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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How to Identify Antique Dolls: Looking for Bisque Marks and Stamps
Read more: How to Identify Antique Dolls: Looking for Bisque Marks and StampsAuthentic antique bisque dolls are primarily identified by incised marks on the back of the neck or shoulder plate, often featuring maker initials (like A.M. or S&H) and mold numbers. Look for pale, matte ceramic skin (bisque) rather than glossy china, and check for a specific country of origin stamp (e.g., “Germany” or “France”) used…
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Estate Sale Scouting: 10 Items to Always Buy for Resale Profit
Read more: Estate Sale Scouting: 10 Items to Always Buy for Resale ProfitThe 10 items to always grab at estate sales for resale profit, from silver to mid-century furniture, and how to spot them fast.
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Identifying Antique Bronze Statues: Signs of a High-Quality Casting
Read more: Identifying Antique Bronze Statues: Signs of a High-Quality CastingIdentifying antique bronze statues: signs of quality casting, foundry marks, patina clues, and how to spot reproductions.
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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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Antique Costume Jewelry: Identifying Signed vs. Unsigned Pieces
Read more: Antique Costume Jewelry: Identifying Signed vs. Unsigned PiecesAuthentic antique costume jewelry is primarily identified by examining construction quality, weight, and findings (clasps and hinges). While signed pieces bear specific maker’s marks like “Trifari” or “Coro,” unsigned pieces require attribution through distinct design traits, such as prong-set stones rather than glue, heavy rhodium plating, and specific soldering techniques used by manufacturers like DeLizza…
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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…
