Often, the family of a deceased person finds old and potentially antique wooden furniture when managing the estate and clearing the property. This blog looks at how you can identify antique wooden furniture.
The Versatility of Wood
Wood is the perfect material for crafting lovely antique furniture since it can be stained and cut in many ways. Because of appropriate wood selection, many pieces of ancient wooden furniture have preserved their distinctive charm with only minor carving and staining.
Linking a wood type to a specific era can be difficult to do. There are a tonne of books and websites that can help you with this, but nothing compares to experience and wisdom! Speaking with an expert is usually preferable for assistance in identifying antique furniture. Here, we take a quick look at how to recognise different types of wood and ancient traits.
Types of Wood Typically Used for Antique Furniture
Pine is a lightweight wood that neither expands nor contracts. However, it does split. Pine is frequently used to construct the framework of a piece before veneering it. It appears to be white or golden, yet this darkens with time.
Oak is a solid, long-lasting wood frequently used for cabinets and other heavy items. Red or white oak is available in different cuts and grains. Oak is occasionally mistaken for ash, often used in its place.
Walnut is used frequently in cathedral patterns and comes in various hues. It can be purple, black, brown, white, and even grey. Since walnut wood will lighten with age, antiques constructed from it are frequently yellow-brown.
Cherry is hardwood often used to make American antiques, particularly cabinets.
Mahogany is a popular wood for designs in the European style. Its distinctive grain pattern may be ribbon-like and be red or light brown. Items like dressers and dining tables frequently use it.
Rosewood has a distinctive floral scent when freshly cut. It has a similar appearance to mahogany, although it has fine white or black rings.
You must identify the sort of wood used in the construction of your antique furniture in order to properly care for it and get the most out of it. You will also need to determine the value of the furniture during the probate process.
Contact National Clearances on 0203 9859552.