Antique Overload

As I have worked in the antique industry, I have come to realize that there are many different ways to distinguish the age and authenticity of an antique. Since my goal with this blog is to educate anyone interested in antiques, I figured now would be as good a time as any to share some tidbits of knowledge that could help you understand exactly what you’re purchasing, and what time period your piece is from.

A great way to distinguish the age of an antique is by examining what holds it together. There are different types of nails, screws and dowels that can help you judge the age of a piece. If your furniture is held together with ‘rose-head’ nails, you can bet that it is a piece dating before the 19th century. ‘Rose-head’ nails were very common up until the late 1700’s. This type of nail is easily distinguished by their rose-like appearance, as the name clearly states.

After around 1790, the ‘rose-head’ nails were slowly replaced by square-head nails. These nails were normally machine cut nails. After the nails were cut, a blacksmith would square the heads to prepare them for the craftsmen. These nails were popular up until the early 1830’s.

Square head nails were quickly overtaken by nails that required even less man power. These nails were strictly machine cut and didn’t require a blacksmith to add any finishing touches. They were very similar to the square-head nails. These newer, machine cut nails were headless and were shaped like tapered rectangles.

The nails that we use today (‘brad’ and ‘penny’) were introduced at the end of the 19th century. These nails are the nails that have been commonly used up until the present. They are distinguished by a thin, straight neck and a flat head.

Screws were not common in antique furniture, however, they have been used from time to time since the early 1800’s. You can tell that a screw is older by looking at the construction. If it has had the help of a blacksmith, you will notice that the heads of the screws will not be very symmetrical, and the slots will be thin and slightly off center.

I hope that this information can prove useful for you as you attempt to put your finger on the time period your antique is from. It’s amazing that even the nails that hold your piece together can hold value and tell a story. The most exciting thing about antique furniture is looking closely at each piece, and recognizing its worth and understanding that it’s the small things that add to the overall beauty and value of every individual piece.