Tips on Spotting Genuine Antique Dining Chairs

Investing in antique dining chairs should be dealt with seriously because sometimes, differentiating a fake from an authentic piece is not as straightforward as one hopes it to be. Take for instance the antique dining chairs from the 18^th century. These pieces have been revived several times throughout the years, especially during the Victorian era, that these revivals are now considered as mere reproductions of the original.

But if you do happen to spot a real 18^th century antique dining chair, you will find that they can be extremely expensive. The real Victorian chair will also have been handmade with the carving more free flowing as compared to the Victorian revival, which you will discover to be more stylized because it was machine-carved instead of having been handmade. Most often than not, 18^th century dining chairs have the acanthus carvings on the knees of the cariole legs whereas those revived look a bit plainer.

The reason for this stark distinction is its 100 year difference. Although both chairs may appear to have the characteristic bow-shaped top rail, a trained eye will be able to spot the said peculiarity between the two.

It would also be good to note that neo classical chair designs were also revived during the Victorian and Edwardian eras up until the 20^th century. Two of the designs known at that time were Sheraton and Hepplewhite. They looked simpler than Chippendale’s, which was another design that proliferated during those eras.  The former’s designs were simpler than the latter’s while Hepplewhite’s designs were of oval and shield-like shapes when it came to the backs of the chairs. The legs were also tapered instead of being cabriole. As for Sheraton’s designs, they were rectilinear, the backs were square-shaped, style was plain and the legs were also tapered. This type of design is still popular until today.

Knowing these things, it would really be hard to spot a real, genuine, antique dining chair. Spotting one is not an exact science which is why you would need to go to a credible and reputable antique dealer before making your purchase and spending a huge amount of money. Look for the signs and do your research well. Looking for antique dining chairs is really a serious business.

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