Identifying Antique Tables: The Definitive Guide to Authentication & Valuation

To determine if your table is a genuine antique (generally considered to be at least 100 years old), examine several key indicators:

Look for signs of hand craftsmanship, such as slightly irregular dovetail joints, plane marks, or saw marks
Check for appropriate signs of age and wear, including patina, oxidation, and wear patterns consistent with use
Examine the wood type and construction methods to ensure they match the purported period
Look at hardware, including nails, screws, and hinges, which evolved significantly over time
Consider the overall design and proportions in relation to documented period examples

If possible, examine the underside and hidden areas of the table, which often reveal the most honest information about age and construction.

Several factors determine an antique table's value:

Rarity: Uncommon styles, woods, or features increase value
Condition: Original finishes and minimal damage typically command higher prices
Provenance: Documented history of ownership, especially connections to notable individuals
Maker: Attribution to known craftsmen or workshops significantly increases value
Quality of craftsmanship: Superior design and execution command premium prices
Age: Generally, older pieces are more valuable, though exceptional later examples can be highly valued
Fashion trends: Market preferences change over time, affecting values

For an accurate valuation, consider consulting a professional appraiser who specializes in antique furniture, or research recent auction results for comparable pieces.

Determining the age of a wooden table involves examining multiple aspects:

Construction techniques: Joinery methods evolved over time, from primitive joinery to hand-cut dovetails to machine-cut joints
Tool marks: Hand plane marks, irregular saw cuts, or particular carving techniques can indicate specific time periods
Materials: Wood species used in furniture changed with availability and fashion trends
Hardware: Examine nails (hand-forged, cut, or wire), screws (handmade or machine-made), and other metal elements
Finish: Original shellac, varnish, or oil finishes have distinctive aging characteristics
Style characteristics: Design elements from specific periods can help narrow down the age
Wear patterns: Natural aging produces distinctive wear that’s difficult to artificially replicate

The most accurate dating comes from combining all these observations rather than relying on a single characteristic.

The most valuable antique tables typically include:

Documented pieces by renowned cabinetmakers (like Thomas Chippendale, Duncan Phyfe, Thomas Sheraton)
Tables with royal or aristocratic provenance
Rare examples from early periods, particularly 16th and early 17th century
Tables with exceptional craftsmanship, inlay, or marquetry
Untouched pieces with original finish and hardware
Tables with unusual features or rare woods
Arts & Crafts tables by prominent makers like Gustav Stickley or Greene & Greene
Examples with historical significance or documented use at important events

At the highest end of the market, exceptional antique tables can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at major auction houses, though most quality antique tables trade in the $2,000-$20,000 range.

Table leg styles evolved distinctly across different periods and can be key to identification:


Turned legs: Common in 17th-18th centuries, featuring various lathe-turned shapes

Baluster: Resembling architectural balusters
Trumpet: Flaring outward like a trumpet bell
Spiral: With twist patterns carved or turned into the leg



Cabriole legs: S-curved legs popular in Queen Anne and Chippendale periods (early-mid 18th century), ending in various foot styles:

Pad foot: Simple rounded foot
Ball-and-claw: Representing a ball grasped by an animal’s claw
Drake foot: Resembling a webbed duck’s foot



Tapered legs: Straight legs that narrow toward the bottom, common in Federal, Sheraton, and Hepplewhite styles


Sabre legs: Outward-curving legs resembling sabre swords, common in Regency and Empire periods


Pedestal: Central support with outward-splayed feet, popular for center and dining tables


Trestle: Horizontal supports connected by vertical members, earliest form found in medieval tables


The specific details of leg design, carving, and proportion can help pinpoint the period and origin of an antique table.

When purchasing antique tables, consider these important factors:

Authenticity: Verify that the piece is genuinely from the claimed period
Originality: Check how much of the table remains original versus restored or replaced
Structural integrity: Ensure the table is stable and functional for its intended use
Condition issues: Identify damage, repairs, and alterations that may affect value
Provenance: Documentation of history and ownership adds value and confidence
Proportion and scale: Confirm the dimensions suit your intended space and use
Value: Research comparable sales to ensure pricing is fair for the quality and condition
Seller reputation: Purchase from established dealers with return policies and guarantees

Take time to thoroughly inspect the piece in person if possible, looking underneath and inside drawers for construction details that confirm authenticity.

Hardware provides valuable clues for dating antique tables:


Nails:

Hand-forged with irregular heads (pre-1800)
Cut nails with square or rectangular cross-sections (1800-1880)
Wire nails with round cross-sections (post-1880)



Screws:

Handmade with irregular, off-center slots and uneven threading (pre-1850)
Machine-cut with uniform threading but still handmade slots (1850-1870)
Completely machine-made with even threading and centered slots (post-1870)
Phillips head screws (post-1930s)



Hinges:

Hand-forged with irregular shapes (17th-18th centuries)
Cast brass butt hinges (late 18th-19th centuries)
Machine-made uniform hinges (late 19th century onward)



Pulls and knobs:

Wood knobs (early pieces)
Cast brass bail handles (18th-19th centuries)
Glass or ceramic knobs (primarily 19th century)
Stamped metal pulls (primarily late 19th-early 20th centuries)



Original hardware is highly desirable in antique tables and helps confirm authenticity and period.

No, most antique tables do not have maker's marks. Unlike ceramics or silver, furniture was rarely signed or labeled before the late 19th century. Here's what you should know:


Pre-19th century tables were typically made by anonymous craftsmen and rarely signed


Some exceptions exist:

High-end pieces by famous cabinetmakers occasionally bear stamps or labels
Regional craftsmen sometimes used distinctive marks
Guild marks appear on some European pieces



Late 19th and early 20th century factory-made furniture more commonly features:

Paper labels
Metal tags
Branded marks
Stenciled manufacturer information



Arts & Crafts era makers (like Stickley, Limbert, and Roycroft) commonly used identifying marks


When maker’s marks are present, they add significant value and certainty to attribution. However, the absence of a mark doesn’t mean a piece isn’t authentic or valuable. Most antique tables are attributed based on style, construction techniques, and materials rather than maker’s marks.