10 Steps: How to Create a Successful Business From Your Art

Trust your gut. If it looks new, it most likely is. Pay close attention to the nails: Newer, shinier nails indicate newer construction.

Look for dovetails. The presence of dovetail joints, which hold wood furnishings together without the use of nails or other hardware, is a sign that a piece was made by a cabinetmaker as opposed to being mass-produced or factory-made. Generally, the thinner the dovetail, the more skilled the cabinetmaker (and the higher the quality of the piece).

Inspect the hardware. Be sure to get a good look at drawer pulls and any other hardware. For pulls, the inside of the drawer should reveal a post-and-nut construction if it’s truly vintage. Look for dirt, dust, and wear around the pulls too; these are signs that the hardware is original to the piece.

Rethink shine and polish. A refinished piece might look clean and shiny, but updating wood furniture in this way can diminish its value, as collectors often prefer the original, more weathered finish of a piece. That being said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it’s up to you which look you prefer.

Get a little dirty. You might need to get on your hands and knees to truly assess the state of an item. Flip pieces over, crawl underneath tables, and open drawers to find stamps, labels, signatures, or other markings that might give context to what you’re looking at.