I love it!

Reyne

And if you restore your own antique furniture….Do it carefully! Age and life of the product must

be visible.If you want a new look, so you can pick up the furniture store a new product.

I had a restoration firm, whose name was “KULUNUT KAUNEUS” = worn beauty .

Now I’m ” worn beauty ”

Marko

1. Real antique Finnish renaissance chair, which is manufactured in the 1600s. It is made of wood nails.

2. Renaissance chair manufacturer’s signature (DS = Daniel Snikker )

3. Wood nails, we know that the chair is really old.

4.Brass screws will tell you that the Art Nouveau coat rack is old .

5. New and old screws and nails ( one drill pin)…..rusty screw is always better than a shiny screws, when we talk about antiquity.

I’m looking for something to scrap and I’ll show you

MK

These are all very good tips! Thank you for posting these!

You are right, the reproductions get better all the time. There are some amazing
craftsmen out there and they certainly know how to fool the unknowing!

We should take images of items we see that are fake, and upload them here
and discuss the telling signs….

Reyne

Today know how to make furniture that they are new but seem genuine antique. Their manufacture have been used old materials, for example the old board = tuned antique furniture!

They are made so well that professionals is difficult to distinguish fake and genuine product.

How to distinguish the new and old product?

- What kind of joints furniture have been made.
- What kind of screws are used.
- Is it used plywood or massive wood.
- If the ornament, see whether is it done by machine or by hand made.
- How is the furniture back side is made of.
- How the chair upholstery fabric is nailing. ( staple or tack )
- Coatings , whether the used of industrial materials.
- Whether the product has genuine patina.
- If you find a manufacturer stamps.
- What kind of glue is used.
- What kind of fittings and hinges have been used.
- See the box base. The old products has been a solid wood base.

Here are few recognition tips. These issues can only learn when examining items.

Good luck when you are looking for genuine products.

Marko

Rococo Stereo Cabinet – like they made stereos back then!

I just hate people that call new things that are in the “style” of an era – old.
You know what I mean – a booth full of new furniture that says “Rococo cabinet,
Rococo Table, etc” and you know they know every single thing is new.

Unfortunately, new collectors often have no idea and buy it thinking they found a bargain!

I think certain areas are better about not letting that in (like the East Coast) than
say the south or the Midwest.

The malls and such I’ve seen in the West Coast carry more Deco and Modernism.
I find it interesting to see the variety of what turns up in different parts of the country.

Thanks as always for posting!

First, I am interested in this issue…..What do you think what is the antiques?
Is it 50 or 100 years old stuff? Or something else?

Finland’s law says that the 50-year old goods are antiques.
It may not be exported out of land, but……hmmm.

Antique word is often used incorrectly.I have heard and seen, for example…
ANTIQUES ROCOCO STEREO CABINET. Sounds terrible !!

Do you have any other similar “word monsters”?

Marko

Antique Malls are some of our favorite places to “pick”. Where else can you find 20 to 100 or more little shops usually just spilling over with unfound treasures? We travel a lot and go through many malls. We tend to travel the same route many times and re-visit shops year after year. I’m amazed at the number of dealers that don’t turn over their merchandise, or in the very least rearrange it. That’s just good marketing sense.

As for finding the NEW mixed in with the old, I’m afraid it is a sign of our times. We have spoke with several mall owners/managers about the new items creeping into the antique shops. They were very blunt. “If we didn’t have new mixed with the old, we’d have to close our doors”. The younger generation of shoppers wants a one stop shopping event. Not only are they looking for a collectible or gift, they want a look a like if the old items are too scarce or expensive.

It is just another reminder that the savvy antique shopper/picker needs to be up on what’s new and what’s been reproduced.

Thanks for another great episode in “picking” Reyne. You always hit the right note.