Have you ever inherited antique furniture and wondered if it had any value? While most people assume that old furniture is automatically considered an antique, that’s not necessarily true. The experts at Forsythe’s Antiques & Fine Art in Russellville, OH, consult on antique items and offer tips for those new to antiquing.

The professionals at Forsythe's Antiques & Fine Art offer some guidelines to help you determine whether or not to contact a reputable antique dealer about your furniture piece:

• Look For Defects: Sharp edges or corners on a piece of furniture usually indicate it was recently manufactured. If you run your fingers underneath or along the backside of the furniture and it’s smooth, it might be antique.
• Inspect The Screws: Remove a screw from a convenient spot and look for irregular widths between the spirals. Is the head of the screw off center? If you see either of these things, the screw is likely old and possibly an antique.
• Examine The Veneers: Antique furniture is known for having thick and irregular wood veneers. Modern veneers tend to be much thinner, with multiple pieces having the same width.
• Consider How It’s Joined: Remove a drawer and look at how the front and back fasten to the sides of the drawer. If the dovetails are closely spaced and precisely cut, it was machine cut. If the dovetails aren’t even and are few, it was likely done by hand.

If you think your piece appears to be more antique than old, how much is it worth? The value of antique furniture is determined by its rarity, quality, condition, and place of origin. An antique dealer will also consider its finish and color before giving an estimate of its worth.

For those in the Cincinnati area, Forsythe's Antiques & Fine Art will perform an expert evaluation and appraisal on your piece. They handle a variety of antique furniture, including antique lamps, music boxes, and bookcases. Call the professional antique dealers at (513) 791-2323 to arrange an appointment. You can also find a list of the items they sell and purchase online.