Many people have old furniture languishing in attics or spare rooms - pieces acquired long ago or handed down through the family. This guide shows how to identify such furniture by a process of elimination, starting with the most recent designs, dating from the early-20th century, and proceeding back chronologically to about 1650. The author explores the principal styles of each period and discusses construction, materials, brasswork and decorative motifs, to help pinpoint the exact date of a piece.