Furniture Maker Marks: 7 Best Antique Clues

Furniture maker marks can turn a mystery chair, table, cabinet, dresser, desk, or chest into a researchable object. A paper label, burned stamp, metal tag, branded mark, pencil number, or retailer plaque may point to the maker, factory, retailer, pattern, date range, or country of origin. Not every old piece has a mark, and not … Read more

Silver Hallmarks Identification: 7 Best Clues

Silver hallmarks identification helps you answer one of the most important questions about an old spoon, tray, tea set, box, watch case, or piece of jewelry: is it sterling silver, silverplate, coin silver, or something else? The answer can change value dramatically. A mark can point to metal standard, maker, assay office, date letter, country, … Read more

Antique Pricing: 7 Best Ways to Value Items

Antique pricing is difficult because antiques do not have one fixed price. The same object can sell for different amounts depending on condition, rarity, demand, location, provenance, and selling venue. A smart antique pricing process does not chase the highest listing online. It identifies the item, checks real sold prices, adjusts for condition, and chooses … Read more