The Valuable Wood Furniture Brand You Might Be Able To Score At The Thrift Store

Every home needs furniture. In addition to its utility, it's what gives a space character. Unfortunately, though, furniture, especially solid-wood furniture, can be quite expensive. That is why many people often head to thrift stores to find wooden furniture at bargain prices. And if you are one of them, one furniture brand you should never pass up is Bassett. If you have never heard of Bassett, it's a historic American manufacturer, widely known for producing high-quality wood furniture. From dining tables to chairs, nightstands to chests, and beds to desks, Bassett makes everything. However, what makes their wood furniture truly valuable is its solid construction and use of premium materials. In fact, most of their furniture is made of solid wood from oak, maple, and cherry. 

Quality materials and skilled craftsmanship rarely come cheap, and Bassett wooden furniture pieces are a great example of this. Even their most basic dining chairs can cost about $250. And if you are looking for something more substantial, like a wooden chest, get ready to pay anywhere from $900 to $4000, depending on your selection. That is where thrifting can help. Some fortunate thrift store shoppers have found Bassett wooden chests for only $40 and wooden tables priced at just $20. Just keep in mind, though, that a good price is not always a good deal. There are many red flags you need to look out for when shopping at the thrift store. Take, for instance, counterfeit items, including fake wooden furniture. And if you want to get authentic Bassett pieces, you must know exactly what to look for.

When looking for Bassett wood furniture, one of the first things you should check is the presence of a maker's mark, stamp, or label. Many of Bassett's wood furniture pieces come with a maker's mark. It is usually present on the backside of the furniture or inside a drawer or cabinet. The markings can be engraved or in the form of a metal badge. Also, they might spell the words "Bassett Furniture Industries Inc." and "Pioneers in Furniture For The Nation" in circular forms. Once you have found the marking, you can click a photo of it and use reverse image search to confirm its authenticity.

Besides markings, extraordinary craftsmanship and solid construction can also be used as indicators of authenticity when buying Bassett's wooden furniture at a thrift store. For instance, look for solid hardwood construction and good finishing, like smooth edges and even stitching. In addition, see if you can find any dovetail joints, especially if you are buying an old piece, as these joints were the hallmark of furniture before machine-cut furniture became the norm. Make sure to also learn how to identify fake vs. real solid wood when shopping for wood furniture.

This will definitely come in handy, not just at thrift stores but also in other places where you can shop for vintage furniture. And lastly, keep in mind that Bassett focuses on durability and practicality rather than following the latest fads. So, their furniture often comes in understated, classic colors. For example, rich woody tones accented with neutral or warm shades that complement any space and age with elegance.