We have quite a few Federal styled pieces, it seems. DH's favorite piece is a really nice Federal style couch. The clock has a label marking it as a Waterbury Clock "Independence Hall." Assuming that's what's painted on the front (or used to be painted on the front. That mirror is, as far as I can tell, in impeccable condition but is definitely quite old. I'm going to have to get it back out to see the quality of the carving. The picture doesn't show it very well, and now I'm curious. Plus I don't think I ever looked for a label on the darn thing! $2.50? That's a heck of a good buy! We're still finding things when we open previously unopened dresser drawers, looking in boxes, etc. Some of the latest: a great book of B&W prints from the 1893 Columbian Exposition (stamped with a store's name on the back--was used as advertising, similar to the advertising cards but much more substantial) more Heisey glass than you can shake a stick at :) several old dolls in varying states of condition several antique frames, also (sadly) in varying states of condition boxes and boxes of old buttons and costume jewelry old books like you wouldn't believe (I know these don't necessarily have much value, but it's fun to read about what they knew, or didn't know, about the world/science/etc. during that time two very strange looking porcelain figurines...matching...boots, and one has a boy clinging to it while the other has a girl clinging to it some Victorian-era painted pottery, porcelain, china, or whatever it is (I guess it used to be fashionable for ladies to buy the white pottery then paint it? a chamber pot set with a few other matching pieces for some unknown purpose, all with a little note that identifies it as a wedding gift for "Maggie" (the first owner of the house, circa 1885-1890) It's a little overwhelming but I can't imagine it being more fun! :) I'll keep putting up pictures as we take them. This forum is a great site to at least get an idea of what some of this stuff is, and how old it is (or is not).

Wow Talk about some great info you all rock. I will try to answer the few questions I saw, if I miss anyone just reply. I am in Texas not chicago area. I do think the short square one is walnut , someone else say it and thought it was earlier in the year. The short square one appears to be mostly solid with veneer on both sides, but not on the top or the draw faces. The shorter of the two serpentine fronted ones has veneer on the drawer fronts but appears to have a solid top. The taller of the two sperpentine fronted ones has veneer on drawer fronts and on the top. I'm not sure about where I will sell them, probably craigslist or ebay. If anyone is intrested let me know. I will post them soon for $250.00 for each of the birdseye serpentine fronted ones and $175.00 for the short square one. I know thats on the high end of the sugjested price range, but I don't have to sell them so it's not a biggie. Thank you all so very much for your time and great info. Chris

Take a picture of the top, print it out and practice on the paper. Take good notes about which colors you used. Do it again with clear plastic over the spot you are repairing to double check your choiced. And apply one coat of clear shellac on the top before you overpaint so it doesn't soak into the wood. Then protect the top because the overpainting is susceptible to damage. That's fake tiger oak. The oak was extremely popular but not plentiful, so low-priced manufacturers resorted to painting on the grain they wanted onto a plainer wood. The underlying wood is going to be alder or whatever is easy to work and cheap in the area.

I don't think this is an extremely old piece. The thing about basing "age" on ownership by a grandparent or even great grandparent is that they might not have stopped buying at a certain point in time. Even if you are basing solely on his "age, he would have bee purchasing it presumably during his marriage which would have been sometime in the late 1920's or 1930's presumably. My mother was born slighty later than your Great Grandfather as she was born in 1919. She started furnishing a home in the 1950's and there would be no way to "date" the items in her home based on her year of birth since they included MCM, Victorian, Art Deco, 1970's and 1980's of various styles including reproductions - e.g. a painted secretary in what was probably a vaguely French Provincial style. I think she probably bought a few items in faux or authentic Heywood Wakefield style when she was first setting up her home as she was nostalgic about that style. She bought at various times in her life and from various sources including new, antique stores and estate sales. Based on the wood and the style my semi-educated guess would be that your piece is from the 1920's or 1930's. Really the question is whether you like it enough to spend a considerable amount of money to have it refinished? I had (or have) a vintage bedroom suite from the 1930's in the Waterfall style. When I remodeled I decided I still liked the style enough to use some parts of it in my new bedroom and so I had the armoire and dresser refinished. I had the vanity turned into two end tables which were also refinished. I think the actual construction my furniture is a bit like yours as mine has the "fancy" wood but it is a veneer and also has some other touches typical of that style. The company that did the job did a beautiful job but it was as expensive as my buying high end new furniture. I did it because after looking at new stuff I realized that I liked the old furniture more than what I was seeing. FWIW the same company also refinished a solid Art Deco solid wood "bar" and did a custom dining room table that was based on a French Art Deco table. I have a somewhat dinged up Chnese Deco which is in its chipped "shabby chic" state because I still love it but I don't see how it could possibly be restored given the intricate nature of its design. Find out how much a good professional refinish will be and then decide whether you love the piece enough to spend that amount. Or if you want to just keep using it in its current condition and not spend the money.