Antiques can be made from a variety of woods.
Identifying a species of wood in a piece of antique furniture can help you determine its value. You can find out the species of wood in your particular piece by doing a little close examination and light research. Doing this yourself can save you money by helping you avoid hiring an antique appraiser. Once you determine the species of wood in your piece, you can take more appropriate steps to restore it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Determine the period from which your piece came. Certain species of wood were most popular during specific periods of furniture making. For example, if your antique piece comes from a period before 1900, it is most likely mahogany, walnut, rosewood or oak. Pieces made after 1900 are probably ash, poplar or pine.
2. Identify the general region from which your piece originated. American antique furniture, for example, was commonly made from maple, birch or cherry wood. English antique pieces are usually made of rosewood or mahogany. Identifying the region and period of your antique piece will help you narrow down the probable species of the wood.
3. Examine the wood to determine if the grain is large or small. The grain is another name for the tree's cell structure. Large grain woods have a rough texture, and small or tight grained woods are smoother. Make note of the characteristics of the grain. Is it large, straight, wavy or mottled? Does the grain form eye shapes? If you can't see the wood grain, you may have to strip the wood of its finish. Take the piece to an antique restorer for the stripping, if it is necessary.
4. Make note of the color of the wood. While woods can take on a variety of shades, some species are more orange than others, and some have distinguishing color characteristics. An example is the green hue in poplar wood.
5. Consult a wood furniture guide with your notes. Mark the pages with the woods commonly used during your piece's era and geographical region. Examine the pictures of the wood in the guide and compare the grain and color notes with the pictures to find the one that most closely matches your piece.
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