Discover more
Choose Furniture
Furniture
Browse Used Cars
Common mistake to avoid: Fixing on one answer too early. Several old household objects share this shape.
Image idea: close-up of the toothed support arm and the hinge.
Step 2 — Date and Identify It
What to do: Work out the age, origin, and purpose with evidence.
How to do it: Check for carved or stamped marks, numbers, or maker’s labels on the underside. Look at the joints: hand-cut joinery and wooden pegs suggest an older piece, while machine-cut screws suggest the early 1900s or later. Then photograph it from several angles and run a reverse image search, or post it to an antique-furniture or woodworking community. A local museum or antiques dealer can often name it quickly.
Discover more
Photograph
Edit Photos
Find Recipes
Common mistake to avoid: Sanding or refinishing before you identify it. That can erase marks and reduce its value.
