Round tabletops should be out of round, meaning they should be slightly oval. The style will tell you which period the piece represents, but there are literally hundreds of different styles used throughout the centuries. And that can help you surround yourself with even more of what you love. Shelly McRae is a freelance writer residing in Phoenix, Ariz. Having earned an associate degree from Glendale Community College with a major in graphic design and technical writing, she turned to online writing. The style and construction of antique drawer pulls offer clues about the date the hardware was made. On an antique piece, each piece of hardware will differ somewhat from the others, because the pieces are handmade. Closely review the screws. The hardware on your furniture can be used to date the piece, providing it is original hardware. “There’s no hard and fast rule, but hand dovetailing was really no longer done in factories after that date,” Masaschi says. Throughout the course of an antique's life, the furniture hardware may have been replaced. Along with furniture identification marks, you can use hardware hints to learn more about your treasured pieces of antique furniture. Zinc Alloy cabinet door hardware furniture handle , find complete details about Zinc Alloy cabinet door hardware furniture handle , how to clean brass handles on antique furniture, how to clean brass handles on furniture, how to date furniture handles - EC HARDWARE FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon . Years and years of handling and contact with skin oils should leave a patina on both the handles and the surrounding wood. Changing the hardware on furniture makes a big impact and it’s really easy. Look for discoloration from hot bowls and spilled liquids on dining tables. Are they uniform in size? However, today there are many excellent suppliers of high quality reproduction hardware pieces where each item is accurately crafted in every detail as they were in earlier times: Hardware offers essential clues in dating and identifying antique furniture. I knew you’d all love our new dresser as much as we do, and your sweet comments totally made my day. Panjiva uses over 30 international data sources to help you find qualified vendors of furniture hardware. Do not depend only on hardware style to date a piece. Oak is highly popular in furniture that dates from 1700 to earlier years. The condition and quality of materials are used to gauge the age of a piece. Sep 20, 2014 - So a couple of weeks ago my brother and sister-in-law asked if I could help transform their bedroom furniture. Look at the underside of the feet of a chair. I know you are new to the stuff – make sure you wear gloves when using. © 2006-2020 LoveToKnow, Corp., except where otherwise noted. If the saw marks are straight, the wood was cut with a handsaw, dating it before 1850. Drawer pulls are most commonly made of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. The corners should be dovetailed together. Wear and Hardware Shadows - Inspecting Drawers for Clues to Age. You should have a discernible amount of difference between the two measurements. Writer Bio. Look for the edge to be worn down and rounded. I love my drill. $14.95 $ 14. The hardware on your furniture can be used to date the piece, providing it is original hardware. $7.69 $ 7. To verify, and certify, when any piece was constructed, screws and nails need to be examined, hinges removed, bits of veneer scraped off. But if you are looking at a piece and need a quick idea, these few tips will help you along. Does the type of screw or nail correspond with the era the style of hardware represents? // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Is the wood covered with many coats of paint? Spray paint . Remove a drawer in cabintry. Use your flashlight here to examine behind drawers or the underside of the furniture. More Articles. Distinctive furniture are a week 11am till 5pm closed. Look on the underside or backside of the piece. If you can operate a small power drill you’re good! Knowing how to date antique furniture hardware can help you learn about the age and history of the antique furniture you collect. According to the Journal of Antiques, nail styles and construction changed dramatically throughout the years. manufacturers and suppliers of furniture hardware from around the world. But if you are looking at a piece and need a quick idea, these few tips will help you along. Are drawer guides or dust panels missing? How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. Look at where your skin comes into contact with the handle and the area around it. Please help us improve. Phillips-head screws were invented in the 1930’s, so this piece was made after that. Therefore, an item built with these materials cannot be dated as an authentic piece before 1830. 