusual for the veneer on an antique table to be damaged. This can happen due to constant usage of harsh chemical cleansers or due to environmental factors or simply due to lack of care.

The tell tale signs of veneer damage include chipped, blistered or broken veneer or a long piece that is starting to peel.

There are many professional services which can help you with veneer replacement but they are usually quite expensive. Alternatively you could do it yourself at a considerably lower cost.

Assessing the amount of damage

Any attempt at veneer replacement should start by first assessing the amount of damage. If the veneer is in good shape but shows signs of peeling at the edges it can be reglued without too much trouble.

Remove the residual old glue

To start the process you will need to remove the residual old glue from the wooden surface as well as the back of the veneer. You can do so with the help of a sharp razor blade or a craft knife. The residual glue with interfere with the adhesion of the new glue and depending on the thickness may cause bumps on the surface of the veneer.

If you cannot get all the glue out with the knife you can use naptha or benzene to dissolve the old glue or use a sand paper with a fine grit. When doing this you need to be particularly careful with the veneer. Lifting or folding it too much may break it.

Reattach the veneer

Once the surface is clean you can either use contact cement or carpenter’s glue to reattach the veneer. If you are using contact cement apply it to both the surfaces the veneer as well as the wood and let it set as per manufacturer instructions.

However if you are using glue you need to use a brush to spread the glue and start pressing from the attached end outwards to avoid crimping and bumps.

Hold it in place

Once the surface is properly set use clamps or weight to hold it in place. You will need to keep the surface clamped for one or two days. Once the adhesive sets you can wax and polish the entire surface to bring out the brightness.

If You need to replace it

If the veneer is badly chipped or cracked you may want to consider replacing it. You many want to start by looking for the appropriate veneer.

There are many books available on restoring antique furniture and you may find clues on finding matching veneer in them. Alternatively there are many websites online that will help you to procure the right type of veneer.

The next step involves removing the original veneer and the glue surface. If you are not particularly confident with a sharp chisel you may want to go for the services of a professional establishment since any mistake will damage the wooden surface. A professional establishment will charge you on a per square feet basis.

An antique table needs all the loving care that you can give it. Instead of repairing the damage a better way is to prevent the damage so make it a point to clean and wax your antique table often.

With many antique pieces like desks, wardrobes, and tables, certain paints were used and glazed surfaces were in fashion. When you purchase an antique you might find that the paint is cracking and peeling and you want to refinish it yourself.

But how do you know what paints to use and how do you paint an antique without reducing its value?

Well, there are many items and products that you can use. The first and most basic thing to remember is to keep everything as organic and original as possible. Look in the history behind each period and find out what paints and finished were used in that periods of time.

Certain paints like milk paints were commonly used as they were made organically and do not have any chemicals and detergents that will harm the antique. When restoring an antique with paint, also try to use colors that would have been used at that time. The best thing is to use the same colors that the furniture was painted in when you purchased it, but if this was not the original either, then restore it using the best color that represents the era that the piece is from. Another type of paint you can use is eggshell paint that is mild and chemical free.

Another trick when painting your antique piece of furniture is to use soft brushes that will not scratch the wood or ruin the overall grain or style of the piece. Make sure that the paint is not too thick so that it detracts from the style and if you want you can also use a mild glaze to protect it and give it that correct look. Also make sure that these products are originals that might have been used in that specific time and not harsh chemical products.

Another way to get away with painting a piece of antique furniture if you really have to is to make it look like wood. If the wood is quite damaged and cannot be easily restored, then choose a wood stain or paint the same color as the original wood so that you can keep the original look of the antique and make it look better than before. This will ensure that you do not lower the value of the piece and rather improve its condition.

You should be careful when choosing the finish, to find one that is close to what would have been used at the time the item was made. This might be a natural wood oil, or natural wax like beeswax. Never use modern chemical products on an antique.

