How to recognise authentic 19th-century antique furniture

A craftsman looks at a piece from the back, underneath and inside before he even looks at the price. Here are the five signs that help you tell an original from a reproduction, plus a price guide for Sofia.

1. Wood and patina

Furniture from the 19th century is made of solid wood: oak, walnut, mahogany, more rarely cherry. It is heavy. The patina is darkest where hands touched the piece for years (handles, edges, the top) and lighter in protected places.

Turn the piece around and look at the back and the bottom. Unfinished wood there should look old: grey-brown, dry, with dust in the pores. A fresh, light colour at the back or an even shine everywhere usually means a new finish or a new piece.

2. Joints

Pull out a drawer and look at the corners. Hand-cut dovetails are few, wide and slightly uneven. Machine-cut ones, common from the late 19th century, are identical and closely spaced. Wooden dowels and wedges are a good sign. Staples, modern screws and chipboard are not.

3. Veneer

Old veneer was cut by hand and is clearly thicker than modern veneer, which is almost as thin as paper. It is easiest to see along the edges and where the veneer is chipped.

4. Hardware, nails and screws

Hand-forged nails have a square shank and an irregular head. Old screws often have a slightly off-centre slot and a shallow thread. Also check around handles and locks: extra holes or marks of other hardware show it was replaced. That is fine, as long as the seller says so honestly.

5. Tool marks and wear

Hand saws and planes leave straight, slightly uneven marks, especially in hidden places. Wear should make sense: on the lower rails where feet rested, on drawer runners, around the locks. The same "ageing" everywhere is a sign of fake distressing.

Price guide for Sofia

Based on prices in our catalogue, autumn 2026:

The price depends on the wood, the age, the condition and how much restoration is needed.

When to call a restorer

Wobbly legs or joints, lifting veneer, broken hardware or tiny holes with fine dust around them (a sign of woodworm) are reasons to show the piece to a craftsman. Send us photos on Viber and get a quote, usually the same day.

In short

• Heavy, solid wood with patina where it was touched
• Hand-cut joints, few and slightly uneven
• Thick veneer
• Old nails and screws, logical traces of replaced hardware
• Wear that makes sense, no even "ageing"