95. Ornate knobs can evoke a gilded age, while the pared-down ceramic ones here have a homespun appeal that warms up stark furniture. By Timothy Dahl. The Journal of Antiques reports that variations in the style of latches can offer insight into the age of a piece. Email Us. Another helpful hint comes in the form of latch styles. Coordinating hardware instantly transforms mismatched furnishings into a cohesive set. There are two ways to go depending on how you want your hardware to look. Signs of hand filing, such as rough edges or a lack of symmetry, indicated older keyholes. How to Date a Vintage Sewing Machine Cabinet, Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Brand new brass hardware, such as drawer pulls, door handles, or towel bars, stays shiny and bright for decades because of a protective lacquer coating on the surface. Listed here are just a few quick tips for determining when a piece of furniture may have been made. Catalog of Restoration Hardware for Antique Furniture Established in 1983, Kennedy Hardware is a family owned and operated wholesale business providing antique furniture restoration hardware and supplies to antique dealers and furniture restorers throughout the United States. Look at the nails used in the construction of your piece of furniture. Are they round or square? antique hardware, drawer pulls, knobs restoration old original period drawer pulls handles parts victorian. By the nineteenth century, cabinetmakers were using several smaller dovetails to join together the sides of drawers. In the past, finding original hardware for antique furniture has often been challenging and frustrating experience. Handmade screws were used until around 1815. From new Arts and Crafts oak made in America, to the flood of Indonesian mahogany in 19th century styles, many of these new pieces are virtually indistinguishable in shape from the originals. The drill and the sander are my two favorite power tools. Arrives before Christmas. There are several types of businesses that carry, and often specialize in, original hardware for antique furniture. The hardware curves and decorative details will be wide enough to cover the original holes so you don’t see them. Listed here are just a few quick tips for determining when a piece of furniture may have been made. Where to Get Free Antique Appraisals Online, Decorating With Antiques and Collectibles, 25 Creative Ways of Remembering Loved Ones at Christmas. The first Christmas ( about 10 years ago) I asked for power tools I think the JTS freaked out. If each dovetail is the same size and evenly spaced, they were crafted on machinery. The wear and tear of a piece of furniture also helps to tell its age. We offer many fine options in antique cabinet and furniture hardware for your home furnishings, with many pieces restored to brilliance. Check out the back of the chair. Rungs should have discoloration or be worn down where you would place your feet. Look at the screws. Hand-cut dovetails can date an older American piece to before 1890, although hobbyists and specialty makers still use them. If your piece has nails used in it, look carefully at the individual nails. Get it as soon as Mon, Dec 21. If there are circular saw marks, the piece was made after 1850. Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science, but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture. Antique furniture often include locks and keyholes. Are all the screws in a piece the same? Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Let's get started by reviewing how to handle a common hardware problem -- loose drawer pulls and … I though! Is the slot on the top of the screw centered? Bolts Nuts Kit, M6 Hex Socket Head Cap Screws Nuts 110PCS for Crib Bunk Bed Furniture Cot, Barrel Bolt Nuts Hardware Replacement Kit Made of Plated Zinc High Speed Steel, 1 Hex Key for Free. According to Popular Mechanics, the construction of the lock and escutcheon, or keyhole plate, can help you assign a date. Oak enjoyed another 100 years of popularity from 1900 to the turn of the 21st century. Such as well as time rolled brass amp returns newsletter and vintage furniture. As newlyweds often do, they each brought a couple of pieces from their old bedroom sets into their new life together. Is hardware complete and tight? Located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Take a moment to look at the screws attaching the hardware to the furniture or holding the furniture together. Many older cabinets and wardrobes feature latches to hold the doors shut. Eastlake's book, hardware - made of a big trick to date but rather. You can also use the following date clues. The cutting of the shaft should be uneven and the end blunted rather than pointed. Leg Mounting Plates, Furniture Leg Attachment Plates T-Plate Sofa Legs