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How much would you pay for this antique CL chair?

My3dogs ME zone 5A

15 years ago

I have emailed the seller, who is posting it for his mother-in-law. I know what she hopes to get, but am very curious as to what folks here would offer? Knowing that many of us would have to have it re-upholstered because the fabric doesn't work in our homes.

Here is a link that might be useful: CL antique chair, newly re-done

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Comments (14)

parma42
15 years ago
The link lists it as deleted.
Lyban zone 4
15 years ago
I do not get as deleted.
I really do not have any idea what it is worth. But since I like bargains, I would probably not offer more than 200.00
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For whatever it's worth in hindsight, I agree with your method newhomebuilder. That's the way I approach "antiques" also... though I'm sure the pieces I've purchased are not "true" antiques either since they are not hundreds of years old and have no provenance that I know of. I still call them "antiques" because in my mind "good quality used furniture" is 30 years old and less... but I don't do this for a living either ;). The pieces I have are meant for living and using, not for collecting a necessarily unique and very old piece that will go for megabucks on the auction block. My most expensive piece is a $2300 (including shipping from the midwest to the east coast) china cabinet/curio and I found that to be in line with what I'd pay for something new and nowhere near comparable quality, so I'm happy with it. I don't buy furniture as an "investment" with the plan to make my money and then some back at a later date, I buy it to use it... I try to set a reasonable budget based on what things go for on ebay (which I consider a bottom price, not an average price for someone who doesn't have the time to do the REAL legwork of hitting estate sales and yard sales etc) and what a similar thing would cost me new (which I consider a top price) and if it's somewhere in there and the right piece for me, I go for it. But I'm a consumer, not a dealer and I know people in "the biz" have MUCH higher standards than I do all the way around ;). The nice thing about 50+ year old "used" furniture is that it's already done its major depreciating so if you DO need to sell it, you can likely get your money (or most of it back). A $300 particalboard table will likely get you $30 in a couple of years (if that) if you change your mind. I'm not looking for every piece in my house to be a "deal." Although that would be nice, sometimes the perfect piece just calls to me and it may not even be all that unique, rare or a true antique... but I love the little table you bought and the carved swirl detail on it would have been enough for me to want THAT table rather than look for another similar one that is a hundred dollars cheaper. My friends who own an antique shop won't buy anything (even for themselves since they get bored of stuff and rotate it out from their home to the shop regularly) that they can't sell in their shop for double what they paid, but they do a heck of a lot more legwork than I do and are never looking for the "perfect" piece for a spot in their home... their home is pretty much a rotating display of beautiful things. Anyway I see a similar table on ebay with flame mahogany (I prefer straight grain) for $485 so you can't be THAT far out of the range. And it looks great where it is.
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Well, you need to see the chair in person to know for sure. I was thinking that if it were in really good shape, maybe $50. I'm a little surprised she negotiated with you over the phone. When I have stuff for sale, I always leave room to lower my price a bit, but I will NOT do it until the person is there with their money in hand. For one thing, it's a waste of my time to be haggling over the price when the buyer hasn't even driven over to my house yet. They may not come at all. Also, the next caller may just ask for my address and come and pay full price, While the first buyer is still thinking about calling me again and offering less. What I WILL do, is tell the caller that yes, I may be negotiable and tell them to come see. Red
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Thanks all! I contacted her and offered a $100 and she countered with $300. I think I’ll just wait (although I want this crap organized like yesterday). It’s not so much that I love it anyway but I would like to start out with a somewhat cohesive look and it jives with my cool big vintage desk. What I do like is the size (particularly the depth) and the areas of storage fit my purpose to a T. I even have a storage use for that TV section. I’m pretty sure she will not get $300 in my area. She has my number. In the mean time I’ll check the CL free section where this sort of set-up often lands. Maybe if I get caught up with some other things around here since my trip I’ll visit some local thrifts or the Habitat re-homing center. I don't need perfect as its likely to get paint on it but it does need to be right in other ways.
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My3dogs ME zone 5A
Original Author
15 years ago
Sorry about that! I suggested to the seller, who had had it listed since mid October, that he might want to put his MIL's desired price in the ad, along with the dimensions of the chair. He has 4 pictures of it, and says that she recently paid $950 to have it completely re-done!

When he re-lists, I'll post the new link....He agrees with me that she will never get what she wants, as apparently others have said they'll need to re-upholster it, too. He says if she hadn't paid that to have it re-done that she wouldn't feel like she needs to get as much for it. She wants $500.
My3dogs ME zone 5A
Original Author
15 years ago
He took my advice and here it is -

Look at all 4 pictures in the ad and give me your highest price, please!

Here is a link that might be useful: right here
lynninnewmexico
15 years ago
Since I couldn't reupholster it myself, and would have to pay to have it done again, my top offer would be $250. The chair is gorgeous, but that fabric would have to go.
Lynn
reno_fan
15 years ago
Ditto Lynninnewmexico. $250 tops, as having redone would be a priority, and it would not be cheap.
yborgal
15 years ago
The chair in the corner is very similar, but with more wood detail. I got it at a Thrift Store for $50. We didn't need to reupholster it, though my daughter will probably do so in the future.

I'd offer $250 tops for the CL chair.
annzgw
15 years ago
If she wants to get top dollar, and has time, I would try other avenues in addition to CL. She could list in on ebay, limiting it to her area if she want's to avoid shipping, take photos of it to consignment shops and see what value they place on it, and also take the photos to antique furniture stores and see if they're interested in it.

It's a chair that has good wood and quality and I think she could get $500 for it if she's patient. I listed a Baker chair of similar quality on ebay and had a buyer willing to pay $500 for it but she couldn't work out the shipping.

It's too bad she had it upholstered in a pattern vs a neutral since that limits her buyers. Besides that, the economy is not on her side right now.
Ideefixe
15 years ago
I like the wood but oh that fabric! It's beyond little-old-lady, and I like little-old-lady.Sadly, here in LA, she'd be lucky to get $150.
My3dogs ME zone 5A
Original Author
15 years ago
I love the lines of the chair, and it could be gorgeous done in a different fabric. I have seen that fabric, and agree - it's for the much older crowd. She doesn't 'have' to sell, and I think she'll probably keep it, unless she faces reality.
Valerie Noronha
15 years ago
I agree--about $200 is about all I'd spend. I do like the carving, but the lines of the chair are a bit bottom heavy for my taste. Also, the finish looks a bit odd to me--rather splotchy/glittery which is surprising since it's supposedly been refinished. Is it that way IRL or just the pics?
wooderlander
15 years ago
Pretty chair, but the fabric looks like luggage. :-/
My3dogs ME zone 5A
Original Author
15 years ago
valinsv - I don't know, but it appeared that way to me, too.

Woodlander - that cracked me up! I have seen that fabric a lot, and it just may be at airports!!!!
zipdee
15 years ago
*LOL* Woodlander is dead on! :)

I'm not sure how much, maybe $200. Beautiful chair, but the fabric does need to go.

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