How to identify antiques from a photo

You do not need to be an expert to get a good first idea of what an object is. You need the right photos and to know what to look at.

What to photograph

The whole object from the front and side; the base or back; every mark, label, signature and number close up; damage and repairs. Daylight, no flash, a plain background.

Signs of age

Wear in the right places. Genuine wear appears where hands, feet and tableware touched the object — the base ring of a vase, the handles of a drawer. Uniform «distressing» everywhere is a sign of a modern copy.

Construction. Hand-cut dovetails, hand-made screws, uneven glass with bubbles and pontil marks point to older manufacture. Phillips screws, staples and MDF point to the late 20th century.

Marks and wording. «Made in …», trademarks, registration numbers and «dishwasher safe» help to date an object — often to within a few decades.

Antique, vintage or collectable?

In the trade, «antique» usually means 100 years or older, «vintage» at least 20–30 years old. Age alone does not make something valuable: maker, quality, rarity and condition matter more.

Let the AI do the search

Our valuation compares your photos with auction results and marketplace listings, reads marks and gives a price range. It is a first opinion — for valuable items, ask our valuer.