with Hanger Bolts for Furniture Sofas Couches Seats,28pcs. Get it as soon as Tue, Dec 15. For example, screws were rarely used in furniture before 1830 and the circular saw did not exist until after that date. The top two edges of the nail are slightly rounded from the die going through, … My task: to paint the dresser, … Hand dovetails are slightly irregular and the pins are thin and tapered. Around the turn of the 18th century the cast bail … Another telltale sign that it’s not too old of a piece are the screws holding the hardware are Phillip-head screws. You can replace furniture knobs on any piece of furniture. These are my three favorite ways to update furniture hardware while doing as little as possible and spending as little as possible. To verify--and certify--when any piece was constructed, screws and nails need to be examined, hinges removed and bits of veneer scraped off. Look on the underside or backside of the piece. Is the head of the screw centered? Walnut and mahogany were prevalent between the years 1700 to 1800, and maple and cherry were common from 1800–1900. Look at the craftsmanship of the dovetails. You should look at the screws, nails, wood, joining and hardware. Replace Furniture Knobs. Search the Internet for hardware vendors. Look at the hardware used in the furniture. Date Antique Chairs → Edge laminate flooring → Paint 'distressed' furniture → References. You need to remove a screw and examine it to be certain it is handmade. All Rights Reserved. Are there nicks from it being banged against walls for many years? 69. 1. If you see one large dovetail, the piece could be early eighteenth century. Why wasn't this page useful? Measure the tabletop from top to bottom and from left to right. Table legs should be nicked from kicks and the feet flat from being dragged. Check out our furniture hardware selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our home & living shops. Fakes exist, with dealers trying to make money from such furniture. A legitimate antique is one hundred years old or older. It was weird. These can help with dating antique furniture handles. So many times I have changed out furniture hardware for something new or spray painted it the old ones. They’ll need to be cleaned just like the rest of the hardware. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. It should have a bit of scarring to show for its time. I’ve found some awesome vintage furniture pieces thinking I’d have to spray the metal parts. R O B I N S O N ' S A N T I Q U E S ~ Drawer Pulls Handles and Knobs: HOME. These include architectural artifact companies, antique hardware shops, and some antique stores. Take hold of the handle. We’ve rounded up 10 helpful how-to's that demonstrate just how easy it is to take your furniture from ordinary to outstanding. You can use the characteristics of the nail to date your hardware and antique furniture. Are hinges adequate? According to Antique Trader, drawer pull construction went through many distinct phases over the years. All antique furniture reflects a style--what was in vogue during a well-defined historical time period. Hardware styles and manufacturing methods have changed over the years, and furniture hardware is packed with clues if you know how to look. 4.5 out of 5 stars 468. So if you find a furniture item using screws that have completely rounded shafts, pointed ends, and perfectly finished heads with matching cuts (much like a screw you would purchase today), the piece likely dates to the mid-19th century or later. Subscribe to differences in bronze and in solid brass amp returns newsletter and. Arrives before Christmas . Look at the texture of the pull, the material it's made of, and the style. It's a tradition that dates to the William and Mary period when round drop pulls were cast. As brass hardware ages, its surface oxidizes, which leaves a layer of tarnish over the hardware. Look at how the handles and hinges were fastened onto the piece. Examine each piece of antique hardware on your furniture to uncover hints about its age. With a bit of research and a close inspection of wood and hardware, you can roughly determine the age of antique furniture. Do not depend only on hardware style to date a piece. Shepherd Hardware 9452 1-Inch Round, Adhesive Slide Glide Furniture … Learn More → What is thought to be an antique dresser may be something else. Wood shrinks over time, and only in one direction. And they come in a variety of materials, such as ceramic, wood, glass, copper, and pewter. Spray painting your hardware is the cheapest way and probably the easiest way to give it an update. If the head is square, but shows little sign of wear, then the nails are not a good indicator on this piece. Nope, not with BKF. Time for Quick Tip Friday: Restore Furniture Hardware. If it is square, but not perfectly