All About Antiques
Antique identification, valuation, and collecting reference.
Popular Guides
Free Online Antique Appraisal (2026)
Ten free options compared, plus a scanner on the page that values your piece from one photo.
Antique Marks & Signatures: Complete Identification Guide
Complete guide to decoding maker marks on silver, porcelain, glass and furniture.
Is Antique Snap Legit? An Honest 2026 Review
What the app gets right, what it misses, and the complaints users actually make.
Best Antique Identifier Apps 2026: Head-to-Head Comparison
5 apps tested side-by-side for accuracy, speed and features.
Noritake China Patterns: Identification and Value
Read the backstamp, name the pattern, and see what collectors pay.
Online Antique Valuation Tools for Collectors
Free digital resources to research and price your antique items.
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Valuing Antique Silver Spoons: Collectible Patterns to Look For
Read more: Valuing Antique Silver Spoons: Collectible Patterns to Look ForValuing antique silver spoons: the collectible patterns, makers, and hallmarks that turn a single spoon into a $100+ find.
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How to Identify Antique Door Knobs: Glass, Porcelain, and Brass
Read more: How to Identify Antique Door Knobs: Glass, Porcelain, and BrassAuthentic antique door knobs are identified by their construction mechanics and material imperfections. Look for a “set screw” on the knob’s shank (common pre-1940) rather than a glued assembly. Genuine antique glass often turns a faint amethyst hue due to sun exposure, while 19th-century porcelain knobs exhibit a “mineral” finish or mottled “Bennington” glaze, unlike…
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Cast Iron Cookware Identification: How to Spot a “Griswold” Original
Read more: Cast Iron Cookware Identification: How to Spot a “Griswold” OriginalGriswold cast iron cookware, made in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1865 to 1957, is identified by its raised foundry mark on the skillet bottom, a pattern number, and size number cast into the iron. Authentic pieces show a smooth, machine-polished cooking surface, a distinct heat ring on older models, and crisp lettering in the trademark logo.…
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Identifying Antique Belt Buckles: Civil War vs. Victorian Era
Read more: Identifying Antique Belt Buckles: Civil War vs. Victorian EraIdentifying antique belt buckles: Civil War vs Victorian-era styles, makers, materials, and what collectors pay.
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Antique Oil Lamps: How to Identify Makers and Burner Types
Read more: Antique Oil Lamps: How to Identify Makers and Burner TypesAntique oil lamps can be identified by their burner type, font material, and maker’s marks stamped on the collar or burner mechanism. Key markers include the Argand, flat-wick, and Rochester burner styles, manufacturer stamps from firms like Bradley and Hubbard or Edward Miller, and glass types ranging from pressed flint glass to hand-blown cranberry. Most…
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Identifying Pewter vs. Silver: 3 Simple Ways to Tell the Difference
Read more: Identifying Pewter vs. Silver: 3 Simple Ways to Tell the DifferenceAuthentic sterling silver almost always bears a .925 or Sterling hallmark, feels harder to the touch, and produces a high-pitched ring when tapped. Pewter, a softer alloy, marks easily, often displays a duller grey oxidation, and makes a flat ‘thud’ sound. Always check for specific touchmarks on the base to confirm the maker. Still not…
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How to Identify Antique Keys: Why Some Old Keys are Worth $50+
Read more: How to Identify Antique Keys: Why Some Old Keys are Worth $50+Authentic antique keys are identified by their material (usually hand-forged iron or brass), specific bit patterns designed for warded or lever locks, and the shape of the bow (handle). Valuable examples often date from the 18th or 19th centuries, feature intricate skeleton key designs, or bear stamped maker marks like “Yale” or “Corbin” from the…
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Decoding British Silver Hallmarks: How to Read the Lion and Anchor
Read more: Decoding British Silver Hallmarks: How to Read the Lion and AnchorOn British silver, a walking lion means sterling, an anchor means the Birmingham Assay Office, and the date letter shows the year the piece was assayed.
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Antique Ceramic Pitchers: How to Date Them by Their Handle Shape
Read more: Antique Ceramic Pitchers: How to Date Them by Their Handle ShapeYou can generally date antique ceramic pitchers by analyzing the specific silhouette of the handle. Scrolled or high-arching handles with thumb spurs typically indicate mid-19th century Victorian styles (c. 1840-1860s), while angular, bamboo-style handles point directly to the Aesthetic Movement (1870s-1880s). A handle featuring organic, flowing “whiplash” curves that melt into the body suggests Art…
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Identifying Milk Glass: Why Some “White Glass” is Worth Hundreds
Read more: Identifying Milk Glass: Why Some “White Glass” is Worth HundredsAuthentic antique milk glass is defined by its dense, opaque white color and often displays a “Ring of Fire” (haloes of iridescent reds or blues) when held up to natural light, particularly in pieces made before 1900. Key makers to look for include Fenton, Westmoreland, and McKee. Genuine pieces feature sharp detail in pressed glass…
