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How to Date an Antique Iron Gate

Dating any antique can be a challenging task, but iron gates can be even more challenging because they often don't bear the mark of a manufacturer. Most likely, a historical investigation is in order. A trip to your local library can shed light on who owned and even who built the home or business where the gate was recovered. Next, you need to research the company that installed it by dating it. If you are unable to find information, or if you do not know where the gate was initially salvaged, there are a few other indicators, such as the art style of the piece; however, this can be misleading and should not be the sole basis for an evaluation. As a final method of determining a given piece, you can have it analyzed at a lab. By using a gas chromatograph you can determine the chemical content of the iron. The chemical composition of the iron can tell you whether it is made before or after 1974. According to the RWI company, 1974 saw the introduction of mild steel to market which was cheaper and stronger than traditional wrought iron, thereby rendering it obsolete.

Things You'll Need

Pen and paper
Notepad
Telephone
Library card
Phonebook
Safety goggles
Metal file
Plastic zip top bag
Envelope with postage

Instructions

Historical Investigation
- 1
  Write down the address of where the wrought iron gate was salvaged and take that to the local library. Confer with library staff to search for the history of the building in question.
- 2
  Call the construction company if it is still in business. They should be able to tell you the origin of the piece. Another avenue at this stage is to contact previous owners of the building and attempt to find more information.
- 3
  Document any photos you find of the building where the gate was located and attempt to cross reference and document the age of the photos themselves. If you're unable to find more information, at least you can use this as a starting point.
Dating Via Art History Influences
- 4
  
  Hitting the books at a library is an indispensable step in researching local buildings.
  
  Go to the local public library and borrow a few books on the subject of art history.If you have a general idea of the age of the building where the gate was salvaged, it may offer some insights and allow you to narrow the age down to at least a few decades.
- 5
  Compare the stylized designs of the wrought iron gate to that of the art of historical eras, noting the time period that the designs suggest.
- 6
  Inspect the detail work on the gate and look for hammer marks as opposed to welding marks, which indicate that the gate is of a more modern construction. Hammer marks indicate that an item was made in a workshop rather than on the assembly line.
Dating Via Chemical Analysis
- 7
  Use a metal file to sand away a sample of the metal of the gate. Choose an area where it will not be easily noticed, which could hurt the value.
- 8
  Package the filings in a small zip top bag and then use the phone book to locate your nearest material diagnostic laboratory.
- 9
  Call the diagnostic laboratory to ensure that they are able to work with metal samples. Once you've found an appropriate laboratory, mail them the sample including routing instructions, asking them to determine whether or not the metal is wrought iron or in fact mild steel.

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