Antique hunters relish the changed appearance, called the patina. They feel that the furniture's new color is richer and more mellow and beautiful. Tampering with this aged affect will, in almost all cases, reduce the value of the table. Through the early 19th century, there were no mass production factories knocking out identical pieces of furniture. Each piece was shaped with hand tools, and each piece is, as a result, different and imperfect.
Antique hunters look for ripples and uneven markings that indicate handmade items.
Veneer is not necessarily a bad thing. Veneer has been in use for hundreds of years in Europe. However, older veneers are much thicker than veneers of today. Plus, older veneers are glued over wood, whereas veneers of today are often glued over particleboard or other cheaper materials. Look for thick veneer with a wood subsurface.