Date:
January 27, 2001 10:35 PM
Subject:
Re: Old furniture
Hello! I have to part with some furniture and I need help! I don't think it's antique but if anyone has any idea what I should ask for it I would be eternally grateful. Ok here we go. A dining room set,purchased in 1929 by my grandmother, american made with no noticeable "name brand" on it. Set includes dining room table with 2 leaves, 6 chairs, buffet, server and china hutch. Lots of pieces. It has the original finish and is in good condition. It has actually been used, so has signs of normal
wear and tear. Also a few teeth marks [puppy teeth] on the bottom of the table but otherwise ok. I have had many people approach me in the past saying they wanted to buy it. I never even considered selling it b4 now. I just don't know how to come up with a fair price. I hope someone can help!
Randa
Hi, Randa! While the furniture would have to be at least 100 years old to be considered "antique", it is 70 years old and that means it has survived much longer than most new furniture ever will! If you want to know more about the furniture, there are several ways to research it.
First, try to determine the kind of wood, and the style of the set. Walnut, mahogany, cherry and oak were all used in the early part of the century for dining room furniture. Is it is heavy and ornate, with a single pedestal leg, or light-colored wood with sleek lines? Write that down. Are the chair backs shaped like a shield, or straight and simple? Are the seats upholstered, woven cane, or solid wood?
After you have written down as much about the style as you can, go to the library or the bookstore and look for books on interior decorating, specifically furniture styles and the history of furniture. You can do this online as well, which is just as good.
Look for pictures of chairs, table shapes, leg shapes. Your furniture will most likely be a reproduction of a popular style from a much earlier period. You might find my articles on
