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Instructions
Look for a clean, modern design. Art Deco furniture is not ornately carved. Many Art Deco pieces have a cubist approach to the design. Look for geometric shapes and forms. Rectangles, straight lines, triangles, and circles were used as a means of embellishment.
Identify the construction materials of the cabinet. Art Deco Hoosier-style cabinets were made of hardwoods, silvered woods and exotic materials including ebony and ivory. Silver, nickel, aluminum and mirrors were used for detailing.
Examine the drawer pulls and door handles. Streamlined handles and geometric pulls in ivory, silver, aluminum and some plastics were very popular with Art Deco designers.
Identify the overall design motif. During the Art Deco period, motifs ranged from the exotic to modern mechanics. The sunburst motif can be seen in many famous Art Deco designs, including the Chrysler building in New York City. Other popular designs included Egyptian culture, a palm frond motif, stepped bars and a skyscraper motif.
Look at the construction of the cabinet. Curved doors and corners were very popular during the Art Deco period. Drawers should have dovetail joints and corner blocks on the draw bottoms. Hoosier-style cabinets without these construction details may be reproductions.
Examine the color of the cabinet. Prior to the 1930s, most Hoosier-style cabinets were only available in natural wood finishes. However, in the 1930s Hoosier-style cabinets were available in a wide variety of colors, including ivory, spring green, gray, orchid pink and citrus yellow. Some of these colored cabinets also came with a "pipe organ" design at the top of the cabinet or "gay artistic effects of the Spanish type," according to cabinetmaker and Hoosier historian Nancy Hiller.
Use a magnifying glass to look at the wear marks on the cabinet. There should be marks in areas that would commonly be rubbed or touched frequently, such as under handles, drawer edges and corners. Look at areas that appear to be wormholes with a magnifying glass. If the holes have tiny cracks around them, they were most likely made by nails to simulate wormholes.
Look for manufacturer labels or stamps on the back panel or underside of the drawers to help narrow down during which period the cabinet was manufactured. Ask an expert if you have additional questions about the authenticity. Many appraisers and antiques experts are willing to assist with a purchase if you ask.