How to Spot a Fake

Wear It Well

Craftsmen will go to great lengths to make a new piece look old, so check for appropriate wear. Common sense tells us that, in general, the right top drawer should be more worn than the bottom left. Chairs should have scuffs and scrapes from centuries of use, like those found on this 1780s wing chair. Nicked corners and worn feet make sense, too. But uneven wear should be questioned. Examine the details: Have the feet been chopped off, replaced, or extended? Quiz the vendor if the front or sides of a piece are particularly beaten-up.