Picking out what is actually vintage from what looks vintage can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to wrought iron furniture.
Hi! I’m Stacy, and I’ll tell you all you need to know about identifying vintage wrought iron furniture. My love for gardening and maintaining a good yard necessitates that I pick out some stellar pieces to spruce up the place.
At these moments, I feel thankful to my parents, who had a special love for vintage movies as well as vintage furniture. My father would often take me to local stores and flea markets. Thus, at an early age, I figured out how to identify genuine vintage furniture.
Undoubtedly, the skill has come in handy for me later in life. Here, I’ll attempt to be of some assistance to you as well. With that in mind, I’ve prepared a comprehensive guide that can help you pick the right vintage furniture to suit your needs.
Now, let’s dive into the details without any further delay.
Tips for Identification
You’ll find that it isn’t hard to figure out how to identify vintage wrought iron furniture once you know what you’re looking for. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind.
1. Check the Value of the Furniture
One thing I’ll always remember is the good ol’ window-shopping because my father didn’t have all the money in the world to splurge on vintage furniture. Thus, no matter where you’re buying vintage furniture from - be it a flea market, estate sale, or antique store - you can always check the price tag for an idea of authenticity.
If you aren’t sure how much the furniture should cost in the first place, I’ve got you covered there as well. In most cases, a patio side chair should cost you around $100, while an entire dining set from a reputed manufacturer can easily go up to $1,000.
In the case of products priced lower than this, you should check if they’re made of steel, cast iron, or aluminum.
2. Check for Mold Lines
One of the first things I learned, thanks to my parents’ love for vintage wrought iron furniture, is that they don’t have mold lines. You’ll see how wrought iron furniture differs from cast iron items in this regard.
The preparation process holds the key to this difference. Vintage cast iron furniture was prepared by pouring iron after melting it, which was put into a mold and given time to harden. Once the piece cooled off, the manufacturer usually opened the mold, removing it.
Thus, the finished product would have the lines of the mold due to the cast. On the contrary, wrought iron furniture doesn’t use molds. Instead, a blacksmith wrings the metal, which is why such lines from the cast are absent here.
3. Check the Weight
Another foolproof way to check whether a piece of furniture is genuinely made of wrought iron or not is to check the weight. Try pulling a chair or moving any other piece of furniture you’re looking at. If you find it difficult, then there is a good chance that it is made of wrought iron.
The material is rather heavy, which is why wrought iron furniture went out of style around the 1960s, only to be replaced by aluminum and lighter steel products. Of course, I must warn you that merely checking the weight by lugging it isn’t a foolproof method.
4. Check for Rust
Normally, nobody would want furniture with rust. But, when you’re in the market for vintage wrought iron products, this might actually be a good idea. Wrought iron is typically prone to more rusting.
It is only accentuated if the item is kept outside and doesn’t receive regular protection from varnish or paint. But, I learned quickly that rusting doesn’t guarantee that it is wrought iron - vintage cast iron rusts as well.
5. Check for Textured Surface
As I’ve stated, wrought iron furniture involves a blacksmith wringing the metal. Thus, you can expect to see marks of the creative process remaining on the vintage furniture pieces. So, check for hammer marks or different kinds of works on the surface.
If you see that the surface happens to be rough yet remains uniform, then it is more likely to be made of steel or cast iron.
6. Check if it Passes the Magnet Test
One of the easiest ways to see whether the item is really made of wrought iron is by pressing a magnet against it. Of course, cast iron would also attract a magnet, but you could eliminate certain other materials like aluminum from the list.
7. Check Whether there are Marks
The best way to see whether the product you’re buying is genuine is by cross-checking. I suggest looking at the underside, legs of the furniture, or even the backside if there are any distinguishing marks or stickers. You can verify them online to see if the manufacturers are legitimate.
However, it is vital to know that several blacksmiths did not leave their marks on wrought iron furniture. Thus, there are numerous pieces where the creator’s identity remains unknown. Here, the product has to be tested for its authenticity based on its own merit.
Final Words
I hope you keep these tips in mind while picking the right vintage wrought iron furniture. Picking the authentic ones really isn’t hard, and I’ve been successful at the endeavor numerous times.
Usually, you’ll find that you have to follow multiple tricks, as outlined here, to choose the best-suited items. Notably, you can keep an eye out for some reputed manufacturers, too, like Leinfelder and Salterini. They’ve been around for a long time and can be easily trusted.
I’ll take your leave for now, but rest assured that if you have any other queries about making the right choice, you can reach out to me.
Till next time, take care!