During the 1800 s cut nails have tapered rectangular shafts and rectangular heads.
Dating furniture by nails. As a nail is driven into wood the tip of the nail pushes apart or crushes wood cells in its path fig. How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. Nails in the 1400s. Thomas d visser nails.
The type of dovetailed joint especially in drawers reveals much about furniture construction and dating. If you are trying to determine the age of a piece of american antique furniture it will require investigative work look closely at the the different elements that make the piece of furniture. Determining the age of antiques is half the fun. The video above provides a great introduction to dating antique furniture and what areas should be examined.
Antique furnishings can tell a story one that may only exist in the imagination of the lucky person acquiring the piece. Before 1800 hand wrought nails. Until about 1800 nails were hand forged tapered square shafts and hand hammered heads. The condition and quality of materials are used to gauge the age of a.
Examine the level of work that went into the furniture from the joinery finishing knobs and more. Learn 10 specific steps to establishing an accurate age for your antique furniture. When the tip of the nail passes the cells spring back and try to resume their former positions. Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture.
When dating a piece of antique furniture one of the most important clues to its history is often overlooked. You should look at the screws nails wood joining and hardware. Clues to a building s history see also his book field guide to new england barns and farm buildings. Dating a building with nails.
A single piece of antique furniture is more than a collection of nails boards and wood stain. Ten penny nails or 10d nails dates from the 1400s. As the dovetail joint evolved through the last one hundred thirty years it becomes a clue for the age and authenticity of antique furniture. 1797 1825 early machine cut nails crude early machine headed cut nails.
The simple nail serves as a key to furniture dating. Modern machine cut nails source of the illustration above. The mansfield massachusetts tremont nail company s historical notes cited below indicate that nails have been made by hand dating back to 300 b c. A nail may not be a noticeable style feature but looking at them carefully can help.