The fainting couch is one of the most recognizable pieces associated with Victorian interiors. Its long, upholstered form appears in period paintings, novels,…
A mid-century console table can reveal much about its period through its timber, veneer, joinery, and finish. Pieces made from walnut, teak, oak, mahogany, and…
Antique wood can look tired for several different reasons. Years of low humidity may leave a finish dull and slightly brittle, while accumulated wax, smoke…
A stuck drawer can turn a useful antique dresser into a source of worry. Older case pieces often have hand-cut dovetails, thin veneer, shellac or wax finishes,…
Furniture hardware is often treated as a finishing detail, yet it can reveal a piece’s age, origin, intended use, and design vocabulary. A drawer pull, hinge,…
An antique hope chest can become a handsome window seat with very little visual alteration. Its long, low profile is naturally suited to a bay window, bedroom…
Antique furniture names often describe an object’s shape, use, or position in a room. Highboy and lowboy are especially easy to confuse because both are…
A desk chair caster has a small job, but it carries repeated pressure, absorbs impacts, and rubs against the floor every time the chair moves. On an older…
Tiger maple is among the most admired figured woods found in American antique furniture. Its alternating bands of light and shadow create a rippling effect…
Woodworm is a general term for damage caused by the larvae of wood-boring beetles. The adult beetle may be gone by the time the problem is noticed, while…