Furniture Appraisal Experts

FAQ

What are five signs of a valuable antique?

Genuine age and quality often show together, but the clearest signs of a valuable antique are rarity, skilled craftsmanship, authentic wear, documented provenance, and current market demand.

Each sign works best as part of a fuller picture, since any single feature can mislead on its own.

The Five Signs to Look For

  • Rarity. Limited production runs, discontinued designs, or an early example of a maker's work tend to carry more value than a common, mass-produced form.
  • Skilled construction. Hand-cut dovetails (slightly uneven, not machine-perfect), mortise-and-tenon joinery, and hardware that matches the piece's age are strong indicators of pre-industrial craftsmanship.
  • Authentic wear and patina. Genuine antiques show uneven darkening in crevices, softened corners, and wear where hands or feet would naturally contact the piece. Uniform "distressing" or perfectly symmetrical wormholes usually point to a reproduction.
  • Maker's marks and provenance. Labels, stamps, or tags from a known cabinetmaker, along with any ownership history or documentation, can substantially raise a piece's value.
  • Condition and market demand. A rare, well-made, authentic piece still needs to be desirable to today's buyers and structurally sound, with original finish and hardware intact, to command a strong price.

These signs point toward value, but they don't replace a formal appraisal, since factors like regional demand, comparable sales, and material analysis require research most owners can't do on their own. If you're weighing whether a piece is worth having appraised, Furniture Appraisal Experts prepares USPAP-compliant reports for antique and period furniture, drawing on comparable auction results and documented analysis to support insurance, estate, and donation needs.

If you're trying to figure out where to start, our guide on how to get old furniture valued walks through the process, and how do I find out what my furniture is worth covers what documentation and research go into that valuation.