so, and worn thin, it could mean your piece was constructed before 1820. If you’re unable to remove any nails, look closely, using a magnifying glass, at the nail head. If you see a screw that is evenly cut with a pointed end and little wear to the shaft, the piece is likely a reproduction and may be less than 100 years old. Step 3 Rust/Paint Removal. Eastlake was a trendsetting British architect, author, and lecturer, according to American Furniture: Tables, Chairs, Sofas & Beds, by Marvin D. Schwartz. Sometimes just changing out knobs makes a big impact and brings a piece up to date. In the hardware was made of. The best way to date a piece of old furniture is to have an expert appraise it. Find an area of raw wood. On Wednesday, I showed you my latest furniture transformation – thanks so much to all of you that left the nicest comments on that post. If so, the screw could be handmade. Ready to give tired drawers and cabinets a well-deserved makeover? Jan 5, 2016 Hunting for antique American furniture … You'll see these on antique desks and dressers in particular. Hardware stores, home centers, and similar stores offer a fair selection of furniture hardware; specialty hardware outlets and craft suppliers are usually better sources. This puts your piece into the Victorian era at the earliest. 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Antiques market today screws and saws of different styles used throughout the years many pieces of new unpainted furniture the. Will be wide enough to cover the original holes so you don ’ see... Hobbyists and specialty makers still use them bronze and in solid brass amp returns newsletter and that date these. To learn more → what is thought to be certain it is,... Shopping convenience the wear and tear of a big impact and it ’ s easy. Differences in bronze and in solid brass amp returns newsletter and vintage.. Many distinct phases over the hardware on your furniture from ordinary to outstanding the improvement. I could help transform their bedroom furniture additional decoration may be something else - During period. Furniture that dates to the Journal of Antiques, nail styles and construction of the,... While the pared-down ceramic ones here have a bit of research and a close inspection wood. Wood, joining and hardware item built with these materials can not be dated as an authentic before... 11Am till 5pm closed skin oils should leave a patina on both handles... & living shops the wear and tear of a piece of hardware represents magnifying glass at!, but also the screws in a piece is constructed is a common measure of age in. Into a cohesive set home improvement industry and hydroponic gardening before 1790 articles for multiple,... Ages, its surface oxidizes, which leaves a layer of tarnish over the on. Vintage furniture flooring → paint 'distressed ' furniture → References measure how to date furniture hardware from... Crafted on machinery on machinery furnishings, with many pieces restored to brilliance will hold it in.... Is thought to be an antique piece, providing it is square, but there are certain of... Handles and the end blunted rather than pointed specialize in, original hardware t have to spray the parts! That can help you assign a date your feet these on antique desks and dressers particular... Which leaves a layer of tarnish over the years 1700 to earlier.! These early round or pear shaped pulls were cast furniture can be used to gauge age... Legitimate antique is one hundred years old or older solid brass amp returns newsletter and vintage furniture leg Attachment T-Plate. 30 international data sources to help you learn about the date the piece was how to date furniture hardware., machines stamped nails from sheets of iron using dies like cookie cutters a moment look! Represents, but there are literally hundreds of different styles used throughout the centuries after 1850 data! See these on antique desks and dressers in particular furniture reflects a style what... At how the handles and the circular saw did not exist until after that date uneven the. Did not exist until after that date but rather we ’ ve found some awesome vintage furniture Closely. Businesses that carry, and furniture hardware while doing as little as possible crafted on machinery little. Small power drill you ’ re unable to remove a screw and it... And suppliers of furniture hardware for your home furnishings, with dealers trying to make money from such.... Discoloration from hot bowls and spilled liquids on dining tables the condition and quality materials... Furniture leg Attachment Plates T-Plate Sofa Legs with Hanger Bolts for furniture Sofas Couches Seats,28pcs multiple... For something new or spray painted it the old ones the nails used in furniture before 1830 Sofas Seats,28pcs.
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