Antique table: info needed on value, refinishing or passing

13 years ago

I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable can help me out. I'd like to find a rolling drop-leaf table for my small kitchen, so I decided to check out the local antique stores. The below table was marked $225, on sale for $195. I'm told it's solid oak (though the legs feel hollow).

It has cool original cast-iron scrolls supporting the drop-leaves and used to have a leaf in the middle (which I figure I'd eventually see about replacing). I love that it already has wee little casters. However, it's pretty badly beat up (screw in top, cracking, burn mark, partially stripped, pen marks all over, apparently broken leg which I didn't notice in person but shows up in pictures). A co-worker told me to offer $95, but that $30 would be better with all the work needed. I've seen similar tables (in MUCH better shape) for $220-$400 or beyond, but not on wheels or with the cast iron supports. So is this even worth refinishing? If so, how? Is the price fair or inflated? What would you do?

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Comments (10)

sunnyca_gw
13 years ago
You would need an electric sander in very good shape(probably burn it out) & the patience of Job to get the marks out of that, it's pretty well trashed & can't imagine anyone paying that price for it. I'd pass on it. You are talking about removing at least an 1/8 in. of top & maybe more Won't have any antique value. Legs don't look like they came with the top. Hope some one else has some answers.
lindac
13 years ago
Thats' a perhaps a $40 table....
The legs came with the top....they are not 'Hollow"....but that table is so totally trashed that it will cost you easily $300 of your time and material to put into shape...
Tell that dealer....no thanks!
Linda C
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Thank you all for your advice. I've reposted the images below as lindac requested, so they show (I hope). To answer questions posed: **What do you have in mind? I had in mind cleaning the table, perhaps lightly sanding the top surface, filling a few holes on the top surface, and applying some sort of finish to protect the table top. Short term I will use as a very large desk. Longer term, I would like to use as a dining table. Does anyone have recommendations for a finish? I like an oil finish, but that may be too invasive, perhaps just a wax finish? **First let's see more pictures. It's in storage, I'll see if I can supply more pictures later in the week. **What sort of wood is it? Is the paint peeling off of bare wood? What IS happening there? It's a softwood, hard to tell what, since it's so weathered. It sat outdoors for sometime. The table top appears to be raw wood--perhaps it had a wax finish at one time? The legs and and frame were painted, and are now a fragile peeling patina, peeling off bare wood. **I'm not sure I would bother with new ( matching ) legs unless you go the refinishing route.I would like to see some kind of support in the center though. The table is very strong, even with just 4 legs. It may be strong enough if I just make sure the 4 legs that are left are properly attached. Any recommendations on how to reinforce the 4 legs that are left, without doing any damage? Thanks again for your help. http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x74/djblue_bucket/IMGP1511-sm.jpg http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x74/djblue_bucket/IMGP1529-sm.jpg http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x74/djblue_bucket/IMGP1538-sm.jpg http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x74/djblue_bucket/IMGP1534-sm.jpg http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x74/djblue_bucket/IMGP1515-sm.jpg Here is a link that might be useful:
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help needed with value.
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Any marks on the bottom of the drawers or stickers on the backs? Can you show the drawer construction? It resembles the high-end pieces from the 1940s and early 50s - well-built revivals of various older styles. Often sold in LARGE sets. There is a slim outside chance it's "Colonial Revival" from the 1870s ... again they were well built, but showing influence of several styles.
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Antique Dealers and not bottom feeders, despite whatever reputation they may seem to have...lol..ok, well some certainly are, but most I know and deal with are very nice folks....and being a new (and still admittedly novice) "antique dealer" myself, I have heard them use that phrase regularly "how much do you want for it" in part because most people either (a) have an unrealistic value of something they have for sale or (b) they have no idea what value it is and it's a good starting point for negotiation. If you are selling something TO ANYONE, you MUST do your due diligence and have an idea of the reasonable market value of the item. If youend up selling this set to the general public for their own use and not for resale, you should be able to get close to the fair market value or slightly under (everyone wants a deal) keeping in mind that an antique dealer is assuming the risk of resale, they may (depending on their situation) have limited display space and the market for a vintage high end (or not) complete dining set may or may not be there. In other words, lets say for arguments sake that the set is worth $4,000 and the dealer wants to offer you $1500, they may have to hold onto that set for a year maybe more (of course, maybe less that all depends on what price they put on it once they have it) before it sells to someone for $4,000. All the while it's sitting there, that is say 4 or 5 less other pieces of furniture that cant be put into their store to sell. If they are like me, they pay rent to have that space each month, so each month it occupies say 100 square ft, that might be $165 of rent each month, and what if it takes a year to sell it and during that time you have no where else to put any other pieces for sale into your space? you can do the math and quickly realize that it wouldn't take too long to eat away at their potential profit. So they might offer $1500 and try to sell it at $3,000 to sell it quickly. Anyway, someone like me who has only a small amount of rented booth space would never be able to get a big set like this, because for me it would be completely impractical. I would say look at your local antique stores, look on line at ebay (but do an advanced search and to find COMPLETED sales, as the current auctions are very deceiving, they may have it listed for $15,000, but that doesn't mean they are going to sell it for that). You might also be able to find appraisers in your area, the same antique folks who would be able to determine it's value (for a fee). I think all in all you did the right thing, in waiting and I'd just be prepared before selling it to anyone. But know that the antique dealers will pay 1/2 or less of it's value, whereas a local citizen would pay more to have it for themselves.
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I bought a similar Jacobean Revival set in 2010, on Craig's List before that became trashy. My set contains a table with 2 leaves, 8 chairs, a very long buffet, a shorter buffet, and a china cabinet. The table top had been refinished (nicely) but the rest of the finish was original and in perfect condition. Not a scratch on it. I paid $ 1200. Chicago suburbs. Look up Jacobean Revival and you'll have pieces to compare with. I love it but recognize that the heavy styling is considered less desirable to modern tastes. Yours has much nicer detailing than mine, which is simpler. Mine is walnut rather than oak.
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igloochic
13 years ago
I wouldn't pop out 25 bucks for that. It's a mess.

