Value of Old Furniture: Style, Wood, Maker, Construction, Surface and Condition

Quick old furniture value checklist

• Form and style: chest, table, chair, desk, cabinet, sideboard, settee, campaign piece, apothecary cabinet, or regional form.
• Wood and surface: walnut, mahogany, oak, rosewood, huali, pine, veneer, lacquer, paint, ebonized finish, or later refinishing.
• Construction: dovetails, pegs, secondary woods, drawer bottoms, saw marks, hardware, locks, feet, and joinery.
• Condition: missing hardware, replaced parts, veneer loss, cracks, stains, refinishing, repairs, instability, and insect damage.
• Context: maker label, retailer stamp, family provenance, set completeness, dimensions, and local demand.

What drives old furniture value

Strong furniture values usually come from the right combination of design, material, condition, originality, and demand. A complete set can matter. A specialized form can matter. Original hardware and surface can matter. Size also matters because large furniture can be expensive to move and harder to place.

Do not refinish, replace hardware, sand, repaint, or repair before identification. Those choices can change value and remove useful evidence.

When a free screener is enough

Use the free screener when you need help identifying style, age clues, wood, condition issues, and whether market evidence exist. It is useful before moving, refinishing, donating, or selling inherited furniture.

When to get a professional appraisal

Use a professional appraisal for insurance, estate division, donation, resale of a significant piece, or furniture with maker, provenance, or originality questions. For format expectations, see the professional sample report.

Photo checklist before you upload

• Full front, back, sides, top, underside, feet, and interior.
• Drawer sides, bottoms, dovetails, locks, hardware, hinges, labels, stamps, and repairs.
• Close-ups of wood grain, surface, veneer, paint, lacquer, damage, and replaced parts.
• Measurements: height, width, depth, and seat height where relevant.
• Any receipts, family notes, maker documentation, prior appraisals, or restoration records.