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Antiques & Collectibles

Antique Hunting Piece - Need Info!

13 years ago

I am seeking to gather some information on a hunting style late 1800s buffet cabinet piece that was owned by great-grandmother. The Knapp (pin & cove) joints probably narrow this piece down pretty easily, as well as the hunting style, but I am looking for insight on type of wood, age, value & any other interesting morsels of knowledge that I can gather.

My mother has to move to get full care due to terminal sickness, and I am trying to help her sell a few pieces of antique furniture. I would love to keep it in the family, but I wanted to find out all of the details before making an offer to be fair to my mom on the price.

Thank you all for your tremendous insight & kindness!

Cheers,

Andy

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Comments (5)

lindac
13 years ago
It's a beautiful Renaissance Revival piece. Probably shortly after 1890 by the Knapp dovetail and the white marble top
One handle looks to be a replacement.
Looks to be several woods...some walnut, perhaps oak and I see some burl....maybe maple?
Price? for quick sale? $3,000 to $4,000.....worth much more in a good economy.
It's certainly lovely....try to keep it in the family.
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: buffet
sombreuil_mongrel
13 years ago
Hi,
It's a nice factory-made piece of American Walnut furniture. The contoured and shaped door edges put the date right around 1875-1880. The piece is a combination of solids and veneers. It has had some "work done", however. I see that the drawers have been repaired along the sliding surfaces. The one handle looks so much lighter than the other three. The finish has had something done to it, like a coat of oil or varnish. Some pieces in this style used a lighter finish on the veneers and panels for a 2-tone effect, here I don't see that, owing _perhaps_ to the touchups? The drawer fronts are a burl veneer, but it's impossible to tell what species from the photo. One may assume walnut, but could have been other woods chosen for the effect.
The flattened semi-elliptical bowfront shape is a very American thing, and this piece is in that style which everyone will immediately recognize as American Victorian. It's a great piece of furniture, but probably only worth in the $750 range at retail.
Casey
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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
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Eastlake style....dates from about 1900...give or take 10 years. Most likely maple with a burl veneer inset. Very nice....seems as all the pulls are still there. I am sure it hasn't been in your family for too many generations as it's only about 100 to 130 years old. Not sure if the marble top is original, but if it is, without the attached mirror...worth about $250 to $350....depending on where in the country you are. It also appears to be missing the casters. Very nice very useful piece. Linda C Here is a link that might be useful:
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saintroad
Original Author
13 years ago
All of the handles are the same. The discoloration is simply an overexposed flash, not a replacement piece. Sorry for the bad picture. There is no varnish or oil work done to the finish. It is just from the picture.

So, one person says $750 and the other says $3-4K for quick sale. I am confused to say the least!

Please help.
saintroad
Original Author
13 years ago
The piece is really dark, and the flash is overexposing the wood and finish. Here is a picture "au natural" with just ambient room lighting showing the true dark color of the furniture.

Also, what is the proper technical term for this piece? (e.g. buffet, sideboard, cupboard?)
lindac
13 years ago
My $3,000 Estimate was due to the very elaborate "game" carvings....and to what I saw being asked for similar pieces on the web.
For $750 I am running to buy it!

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