Photo the inside and underside of the drawers.

Look for manufacturing marks.

Define antique (Hint: it might depend how old you are)

Not an antique. Probably made in late 70’s to 80’s.

How can you tell just from these pics that it's not an antique? What are the telltale signs?

(For me, I guess antique means 100+ years old.)

One thing to look for are dovetailed drawers rather than flat cut ends that are nailed or even glued together. This isn't a sign that for sure means it's an antique but if the ends aren't dovetailed then it most probably ISN'T that old.

I know that dovetailed drawers can signal an antique. But the pics I posted don't show the drawers. That's why I'm wondering how other posters were so sure that this desk isn't an antique. What are the other things to look for based on photos?

Type of wood, hardware, and style of moldings and other ornament are all things to look at.

The style (to me--not an antiques expert) looks like something that comes from a country that specializes in making old looking furniture. You see this type of furniture in certain stores that import lots of it.

I'm curious as to what difference it makes. Are you buying it or selling it?

Buying. It doesn't make a ton of difference, really. I like the idea of an antique because I figure it's better quality than something made in 1979, and because I like the idea of a piece that has been passed down through generations and has stories to tell.

The picture is all he has. He only has a picture of this desk he's thinking about buying and wants to know if we can tell for sure if it's an antique.

Indonesia is where they make a lot of furniture that's supposed to mimic older pieces.

That looks like much of that furniture that was made in the 80's. I would not be too surprised that the front decorations were not either plastic or composed of sawdust things that were used in some furniture of that time. My husband had a coffee table that had that same decoration and leather top when we married.

Ask the seller how long they've had it and how they acquired it. Some people on CL post "antique" furniture and forget the quotation marks. :) You're right: antique means at least a 100 years old.

I agree with others who feel this is a later 70s/early 80's piece. I don't think that it was ever even intended to look like an antique--that was just a popular style then. I remember it well.

not an antique. (by definition usually something at least 100 years old) and machines also make dove tails, so that's no indicator. Here is an antique that I repaired that was in horrible shape. prob from the early 1900's.

And another one. look at how the drawers are made.

They used cheaper woods for the panels. The dovetails were cut by hand using a tool, so the edges won't be perfect like if a machine did it. (above in Leelee's picture)

you have to look at the wood, the nails (if there are any), and manufacture of the drawers. true antiques will be a bit more messy or uneven looking as opposed to something made w/ machines and specific tools.

Beth's picture is of a machine made commercial oak dresser from about 1900 to 1920. Nails in furniture are a sign of repair not how furniture was originally made....so the appearance of the nail has nothing to do with the original age of the furniture.
And saying "true antiques" are a little bit more messy or uneven looking shows that you have never seen a fine antique. I have a mahogany chest made my my great grandfather in about 1850 with hand cut dovetails that is in no way "messy" and another Sheraton influenced stand also mahogany with hand done dovetails....that some appraiser ( yes a professional...supposedly!) mistook for a sewing machine....no way rough or messy.
the OP's picture is not antique...obvious from the style and the hardware....while that can be replaced, in this case I think it's original.

I’m with Lindac- the OP’s picture is not of an antique, the stying just doesn’t look right.

That trim on the drawers screams 70’s

It is previously enjoyed. Period. As long as you like it, and is priced that way? It matters not. PS, most everything made in 1979, even crap, was made better than today. Terrible truth, right there. Or, you can have this for 37 K. It is an antique : )

As others have posted, this is not antique or even particularly "vintage".

At one time antique was a legal definition indicating age over 100 years old and related solely to customs as antiques were exempt.

While there are certain indicia of construction that indicate something is antique, that is less applicable since many antiques are machine made. That kind of stuff is more relevant if one is trying to date replicas - i.e. a Chippendale replica versus one that is 200 or 300 years old.

For practical purposes, the style of your piece indicates that it is not an antique or even a piece pre WW II or probably even from the 1950's because that particular style of desk wasn't made until probably the 1970's.

In terms of value, my experience is that pieces like this have no value except as utilitarian pieces of furniture. No one wants them and the market is glutted with wood furniture. Desks like this would be particularly valueless because they aren't suited for today's computer usage - no place for peripherals such as docking stations or printers. Not even one small file drawer to store what isn't digitally retained :-). Even if one wants a traditional type of look, most people would prefer a functional desk that reflects how people actually work.