AntiqID

Guides & articles

Antique guides written for photographers, sellers and curious owners.

Deep, sourced articles that pair with the AntiqID app. Each guide is written for a specific real-world question and gives you a clear next step.

Identification guide · 7 min read

How to identify antiques from a photo

The photos you take decide almost everything. Six shots and a little discipline turn a mystery object into a confident identification.

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Valuation guide · 8 min read

How to estimate antique value from a photo

There are only four questions worth asking. Answer them honestly and you will price like an experienced dealer.

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Reference guide · 12 min read

Silver hallmarks by country — the marks you actually meet

Six national systems account for the vast majority of European and American silver you will handle. Start with the lion passant, then match town, date and maker.

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Reference guide · 12 min read

Porcelain and pottery marks — how to identify any factory

The most common marks you meet on European and American ceramics, with the details that separate a genuine factory piece from a later reissue or a Dresden studio copy.

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Factory marks · 8 min read

Meissen porcelain marks — crossed swords, periods, and what to trust

The Royal Saxon factory mark is the most copied symbol in ceramics. This guide walks through the swords, the dot-and-star dating system, pommel tells, paste differences, and the photos that actually help AntiqID — or any expert — give a straight answer.

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Authentication guide · 9 min read

How to spot fake Meissen marks

The crossed swords are the most copied mark in ceramics. These are the tells dealers use before they pay Meissen money — from too-perfect geometry to marks that sit on top of the glaze instead of under it.

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Porcelain marks · 9 min read

Dresden porcelain marks — studios, crowns and lace blanks

Dresden is a decorating tradition, not a single factory. Learn to read crown marks, studio initials and lace decoration so you do not pay Meissen prices for Saxon studio work.

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Silver hallmarks · 8 min read

The lion passant hallmark — sterling, towns and fakes

The walking lion is not a maker's name. It is England's sterling standard mark — and it only makes sense alongside the town, date and maker punches beside it.

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Identification guide · 10 min read

How to identify antique jewelry — marks, materials, and style tells

Antique jewelry rarely announces itself with a single stamp. This hub walks through hallmarks, karat and silver marks, construction clues, stones and settings, period style cues, and the photos that actually help AntiqID — or a jeweler — give a grounded answer.

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Identification guide · 11 min read

How to identify antique wood furniture — wood, joints, and style

Antique furniture is identified by how it was built as much as how it looks. This hub covers wood basics, hand vs machine joinery, finishes and patina, major furniture styles, drop-leaf tables, dressers, chairs, hardware, and the photos that help AntiqID give a grounded read.

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At-home method · 9 min read

How to identify valuable antiques at home — a practical method

Wondering ‘is this an antique?’ Start with photos, marks, materials, and construction — then separate age from value. This guide shows when AI identification helps, when to call an appraiser, and which free-appraisal myths to ignore.

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Identification guide · 8 min read

How to identify antique Japanese tea set — marks, body, and style

A Japanese tea set rarely proves itself with one mark alone. This guide covers complete sets vs orphan pieces, porcelain vs earthenware, Nippon and Made in Japan stamps, Kutani, Imari and Satsuma cues, age eras, quality tells, and the photos that help AntiqID — or a specialist — give a grounded read.

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Identification guide · 8 min read

How to identify antique drop leaf table — hinges, wood, and form

A drop-leaf table is identified under the top as much as on top. This guide covers gate-leg vs drop-leaf forms, hinges and rule joints, wood and joinery, style periods, common refinished and reproduction tells, and the photos that help AntiqID give a grounded read.

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Identification guide · 8 min read

How to identify antique clocks by style — form, case, and movement

Antique clocks are identified by case form first, then by style era, then by what the movement and marks confirm. This guide covers mantel, wall, longcase/grandfather, and carriage types; major style eras; movement vs case; maker marks; and the photos that help AntiqID give a grounded read.

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Identification guide · 8 min read

How to identify antique Chinese vase — body, glaze, and marks

A Chinese vase is identified by clay body and glaze first, then by shape and decoration, then by marks — with heavy caution on reign marks. This guide covers porcelain tells, glaze and foot, export ware, common shapes, modern reproductions, and the base photos that help AntiqID give a grounded read.

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Buying guide · 7 min read

What is the best antique identifier app? Criteria that actually matter

There is no single ‘best’ antique identifier app for every object and every budget. This guide explains what to look for — sources, confidence, privacy, multi-photo workflows, and honest value language — and how AntiqID positions on trust and on-device collection without competitor bashing.

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High-intent guides

Landing pages that answer a specific need in a single visit.

AI antique identifier

Point your camera. Get a real answer.

AntiqID reads maker marks, form, materials and construction from a single photo and returns an identification with sources, era, condition, and a value range.

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Antique value estimator

How much is my antique worth?

Point your camera at the object, add close-ups of any marks, and AntiqID returns a realistic resale range with the reasoning behind it.

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Hallmark identifier

Read any silver hallmark in seconds.

AntiqID recognises the lion passant, Minerva head, crown and shield, 800 and 925 marks and more, then tells you what they mean for value and authenticity.

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