Insides of drawers that look suspiciously fresh or new wood on the back of furniture may mean that the piece is new or that the piece has been restored. Then again, further checking may reveal that most of the item in question is "right" (a term used to describe an item that is what it is touted to be). Old reproductions are valuable to the antiques dealer, but they should be purchased and sold for what they are.
Proceed with caution when you're buying a piece that is made in two sections, such as a bookcase or cupboard. Inspect both sections well to ascertain whether the pieces really go together or if they were "married" by someone along the way. The term "married" is used by antique dealers in referring to a piece that may be old but is comprised of sections from two different items. For instance, a dresser may be mated with a mirror from another dresser or the bottom of a sideboard may be fitted with a top that isn't the original one. There is little value in married furniture. What you have is two incomplete items.
The following is a list of the various furniture styles and some of their identifying marks. It won't give you all you need to know to be an expert, but it will give you a point from which to start—a bit of knowledge that you can build on. The table on pages 42-43 will give you an overview of styles and periods.
ADAMS
An architectural appearance featuring classical motifs painted by skilled artists identifies Adams furniture made in England from 1760 until 1793. The wood was generally mahogany and of a rectangular construction. Silk and other light, elegant fabrics were used for upholstery.
AMERICAN COUNTRY
Simple, rustic pieces made by rural cabinetmakers in the United States from 1690 until 1890, common American Country furniture included slat-back chairs, Boston rockers, trestle tables, dry sinks, wagon seats, and corner cupboards. Pine was commonly used to make American Country.
ANGLO-JAPANESE
Oriental-style furniture with bamboo-like turned legs and moldings was made in the United States from 1880 until 1910. Designs were asymmetrical and decorated with Oriental motifs. Many woods were used.
ART DECO
Chrome, glass, Bakelite, paint, lacquer, and veneer all went into producing art deco furniture with its streamlined, mechanized styling. While art nouveau lines were long and flowing, art deco lines were abrupt. Art deco was in vogue both in the United States and France from 1925 until 1945.
| Furniture Styles Period Produced and Country of Origin | ||
| Italian Renaissance | Italy | c. 1400-1700 |
| Elizabethan | England | 1558-1603 |
| French Renaissance | France | 1558-1625 |
| Early Jacobean | England | 1603-1660 |
| Louis XIII | France | 1610-1643 |
| Colonial | United States | 1625-1689 |
| Louis XIV | France | 1643-1715 |
| Late Jacobean | England | 1660-1688 |
| Painted Italian | Italy | 1680-1820 |
| William and Mary | England United States | 1689-1702 1700-1725 |
| American Country | United States | 1690-1890 |
| United States Country | United States | 1690-1890 |
| Queen Anne | England United States | 1702-1714 1725-1750 |
| Regence | France | 1715-1723 |
| Louis XV | France | 1723-1774 |
| English Chippendale | England | 1749-1779 |
| United States Chippendale | United States | 1755-1799 |
| Adams | England | 1760-1793 |
| Louis XVI | France | 1774-1789 |
| Hepplewhite | England | 1780-1795 |
| Federal | United States | 1790-1820 |
| Shaker | United States | 1790-1900 |
| Directoire | France | 1795-1799 |
| Sheraton | England | 1795-1810 |
| Regency | England | 1795-1830 |
| French Empire | France | 1805-1815 |
| United States Empire | United States | 1815-1840 |
| Victorian | England United States | 1830-1900 1830-1900 |
| Cottage | United States | 1860-1920 |
| Anglo-Japanese | United States | 1880-1910 |
| Arts and Crafts | England United States | 1890-1920 1890-1920 |
| Colonial Revival | United States | 1890-1925 |
| Art Nouveau | United States France | 1895-1914 1895-1914 |
| Mission | United States | 1890-1920 |
| Depression | United States | 1920-1942 |
| Art Deco | United States France | 1925-1945 1925-1945 |
ART NOUVEAU
Flowing lines depicting natural subjects and incorporating swirls, girls with long luxurious hair, and curls of ivy, etc., marked the art nouveau period from 1895 until 1914 in both the United States and France. While many art nouveau items were popular in the United States, the furniture was appreciated by very few.
