What wood is it made from?
LEG-no — two syllables; the 'gn' is a palatal nasal — like 'ny' in 'canyon'. Stress on the first syllable.
Use this when examining furniture. Wood type is a key indicator of age, origin, and value. Italian antique furniture commonly uses walnut, cherry, chestnut, pine, poplar, and fruitwoods.
'Di che legno' (of what wood) + 'è fatto' (is it made). Italian words for common woods: noce (walnut), ciliegio (cherry), castagno (chestnut), pino (pine), pioppo (poplar), rovere (oak), frassino (ash), olivo (olive), pero (pear wood). Ebano (ebony) and mogano (mahogany) are imported exotics found in upscale antiques.
Il legno è massiccio o impiallacciato?
Is the wood solid or veneered?
'Impiallacciato' = veneered; solid wood is generally more valuable
Ha il tarlo?
Does it have woodworm?
'Tarlo' = woodworm — a common problem in old Italian furniture; check for small holes
Il legno è stato trattato di recente?
Has the wood been treated recently?
Recent treatment might mask woodworm or other problems
Italian walnut (Juglans regia) is considered among the finest cabinet-making woods in the world. Its density and grain make it ideal for furniture that ages beautifully. Renaissance Italian masters used it almost exclusively. American black walnut (Juglans nigra), while excellent, is a different species with a different visual character and is less prized by Italian connoisseurs.