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Art Deco furniture makers and the marks they left behindArt Deco furniture makers and their signatures reveal much more than a designer’s name. A stamped cabinet, penciled workshop number, paper label, or retailer’s…
How to Tell Whether an Antique Chair Has Been RefinishedAn antique chair can look beautifully aged while carrying a finish that was applied only a few years ago. Refinishing may involve stripping the original…
The History of the Hoosier Cabinet in American KitchensBefore fitted kitchen cabinetry became standard, many American households relied on movable cupboards, worktables, and freestanding storage pieces to organize…
Restoring a Broken Leg on a Marble-Topped Parlor TableA marble-topped parlor table combines fragile stone with a wooden base that was often designed for light, decorative use. Its legs may be slender, turned,…
Why original hardware raises antique furniture valueA drawer pull, escutcheon, hinge, or key can seem like a small detail beside a walnut chest or mahogany sideboard. In the antique furniture market, however,…
How to Use a Heat Gun Safely When Stripping Old PaintRemoving old paint from furniture can reveal beautiful grain, original joinery, and details hidden beneath years of coatings. A heat gun is often faster than…
The Morris Chair and the Rise of Ergonomic FurnitureThe Morris chair occupies a distinctive place in furniture history because it was designed around relaxation long before “ergonomics” became a common design…
How to Tell if a Vintage Chair Has Been Re-Finished or RestoredA vintage chair can carry more history in its surface, joints, and upholstery than its age alone suggests. Two chairs from the same period may look remarkably…
Art Nouveau Furniture: Forms, Materials, and Lasting AppealArt Nouveau furniture transformed domestic interiors at the turn of the twentieth century. Rather than relying on the straight lines, historical references,…
How To Catalog Your Antique Furniture Collection For InsuranceA well-organized antique furniture catalog gives an insurer a clear record of what you own, what each piece is worth, and what makes it distinctive. It can…