Are you a treasure hunter? Do you love searching for unique pieces to complement your home? Do you scour auction houses or antique shops looking for gems? Or have you become the receiver of a trove of goodies from a relative or in a move? Now is the time to take a closer look because there is a good chance that some of your pieces could be worth over $1,000! But how to know? Here we give you nine signs to look out for.

1. The Devil is in the Dovetails

Dovetails are a huge indicator as to whether your furniture is worth some money. But what exactly are they? Have a look at how the different parts of your furniture are put together. Each part will have parts carved out of it, so that the corresponding pieces slot into each other and create the furniture shape. Do the pieces fit together neatly and uniformly as if they were cut by a machine? Or are they slightly more haphazard, with some variance in size and shape? If it’s the latter, then you have reason to become excited as varied dovetails are a classic sign of older furniture made before machine manufacturing became common.

2. What type of wood would?

An absolute beginner in the world of furniture pricing should know that hard wood is considered “dense” and soft wood is considered “supple”, and that a good way to know which is which is by pressing your fingernail softly into the material somewhere hidden. If there is an indentation, then the wood would be considered soft; and if there is no trace, then the wood is hard. After that focus on the grain, are the age rings close together or farther apart? The closer together the rings are, the smoother it tends to appear; whilst if they are farther apart, they may seem more uneven in appearance. Knowing what wood the furniture is made of, for example - mahogany, oak, rosewood, pine or elm - will make or break determining it’s true value.

3. Don’t let first impressions fool you

You have to be extremely careful that, although at first glance your piece may appear like it would fit comfortably in the pages of a magazine, this could be exactly what the seller wanted you to believe (and not a happy twist of fate.) Leading on from the previous point, certain woods are more expensive - being much more rare, having required importation and were the material du jour during a key period in furniture making. Therefore, it’s very common to encounter furniture that has all the looks of an antique piece, but none of the substance. Veneering was a common technique in which thin slices of valuable pieces of wood were stuck to sturdier and less precious stock in order to offer more affordable options, however this could leave you with something that is all bark and no bite.

4. Mixed or Uniform?

Now that you’re an expert at wood identification, you need to see if it's all the same or if it's different. This is another easy way to see if you’re onto a winner. Does the entire unit look like it’s made of the same material? If it seems like all the wood is the same, then your piece may be from a more modern era. However if it’s obviously made from different species, then that’s a great indicator that it’s old enough to be considered an antique, as mixing wood types was extremely common practice.

5. The Importance of Symmetry

Similar to perfect dovetails, having extremely symmetrical furniture is another clear giveaway that it was produced using machines, meaning it comes after the mid-1800’s. Handmade furniture doesn’t have perfect construction – irregularities in size, design and shape are like a blueprint to determining its age, and therefore, value. Embrace the imperfections!

6. Stamp, Label and Date Me

Whilst having a close, detailed probe, it’s important to look out for any stamps, labels or date marks. Finding these would be considered a huge asset, as it’s a great starting point for researching the history of your furniture and how much it could potentially be worth. Beware though, considerable searching may still be required! Labels markings have been used since the 19th century, and there are literally thousands of different variations. It’s recommended to begin looking on the inside edge if it’s a drawer, or on the back or lower edge if it's a different type of furniture. There are many extensive online collections of different markings which could help pinpoint what style and era you’re looking for.

7. Is it screwed?

Screws can be some of the most misunderstood elements of antique identification. As furniture increased in complexity and sophistication, there became a need for a fastener that could hold two pieces together without penetrating the back part completely. Early examples of screws differ wildly from more modern and recognizable examples, often with clear handwork where the metal part meets the surface of the wood. Indeed, some of the earlier examples of screws can be narrowed down to an exact specific region and decade.

8. Crime and Refurbishment

Improper restoration can permanently destroy the value of any vintage or antique piece, so it’s extremely important to look out for any signs of this. Paint drip marks in the corners or a surface appearance that belies the age of the piece all point towards an unfortunate refurbishment incident. Older wooden pieces have a sought-after lustrous sheen - created by the aging process, wear and polishing - and any damage to it through unnatural intervention can have disastrous consequences.

9. Undercooked or Rare

If while you’re doing research on your item, and it’s difficult to find similar examples within that category, then it could indicate that your piece is fairly or extremely rare, and therefore more marketable. The more you search online, look in thrift stores, go to auctions and visit antique shops, the better an idea you’ll have if what you own is something special.

To conclude, we hope that this has been helpful to guide you on what to look out for in order to accurately assess furniture value, and when all else fails – it’s always the best policy to call in the experts. Auction professionals have a wealth of experience and an eye that novices can only hope for. When in doubt consult the experts!

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9 Signs Your Furniture is Over $1,000