Here's the easiest way to tell a real antique from a fake one

Vintage, antique, and retro are just a few ways to describe objects from the past. No matter what you call items from yesteryear, the fact remains that these items are en vogue because people have a natural affinity for the past. Even though there are plenty of genuine antiques around for people to collect and admire, many people will settle for modern reproductions because they are cheaper.
If you don’t just like the “look” of antiques and actually want to invest in them, it’s important to be able to distinguish the real deal from the impostor. It’s important to know what’s really an antique because you can pay too much for a replica if you think it's an original. If you are just starting out collecting antiques, here are some things to look out for.
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Chippendale furniture
Dr. Lori, an antiques appraiser who has appeared on the Discovery channel's Auction Kings and appears on FOX Business Network's Strange Inheritance, said in an interview with ABC 15 Arizona that professional appraisers look at the negative created by the back splat and crest railing on the chairs. The openings in the chairs show a bird cutout. The chairs with short beaks were made in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Chairs with a longer beak were likely produced in Philadelphia.
Pottery and ceramics
Dr. Lori said that it can be hard to keep up with the different maker marks on pottery, so as a rule of thumb when first trying to determine if a piece is valuable, you should ignore the maker’s mark. Instead, you should look at the foundation of the piece of pottery. If it is made from bright, white clay then you likely have a piece that has some value.
Silver antiques
Dr. Lori said you can tell if flatware or other pieces are silver if they have .925 or Sterling Silver etched on them. You should also be aware of the other marks that can designate that an item is silver, such as a lion. She said that some silver pieces of English origin have a lion on them to denote that they are Sterling. Dr. Lori said that if there is no mark at all, the piece is probably silver clad.
Other tips
Items with stuffing that are antique typically are filled with animal hair, according to Vintage Antique Ottawa. In general, old pieces of furniture have signs of age, such as nicks, dings and even water damage according to the DIY Network. The hardware holding the furniture together should look old as well.
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Imperfections can also be a sign of age. For instance, joints in dressers that are perfect were probably made with the aid of modern machines, according to DIY Network. You can tell if an item has been refinished by looking for drip marks. Antiques are more valuable in their original state, according to the DIY Network.