When looking to paint antique furniture, most experts will tell you not to. If you really want to refinish it or give it a new lease on life, if it was an originally painted piece, then rather take it to a professional who can do the job properly using the correct techniques, equipments, and paints.

Doing it yourself can be done, but is not recommended as you might not be able to use the methods correctly to get the correct effect once you are complete. A professional who paints antiques all the time will know exactly how to paint it correctly, how much to sand it by, when to stop painting, what to do to dry the paint correctly, and how to use the finishes in the most appropriate way.

Using these tips you can decide whether to paint your antique piece is really worth it or not. You must find out if painting it will add to its value or detract from it and depending on who much the piece is worth to begin with, you can make an informed decision when you want to paint an antique.

If you are wondering how to find the value of an antique table that is a family heirloom here are a few guidelines. The procedure will require patience and diligent research.

The value of an antique table depends on four factors the condition of the piece, the quality of workmanship, the provenance and the rarity of the piece.

But before you evaluate these four factors you need to determine if the antique table is really old or it has just been given a faux antique look.

An authentic antique will have certain traits that will make it stand out against a new piece of furniture. Antique furniture will not have sharp edges and corners simply due to its age. So just running your hand underneath or on the back of the table will reveal details about its age.

Distinctive curved pattern

Old wooden furniture will always carry distinctive curved pattern made by a circular saw. This is conspicuously seen in furniture manufactured after 1840.

Shape of the screws used

The next sign is the shape of the screws used. For this you will have to remove a screw that will not harm the structure of the table. Since machine made screws are fairly recent antique furniture will usually have screws with uneven spacing between the spirals; as opposed to this new screws will be pointed with regular spacing.

Veneer width

The same holds true for veneer width. New veneer is thin with regular width all over whereas its antique counterpart is considerably thicker. You can check for this at the edges of the table or at a part where the veneer is damaged and chipped.

Plastic or metal taps

Another visible sign is the use of plastic or metal taps attached to the legs of the table. These are usually a sign of a fairly recent make. Most antique tables will have reinforced pedestals and usually a tri- part metal strap or a metal disk will have been used for reinforcement. As opposed to this a new table will generally have a large crimped staple.

If the table has a glass top this may serve as another indication of the age of the table. Antique glass is thinner with irregular width and lacks the clarity and transparency of new glass.

Once you have ascertained that the table is indeed old you can avail the services of a professional appraiser to find the exact value or you could look for the following signs.

Keep Attention

If the furniture has visible cracks, breaks or other signs of wear and tear the value will obviously go down. You also need to pay special attention to the finish a well maintained table should look bright and have no dirt or stain marks.

If your table has a glass top a cracks and scratches will devalue it but the value will be substantially reduced if the original glass top has been replaced.

Ornate hand carved pieces particularly ones with cabriole legs will usually fetch a higher price. The same hold true for feet end that are carved or have brass paws.

If your furniture carries distinctive manufacturer stamps or marks you may be able to find the availability of similar pieces. Needless to say the rarer a table the higher will be its value. You will thoroughly check the table sometimes with a magnifying glass to spot such marks.

Of course the value of an antique table which has been a family heirloom may not just be monetary and may hold an immense amount of emotional and aesthetic appeal for you. As the old adage goes beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, in my opinion so does  value.

If you have antique furniture pieces and you are wondering how you determine value of antique chair or table, you have to look into several factors.

As such a piece of furniture is considered antique only when it is 100 to 150 years old.  Finding out the value of the price is based on how old the antique is and the older it is the more its value.

Finding the age of your antique chair requires carefully examination of various aspects.

Shine of the patina

The main feature that can immediately set off a piece of wooden furniture as antique is the shine of the patina. Patina is the glow that is seen on the surface of furniture after years of polish and wax being accumulated on it and the more the shinier, the older your furniture ad hence the higher its value.

Edge, cuts and joints

If you notice the edge, cuts and joints of your furniture and you see that it is not machine made, then you can be sure that it is from a time period prior to the 1860s.

