Identifying Antique Dressers

When you are looking to buy a piece of antique furniture such as a dresser, it is important to stop and make sure you know what you are doing. Antique furniture, especially dressers, are an expensive group of items, and should never be purchased without some idea of what you are looking at.

Categorization, or What Is An Antique?

What is an antique in the world of furniture? When you are shopping for antique dressers in America you are unlikely to find anything from the Middle Ages. To be considered an antique in the East a dresser should date at or before Queen Anne; in the West, usually any dresser that dates at or before the colonization period.

Terminology, or What Is This Called?

Before going furniture shopping, you should familiarize yourself with the basics of furniture terminology, so when the sales rep brags about a certain feature you can nod comprehendingly instead of having to ask, “What’s that?” This includes names of furniture features such as handle styles, various furniture themes such as baroque or Victorian.

Determining Age, or How Old Is It, Really?

While a dresser can be expertly crafted to closely resemble old styles and construction, there are a few signs you can look for to ensure you aren’t being ripped off. First certain styles are readily identified as belonging to a certain era – for example, Germanic style and decorations in an American piece is indicative of the Pennsylvania Dutch style.

Condition, or Is This Worth Saving?

With any piece of furniture, not just antiques, the question remains as to whether the effort of maintenance and repair is worth it. Check if the construction is sturdy, seeing whether anything wobbles or is loose. Look for dry rot or insect damage. On veneered furniture, make sure the veneer is not broken, separating, or even missing in places. Separated veneer is relatively straightforward to glue back on, but broken or missing veneer can be incredibly expensive to replace.

After the Fact, or What Do I Do Once I’ve Bought It?

Obviously antique dressers are not constructed in your home. Whatever selection you make it will have to be transported to your residence. Keep this in mind before you choose a dresser, as the more expensive ones are often handcrafted, which means they will show up at your door fully built. In this case, ensuring that the dresser you picked can fit through your door is something you will want to do before purchase. If the dresser is structurally sound, then don’t be put off by minor issues. Remember that if you really like the dresser, then it will be worth the time and effort spent refinishing it, repairing it, etc., especially if it’s an antique. Memorizing the above techniques will help you learn how to avoid making mistakes when purchasing an antique dresser.

 

<< More Dresser Articles and Advice

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Still have questions? Email us! We're the Dresser Experts!