All About Antiques

Tang Dynasty tomb figures: how to identify horses, camels, and court ladies, judge authenticity, and read the market.

Japanese lacquerware: how to identify genuine urushi from imitations by finish, weight, and signature, and judge value.

Authentic antique hallmarks and maker’s marks are identified by their specific placement on an item (usually the base, back, or inside clasp), the precise stamping technique used, and the corresponding registered dates or country of origin codes. Genuine marks, unlike modern cast fakes, are deeply struck with crisp edges, often accompanied by purity stamps (like…

Most jade sold today is not genuine nephrite or jadeite. Authentic Chinese jade resists scratching from a steel knife, feels noticeably cold and heavy for its size, and shows no bubbles or swirl marks under a loupe. Dyed quartzite, glass, and serpentine are the most common substitutes. Confirmed fakes often fluoresce unnaturally under UV light,…

Unsigned antique paintings, particularly those on tin (such as retablos or early American folk art), can be identified by analyzing the tin’s thickness, oxidation patterns, and pigment composition. Authentic 19th-century tin paintings display natural, uneven rust on the edges and utilize hand-ground mineral pigments, completely lacking the uniform, machine-rolled metal and synthetic paints found in…

How to identify antique transferware: patterns, makers’ marks, colors, and dates, plus what your pieces are worth in today’s market.

Chinese hardstone carvings: how to identify quartz, agate, coral, and rock crystal pieces, and judge quality and value.