All About Antiques
Antique identification, valuation, and collecting reference.
Popular Guides
Antique Marks & Signatures: Complete Identification Guide
Complete guide to decoding maker marks on silver, porcelain, glass and furniture.
Antique Furniture Periods Chart (1600–1940)
Visual timeline of furniture styles with identification pictures.
Pewter vs Silver: 3 Simple Ways to Tell the Difference
Quick visual and magnet tests for identifying metal at home.
Best Online Antique Appraisal Sites (2026 Reviews)
Honest comparison of Mearto, WorthPoint and other appraisal services.
Best Antique Identifier Apps 2026: Head-to-Head Comparison
5 apps tested side-by-side for accuracy, speed and features.
Online Antique Valuation Tools for Collectors
Free digital resources to research and price your antique items.
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American Silver Maker’s Marks: Complete Identification Guide
Read more: American Silver Maker’s Marks: Complete Identification GuideAuthentic American silver can be identified by locating specific maker’s trademarks (like Gorham’s lion-anchor-G or Tiffany & Co.’s strict block lettering) and verifying the metal purity stamp. Unlike British silver, which uses a date letter system, American pieces typically feature the word STERLING or the number 925 (for 92.5% purity) stamped directly on the base…
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British Silver Hallmarks: The Ultimate Dating and Identification Chart
Read more: British Silver Hallmarks: The Ultimate Dating and Identification ChartBritish silver hallmarks follow a strict four-mark system: the lion passant for sterling purity, the assay office mark identifying the testing city, the date letter confirming the year of hallmarking, and the maker’s mark naming the silversmith. A piece hallmarked in Birmingham carries an anchor; London uses a leopard’s head. Reading all four marks together…
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What Does 925 Mean on Silver? Everything You Need to Know
Read more: What Does 925 Mean on Silver? Everything You Need to KnowWhat does 925 mean on silver? It marks sterling (92.5% pure). Learn how to read it, spot fakes, and what your piece is worth.
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Sterling Silver vs Silver Plated: 7 Easy Ways to Tell the Difference
Read more: Sterling Silver vs Silver Plated: 7 Easy Ways to Tell the DifferenceSterling silver is always marked with “925”, “Sterling”, or a specific hallmark (like a lion passant for British silver), indicating it is 92.5% pure silver. Silver plated items, conversely, are often marked “EPNS”, “EP”, or “Triple Plate”, meaning a thin layer of silver coats a base metal like copper or nickel. Sterling is non-magnetic, whereas…
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Silver Hallmarks Explained: How to Read and Decode Every Mark
Read more: Silver Hallmarks Explained: How to Read and Decode Every MarkSilver hallmarks explained: how to read and decode purity marks, maker’s marks, date letters, and town marks on any piece.
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How to Identify Antique Silver: A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Read more: How to Identify Antique Silver: A Complete Beginner’s GuideHow to identify antique silver, step by step: hallmarks, maker’s marks, construction clues, and dating. A complete beginner’s guide.
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How to Use Your Phone to Value Antiques Instantly (No Expert Needed)
Read more: How to Use Your Phone to Value Antiques Instantly (No Expert Needed)You can instantly value antiques using your phone by combining visual search technology with real-time auction data. Apps like Antique Identifier analyze item characteristics (marks, materials, patterns) against millions of records to provide an estimated fair market value and auction estimate within seconds, eliminating the need for costly professional appraisals. Imagine you are at a…
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Best Free Antique Identifier Apps: 2026 Expert Comparison Guide
Read more: Best Free Antique Identifier Apps: 2026 Expert Comparison GuideThe best free antique identifier apps in 2026 combine AI visual recognition with auction-record databases to flag maker’s marks, construction details, and period styles from a single photo. Google Lens handles broad object matching, while dedicated tools like Antique ID and RelicSnap cross-reference hallmarks, pottery backstamps, and furniture joinery. Accuracy ranges from 60 to 85…
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Antique Firearm Identification: Historical Marks (Safety & Value)
Read more: Antique Firearm Identification: Historical Marks (Safety & Value)Antique firearms in the US are federally defined as manufactured in or before 1898. Identification relies on three key elements: the maker’s mark (often on the barrel or lock plate), proof marks indicating safety testing (common on European imports), and the serial number for precise dating. Verify matching numbers on the frame, cylinder, and barrel…
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Identifying Antique Toys: Why Tin-Plate Toys Beat Modern Plastics
Read more: Identifying Antique Toys: Why Tin-Plate Toys Beat Modern PlasticsIdentifying antique toys: how to spot valuable tin-plate toys, read maker’s marks, and date them, plus what they’re worth.
