Auctiva Emporium: tim2380

How to tell genuine antique oriental furniture from well made new reproductions? Firstly look at the places where regular hand contact would be, are they worn and polished significantly more than non contact areas, cos they should be. second look for repairs which would be a good sign especially when well done, one place to look is around the lower legs especially back legs where wet and rot would have taken most of a tole. thirdly cheque the wear to the hinges and nails securing them, old ironwork was often uneven where hand hammerd in a forge. european iron screws were hand cut groove and often off centre. The underside of the legs where contact with the floor would cause pitting and scraping, and for kick marks. The more evidence of hand craftsmanship the better, eg uneven joints and slight markings used to locate where the hinge slips were to be cut. The back panels want to be hand sawn solid wood panels or wide planks quite thin, usually un smothed on the outside and often slightly loose Door panels and side panels are reasuring when cut from superior and well grained tinber with a beveled edge all around on the inside where fitting into the framework. last thing I can think about is that drawer runners whare with a perticular uneven manner, underside being worn near the front and upper side at the very back, and the sides always have lines on them. Thats all I can think of for now.