How to Identify Common Decorative Stones in Furniture | Antique Repair Shop

Marble, slate, limestone, alabaster and engineered substitutes appear in table tops, cabinets and ornaments.

What to examine

Observe translucency, veining, grain, hardness clues and the underside finish without scratching. Stone names in the trade are not always geological names.

Avoid the common trap

Repairs, staining and composite slabs can mislead. A geologist or stone conservator can identify valuable examples non-destructively.

Record your findings

Photograph the whole object, the feature in context and a close-up with scale. Note what is observed separately from any conclusion.

Reliable starting points

[V&A collections](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections)
[The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/)

Identification should combine several forms of evidence. Do not use destructive tests, and seek a specialist opinion where attribution or value matters.

Learn by looking closely

See workshop examinations and restoration details on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).