Dating Antique Furniture Screws
Learn how to accurately date antique furniture by analyzing hardware clues such as screws, nails, locks, and latches. One of the most overlooked and least understood clues in establishing the date and authenticity of older and antique furniture is the story that screws can tell about the history of a piece. Screws are relative newcomers to the production of furniture primarily because they are so hard to make by hand.
Understanding how to date antique furniture hardware may help you discover more about the history and age of the antique furniture hardware you collect. Hardware designs and manufacturing techniques have evolved throughout time, and antique furniture hardware is full of hints if you know where to look. A practical checklist to date antique furniture by dovetails and hardware, with a quick dating table, decision tree, and real auction comps.
Learn how to date antique furniture like a detective. This guide shows you how to read the clues in construction, hardware, materials, and maker's marks. A systematic guide to dating antique screws.
Uncover their age by decoding the evolution of manufacturing techniques and material science. First, dating furniture is a fine art. Seldom does one clue provide confirmation of anything.
Also important are style (including hardware), shrinkage, nails, screws, locks, the primary and secondary woods used, the type of finish, tell-tale tool marks, areas of wear and general appearance. Determining the date of old furniture pieces can be tricky. Learn how to look at construction and components that provide useful dating clues.
Antique Furniture Screws By John Tope In the early 1800's, screws were hammered into their shape by a blacksmith. Screws were all handmade and hand cut. Screws began to be machine made on about the 1830's.
Originally screws were flat bottomed until it was realized that a pointed screw was better, just like our modern screws. After about 1850, all screws have been basically the same through. The hardware used in antique furniture, such as handles, knobs, and hinges, also offers valuable information about its age and style.
Hardware styles tend to evolve in accordance with changing design movements and trends.