5 Tips for French Antiquing

Posted on 30 July 2009

Renee Hunt of French Metro Antiques in Fayetteville had a few things to add about our recommended book, French Furniture: From Louis XIII to Art Deco. Renee also shared with us her 5 top tips for French antiques collectors.

Renee says,

5 tips when purchasing French antiques

1. Identify the style

… after everything you have learned from Sylvie Chadenet’s book!

2. Identify the wood species

Walnut, oak, cherry, beech, ash and fruitwoods are commonly-used woods in French pieces.

3. Determine the age

The machine age started in the late 19th century. Therefore, cabinetry with smooth, machine-finished panels immediately tells you that it does not predate the year 1880.

4. Look at construction techniques

  Look for dovetails in both the front and backs of the drawers. Usually larger dovetails indicate a piece that is 18th century or older. Wooden pegs, instead of nails, were used in quality pieces all the way through the 20th century. Hand-carved pieces were made through the 1940s.

5. Look for restorations

It is not necessarily a negative to see restorations in a piece as many restorations are more than 100 years old themselves. It is the quality of the restoration that matters. Common places to look for restorations are the feet and the cornice where damaged wood was replaced or finish was restored.