Dating Furniture is the process of establishing the approximate age of a piece by assessing its construction methods, timber, joinery, hardware, proportions and decorative style. Features such as hand-cut dovetail joints, saw marks, original locks, timber shrinkage and signs of natural wear often provide valuable evidence. Understanding these characteristics allows collectors and dealers to distinguish genuine period furniture from later reproductions. *Related Terms*\ Cabinet Making, Dovetail Joint, Furniture Restoration, Joinery, Patina, Provenance.