Make sure to search for labels, stamps, or manufacturing tags that can tell when and where a piece was made. Furniture companies and makers often listed their names, locations, and year of production This information can be found on the inside of drawers, the backs of bureaus, and on the lower edges of pieces.

How can you tell how old a piece of furniture is?

Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860.

What is a makers mark on furniture?

A telltale sign of the furnitures maker is a manufacturing tag, label or stamp bearing the name of the creator. Such a marking or label may have been placed inside a drawer on an old dresser, on the back of a chest of drawers, or on the underside of a chair or sofa seat.

How can I tell what brand of furniture I have?

Look for a metal or paper tag, a sticker or a stamp listing a brand name. This might be found on the underside of the table or one of the chairs. Check the braces at the corners of tables or chair seats, visible from beneath.

How can I tell if my sofa is an antique?

How to Identify an Antique SofaStart by examining the frame or structure of the sofa from the underside as much as possible. Examine wooden details. Look at the padding and springs. Consider the fabric and its condition. Review the whole piece.

How do you read a Lane furniture serial number?

You can read the serial number BACKWARDS to determine the production date. For example: serial number 753150 would have been produced on 05/13/57. Some chests may also have an extra digit which denotes the plant location. For example: serial number 2557121 would have been produced on 12/17/55 in plant #2.

Which sofas last the longest?

Couches that have a dense hardwood frame (like maple, walnut or teak) are the most durable. Tightly woven textiles and leather are long-lasting fabric choices.