A practical look at the materials, time and repairs behind a furniture upcycling project.

When an older finish is worth preserving, and what to check before you paint or sand.

Construction, repairs, finish and demand can explain different prices on similar-looking secondhand furniture.

The extra photographs and questions that help reveal a piece’s condition beyond its best-looking view.

A maker’s label is a clue, but condition, evidence and demand matter when judging an older piece.

What “vintage” and “antique” can tell you about a piece, and the questions worth asking when the date is uncertain.