[GenXCub]

You can equip unidentified items, you just won't have all the information about the item. Sometimes you'll get an update in the game. Example, I picked up the Piercing Pipes on Arnika Road, but didn't have ID Item spell yet, but my bard could still use it, and every time I used it, I'd find out more about it. It'd say "The item appears to do Shrill Sound (2)" or something like that.

You can learn the 2nd Level spell Identify Item. Easiest way to do that is to wait until you get to Arnika and buy a Book of Relics from Anna so you don't have to waste a spell pick on it.

Someone in your party with a good artifacts skill can do a partial ID, but ID Item spell is better.