Antique Maker’s Marks – How to Find Them

The identification marks left by an antique furniture maker are almost limitless, and with each craftsman having his own unique way of marking his work, there are literally tens, if not hundreds of thousands of different markings that might help you identify the maker of a particular antique item.

Antique Dealers

Even the most experienced of antique dealers would not know of all the markings in a particular category, and with their magnifying glasses, the expert would know the area to start his search, but might come across a marking he has never seen before. When an antique dealer first views an item, the maker’s mark is the first thing to search for, and in many cases, a guess as to the location proves to be correct. When a cabinet maker marked his work, he would always try to put his mark in the same location, and with knowledge built up over the years, you can become quite an expert on finding these little clues.

Stamp Markings

Common with many cabinet makers, a stamp marking would be a small metal tool that would be tapped with a hammer, leaving an imprint. These would obviously be found in places that are concealed, such as on the inside of a drawer, or the back of a cabinet, and it would be a very small mark that could easily be overlooked.

Types of Markings

The following can be found on antique furniture:

Maker’s Mark
Design or Manufacture Date
Foundry Marks
Builder’s signature (older items are more likely to have this)

There are, of course, books you can buy that have thousands of images to help antique collectors with the identification process, and there are also a few websites dedicated to maker’s marks on antique furniture, with a classic silver marking website that covers many different markings.

Hand Carved Signatures

Quite a few cabinet makers took the trouble of carefully scribing their signature with a sharp metal object, and such a signature would quickly darken, making it easier to spot. Dealers rely heavily on such marks to ensure an item is authentic, and the dealer would certainly point this out to any potential buyer.

Like anything else, the more time you spend researching makers’ marks, the more you will know, and take the time to look everywhere on a piece, as you could easily miss a mark that identifies the maker. Not all antique items have such a mark, as many cabinet builders in those times were not really thinking that their work would be of any value in the future.

Online Antique Dealers

If you are searching for a specific item, contact a reputable online antique dealer, as he would have extensive associations with other online dealers, and armed with the information, it doesn’t take long to source an item to order. Some antique dealers specialise in a particular era or styles, and it would be best to approach a dealer who focuses on the style you are interested in.

If you are looking to buy an item from an antique dealer, they would be able to show you any identification marks in order to verify the item’s authenticity, but not all pieces have one.