It was only during the 1860’s that machine cutting was introduced. Checking out cuts, nicks and joint surface enables you to determine if the furniture is hand-made and in such cases the value of the furniture is quite high.

Check out the screws used in the furniture as those prior to 1840 had flat, un-tapered heads.

Surface area of the chair

The next thing you need to check out is the surface area of the chair. The presence of hair line cracks and  scratches also shows that your pieces is old as these features appear with time, as does discoloration due to the effects of being placed unevenly under sunshine.

If you look at the chair on its underside, you should be able to see more of discoloration and the more you see of it, the more the age of the chair. You can say that it is at east 100 years of age.

Smoothness of the surface

One thing that can clearly make out an antique piece is the smoothness of the surface. No old furniture will have a sooth surface as none of the modern instruments used to bring this about was available in those times.

Furthermore any alterations made to the original chair piece in any way can diminish its value. You can determine this out by checking out surface areas.

If you see something that is freshly cut or an area in the chair with plugged holes, you can be sure that it is not as valuable as it is made out to be as such changes have reduced it price.

Kind of wood

Finally check the kind of wood that was used in the making of the furniture. Wood furniture prior to the 1700 was mostly oak, and after 1700 other woods types such as walnut and mahogany was used.

In the United States, pine was used extensively in making wood furniture  after the 1700, so this is yet another factor that will show you how old your antique piece is and you can use this to determine its value.

Look into these points and you can easily determine the value of your antique chair.

Alterations

One thing to note about finding the value of an antique piece is that you have to be sure that it has not been altered in any way from its original form.

Alterations would have occurred over time in some pieces because of wear and tear, and if you have an antique chair that needs redoing, keep it the way it is as only then will it be high in value and otherwise it’s value will depreciate, especially when modern materials are used to give it a makeover.

People who own an antique table know how difficult it is to refinish and clean it. Since it is an expensive piece of furniture a small mistake can prove detrimental and may end up reducing its value financially and aesthetically.

So here are a few easy tips that you can follow while refinishing or cleaning your antique tables.

Cleaning:

The most important thing to remember while cleaning antique furniture is to not use material that will damage or stain the paint or veneer.

The dirt and grime that accumulates on antique furniture over time can be attributed to the oil that we leave behind from our skin and from our cooking. This combines with the dust particles in the environment to form a layer of dirt on the surface.

Gilded

If your table has areas that are gilded (use gold or silver leaf) you need to be particularly careful because these areas are easily prone to damage. All you can do here is lightly dust these parts with a very soft dry cloth or a soft brush. But before you attempt cleaning the visible areas always try out your ministration on a hidden part to check for unfavorable reaction

Wooden

The wooden or veneer surface will usually have some water soluble dirt and stains accumulated. You will need to use a mild soapy solution to clean this part.

The soap that you use should preferably be liquid dish washing soap that is mild, using a detergent soap or the dish washing bar may damage the furniture. When cleaning soak a soft cotton cloth in a little but of the solution and wipe the surface gently with it.

Avoid using the solution on parts where the veneer is chipped or the surface is already damaged. If you feel the soap solution is not giving you the desired results than you can go for a stronger chemical solution. The best choice would be to opt for a phosphate free TSP solution which is readily available at most hardware stores.

Paint

If the area that you are trying to clean seems particularly sticky this may be caused due to lacquer damage and trying to clean hard will just damage the paint or stained wood underneath. So you need to stop cleaning with a water based solution immediately if you see the finish disappearing since the water based solution will cause the wood to swell.

A solvent based solution will be a safer option in this case. Naphtha which is a good choice is available in most hardware stores. You just need to be careful while using it since it has a very strong odor and should be used with gloves and in an open space. It is important to always use a soft cloth simply because a synthetic or metal scrub will remove the finish.

Once you are done cleaning the surface should look bright and should not have any stain marks. If the surface looks scratched you can use paste wax to brighten it