When buying antique furniture one major thing to focus on is the support pieces....broken leg in a table? Ghats a quick pass for me.
lindac
13 years ago
Thats' a perhaps a $40 table....
The legs came with the top....they are not 'Hollow"....but that table is so totally trashed that it will cost you easily $300 of your time and material to put into shape...
Tell that dealer....no thanks!
Linda C
jessicaml
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much you guys! I think I really just needed a reality check. Guess I'll keep looking for my perfect table.
karinl
13 years ago
The perfect table varies for everyone. For example, this one is obviously in your area and on the market now when you need one. You might enjoy the project, and maybe you'd like the marks and flaws that will remain even after refinishing. So if it works for you, there's nothing wrong with buying the poor thing (!). The only thing that would be wrong would be paying more than it's worth.

KarinL
jessicaml
Original Author
13 years ago
Karin,

Thanks for the positive note! It's nice to hear from someone who doesn't think I'm completely off my rocker for wanting the "poor thing". ;) Finding something so close to what I want in my rural area was definitely the biggest mark in this one's favor, and I do (or did) like the idea of the project and having something of myself invested in it.

I'm also okay with it showing some of it's history (sanding out the burn mark isn't going to happen). However, the price seemed high for something in the shape it's in, and folks here seemed to confirm that. I'm still thinking about making an offer...but while I don't want to be taken for a ride, I also don't want to that offer to be so low it's insulting. I rather wish I'd spotted it at a garage sale instead of an antique store.
Fori
13 years ago
Just be careful with those feet--some old casters (new ones too, actually) can seriously mar a floor! I think it's a bit overpriced, but still appealing, so go haggle!

It does seem like it's been sanded down so many times that the edges have lost their crispness. But if the legs are in good shape...hmmmm. I like the legs.
lindac
13 years ago
It's a pretty common....at least it used to be, farmhouse kitchen table....it likely has marks from a grinder screwing on as well as the knife and burn marks....and its' been scrubbed smooth. It fed the threshers and bathed the babies, served to lay out the canning supplies as well as a spot to roll the pie crust....and sit with your morning coffee.
Great table....but not worth what they are asking in that shape.
I gave one like that, but in better condition away about 4 years ago because I bought it for $2.50 at an auction...didn't need it and my neighbor did.
Linda C
karinl
13 years ago
Yes, I do have a problem distinguishing between homeless pieces of furniture and stray cats :-)

True about those old casters - I try to avoid rolling them on the pieces I have. Check them, but if you want it to actually roll I would probably get new casters. At least the leg length will already be right for them.

One bonus to its condition, by the way - the original finish is all off the top. That saves you stripping it. But it's OK on the legs, so you don't need to strip those. Perfect project.

One thing that should be made clear is that a $40 table at a yard sale or on craigslist is quite legitimately at least an $80 table in a store. If you've ever shopped on craigslist you'll know why - you shop at each item owner's convenience (and they always live in the back of beyond), while the shop owner invests quite a lot - utilities, inventory, and time - in being in the store at your convenience. In effect she's out there shopping for you. And probably gives up a percentage of the sale to the credit card company in many cases :-)

Good point about making an offer so low it's insulting. Some people don't care about that but I do too, as I like to feel welcome in the store again! It's easier to lowball if an item has been on the market for a a while. But even if it has, the insult can come from both the number itself, and in how you do it. What I usually do with an overpriced item on craigslist is to say that I am interested, but I don't think I could pay more than $xxx, but I'm absolutely not in a rush so if they want to wait and see if they can get their price they're welcome to do that. Some variant of that could work.

Given all the factors you've mentioned, I wouldn't be embarrassed to go as high as the $100 range, or whatever would leave you still feeling good. If the leg is truly broken (I can't see that), that would maybe take it down a notch.

KarinL

PS a cabinet scraper might do a better job than a sander on the top, and doesn't make so much dust.

Here is a link that might be useful: example of a specialty caster store

Antique table: info needed on value, refinishing or passing

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Antique table: info needed on value, refinishing or passing

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