Tips of the Trade w/ Jonathan Nolting
Determining the Age of Furniture

Jonathan Nolting is an all-around expert who leads EBTH’s authentication process for furniture. He takes a look at each piece and identifies it’s traits and origin. “The hard part”, Jonathan says, “is dating the piece, in addition to identifying the style.”
Investigate the Wood
Look at the secondaries, including the backs of case pieces, pull out the drawers, and look underneath chairs. If there is a dust cover on the underside of an upholstered piece, don’t be afraid to remove it, as there could be a maker’s mark. Doing so also allows you to examine its construction. Also, look for score marks (also called scribing lines) aligning the dovetails, as this indicates that they were hand-made rather than machine-made (machine made dovetails started in the late 19th century). Also keep an eye out for wear where the drawers contact the case. Finally, oxidation or darkening of the wood on the back or underside of the case can be a clue as to how old a piece of furniture is.
Look for and Identify Additional Marks
Look for tool and saw marks. Circular saws began to be used around 1840. Therefore, if you see curved saw marks rather than straight ones (as left by a pit saw or a water-powered mill saw), then you know it’s a 19th century piece rather than one made in the 18th century.
Examine The Nails
Look for black marks or oxidation on the wood around the nail, which indicates that the nail has been there quite some time. Until 1800, basically all nails were wrought by hand. They are irregular in shape and not uniform like modern nails. Examples of hand wrought nails are roseheads, which have a petal-like head. Nail-making machines started to be used at the end of the 18th century. They produced cut nails out of flat metal with L-shaped heads or no heads at all. Wire nails were born around 1880, and they are the only nails with round shanks and flat, perfectly round heads.


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Portmeiron "The Holly & the Ivy" Ceramic Dinner Plates

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Cole Oil Painting of Landscape With Stream at Sunset

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Victorian Rococo Revival Carved Wood Armchair, Early 20th Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Henredon Chinese Style Brass-Mounted Mahogany China Cabinet

Check the Screws
Hand-made screws (prior to 1850) have off-center heads while machine-made examples (after 1850) are perfectly centered. Phillips head screws were not invented until the early 1930s.
Lastly, Consider the Materials Used
For example, plywood began to be used in the late 1800s. Look for old glass. It is slightly tinted and perceptibly uneven with waviness and imperfections. Perfectly smooth glass was not produced until the end of the 19th century.

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
10K Heart Bead Necklace

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
José M. Lima Landscape Oil Painting, 2023

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Victorian 9K 0.10 CT Diamond Sunburst Converter Brooch

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
C. Nuhring & Bro. Converted Fire Extinguisher Table Lamp

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Oscar de la Renta Coated Houndstooth Chenille Spread Collar Jacket

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Jack Meanwell Abstract Modern Watercolor Painting, 1978

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
José M. Lima Floral Still Life Oil Painting, 2022

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Blenko Glass Vase with Viking and Other Glass Bowls

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Blue Sky Porcelain By Sara Lund Studios Figural Ceramic Vase

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Yamaha RX-V465 AV Receiver with Teac and Acoustic Audio Speakers

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Art Deco Style Pink and White Slag Glass Pendant Light

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Contemporary Slipcovered Chair-and-a-Half with Throw Pillows

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Imperial Neoclassical Style Bronze Cherub and Marble Mantel Clock

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Halftone of Women's CHS Champs Team

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Stainless Steel Ohio State Signet Ring with Diamonds

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard