How Do You Determine The Age Of Furniture By The Legs?
Each element in a piece of furniture can reveal something about its origin but a close examination of the legs is all that is needed by some experts to verify its age. The determination of age begins by identifying the material the legs are made of. Metal legs began their history during the Industrial era—-the mid 1800s—-and have a well-documented use. Verifying the age of a piece of furniture by its wooden legs, however, presents a challenge, due to their long history of use. Identify the style of the legs. Take photos of the legs for easy comparison while researching. Check the leg design against pictorial guidelines found in many furniture books outlining history, styles and eras of furniture design. Note the time period the leg style fits into—for example, original Arts and Crafts furniture was created between 1837 and 1901, Queen Anne styled furniture originated around 1700 and continued to be made until 1714 in England, but was made for a longer period in the United States,
