Another great deception in furniture was reserved for the Art Moderne (Art Deco) period. Part of the allure of many pieces of the period was the wide variety of woods and veneers used to create the outstanding veneer patterns. One wood widely used was called Oriental or Australian walnut, a uniformly striped wood often used on drawer fronts in diamond patterns. Another popular wood used in banding was the closely striped zebra wood or zebrano. But zebrano was costly for the time and in less expensive pieces it was often successfully simulated with "veneerite", fake paper veneer with the grain pattern printed on it.

  After the Depression era, the need for deception seemed to diminish for a while. It was virtually gone in the 1950s, 60s and 70s but it showed back up with a vengeance in the 1980s sporting a new name and a new game. This time the trickery was touted as the "engraved" finish. What appeared to be virtually identical dining tables could be seen on furniture show room floors but the prices were significantly different, often by more than $1,000 for a single table. Why? Because one table was made with mahogany veneer, the expensive one, while the cheaper model had an engraved mahogany finish. What's that? It was back to the old borax trick. It was a printed finish. And not only was it a printed finish, it was not even printed directly on the wood as the borax finish was. The new engraved finish was printed directly on the new substrate known as "MDF." That stands for "medium density fiberboard". It is called heavy duty cardboard by the rest of us. Learn to detect fake finishes.

The vertical striped banding below the drawer looks like zebra wood veneer but it is printed paper known as "veneerite." You can see where it has worn off in the middle section.

  Send your comments, questions and pictures to P0 Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or info@furnituredetective.com

  Visit Fred's website at www.furnituredetective.com. His book "HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE" is available for $18.95 plus $3.00 S&H. Send check or money order for $21.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423.

  Fred and Gail Taylor's dvd, "IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE", ($17.00 + $3.00 S&H) and a bound compilation of the first 60 columns of "COMMON SENSE ANTIQUES by Fred Taylor" ($25.00 + $3.00 S&H) are also available at the same address. For more information call (800)387-6377, fax (352)563-2916, or e-mail info@furnituredetective.com.