Furniture, art and collectibles
How to date antique furniture, tell an original painting from a print, identify Griswold cast iron, Hummel figurines and jade, and find what an antique is worth.
Each guide explains the physical evidence you can check yourself and cites museum, maker and professional sources.
- How to find the value of an antique: a step-by-step methodHow to find what an antique is worth: identify it, check condition, compare sold prices (not asking prices), pick the right kind of value, and when to hire an appraiser.
- How to date antique furniture: joinery, saw marks, screws and nailsHow to date antique furniture from its construction: hand-cut vs machine dovetails, Knapp joints, saw and plane marks, screws and nails, shrinkage and wear.
- Is it an original painting or a print? How to tellHow to tell an original painting from a print: magnify for dots, check brushstroke relief, plate marks, signatures, edition numbers, the canvas back and the edges.
- How to tell if jade is real: jadeite, nephrite and common imitationsHow to tell real jade from imitations: jadeite vs nephrite, serpentine, aventurine, dyed calcite and glass look-alikes, treated B jade, and which tests are safe.
- Griswold cast iron: logo eras, numbers and how to spot fakesIdentify and date Griswold cast iron: Erie, slant, large and small block logos, size versus pattern numbers, heat rings, Wagner-era pieces, recasts and condition.
- Hummel marks: how to date M.I. Hummel figurines by trademarkDate M.I. Hummel figurines by trademark: crown, full bee, stylized bee, three line, last bee, missing bee and later marks, plus model numbers and look-alikes.
- How to date antique bottles: seams, pontil scars, lips and base marksHow to date old glass bottles step by step: mold seams, pontil scars, applied versus tooled lips, Owens machine scars, embossed wording, base codes and sun-purpled glass.
About valuesEstimates are not appraisals. Prices depend on maker, age, condition, rarity, provenance and the market at the time of sale, and neither an app scan nor a guide can replace an expert who handles the object. For anything that may be valuable, or before you sell, insure or buy at a high price, consult a qualified appraiser or a reputable auction house.
Identify your antique in seconds
Antique ID identifies an item from a photo, reads visible maker's marks, suggests a period and gives an estimated value range, so you know whether it deserves a closer look.
