Who knows antique furniture?

Hurdt299

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Location
Asheville, NC
Long story short, my dad passed away, we're cleaning out his house, and there's a 1930s or 1940s Art Deco bedroom set that I don't have room to keep. Does anybody know if there is any value in this and what that value might be? I can't find a name anywhere on it. It has a vanity with mirror, headboard, footboard, and chest with it. Unfortunately some of the veneer is coming off of the vanity and the headboard.

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Long story short, my dad passed away, we're cleaning out his house, and there's a 1930s or 1940s Art Deco bedroom set that I don't have room to keep. Does anybody know if there is any value in this and what that value might be? I can't find a name anywhere on it. It has a vanity with mirror, headboard, footboard, and chest with it. Unfortunately some of the veneer is coming off of the vanity and the headboard.

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My parents had pretty much that same set when I was a kid so it must be old.
 
I could get it a lot closer if i was seeing it in person. Tooling marks and fasteners will tell you a lot. That's very post depression.
 
This set belonged to my grandparents. My grandpa would be 97 this year. They moved into this house in the 40s and I'm guessing they bought it new when they moved in.
I’m thinking it was passed down from my dads parents and came from a company in Haywood county called Lee industries iirc.
 
I could get it a lot closer if i was seeing it in person. Tooling marks and fasteners will tell you a lot. That's very post depression.

I'll take some more pictures when I'm back over there. Do you think it's worth enough to try to sell it? I know nothing about furniture.
 
I'll take some more pictures when I'm back over there. Do you think it's worth enough to try to sell it? I know nothing about furniture.
You might have to wait for the perfect buyer, but the right one will hand you a nice sum.
Find a person restoring a home from the same era. Anything pre 1900 is always in huge demand, 1950s is strong, but around WW2 era 30s-40s seems to get skipped over.
I'd see what an antique shop would offer you, double it, and post it on CL.
 
Most valuable antique furniture is hand made, not factory built and includes good construction practices (blocked corners, dove tail construction, etc). I have not seen much of any modern veneer on any valuable antiques (I have a few pieces and my parents’ house is stacked full of old antiques from early 1900s). But, I like the older antique furniture that pre-dates most modern veneer furniture being built (although some 17 and 18 century furniture out of France and England used some veneer pieces...) so I may be way off.

While they are unique, I’d say they would be good pieces for someone trying to keep a certain look, but wouldn’t fetch any notable $. Finding a makers mark would help.
 
The wife and I shopped for antique wood furniture to decorate our current house. There's a difference between old and antique and is vastly different in pricing. Biggest thing, is the wood itself, are those pretty designs pressed on or is that the wood itself (looks like it's actually peeling, so pressed on). Then the craftsmanship, is it glue and nails or dovetails and dowels. Then condition, looks to have water damage. From the antique shops I frequent, the foot board and the mirror would probably be the biggest dollar items, as an entire set, $500 (+/- $200). Better condition, little better quality...suddenly $15-1800 doesn't become that far fetched. Disclaimer...brands and maker marks can and do throw a monkey wrench in the entire process too.
 
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Thanks for the info everyone. I will stop by a local antique shop and see what they have to say. I'm not looking to get rich off of it. I just hate to throw it away if I can find someone who would appreciate it. Even if I get 2 or 300 out of it, that's better than throwing it away.
 
That set with the finish loss and styling, if you can get $200 for the whole set run with it.

I would expect 100 or less at auction.



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if you discover it to be a WWII era build and the value not to your liking, before you haul it off or burn it, strip it down piece by piece and make sure there arent any WWII era coins lost in a corner or under a piece of trim.

some of the coins can be upwards of a million dollars.
 
if you discover it to be a WWII era build and the value not to your liking, before you haul it off or burn it, strip it down piece by piece and make sure there arent any WWII era coins lost in a corner or under a piece of trim.

some of the coins can be upwards of a million dollars.
Not to totally de-rail the thread but now Im curious.
What sorts of WW2 era coins should one be searching for?
 
Not to totally de-rail the thread but now Im curious.
What sorts of WW2 era coins should one be searching for?
Silver pennies. Copper supply was in massive shortage due to ammo manufacturing.
 
The wife and I shopped for antique wood furniture to decorate our current house. There's a difference between old and antique and is vastly different in pricing. Biggest thing, is the wood itself, are those pretty designs pressed on or is that the wood itself (looks like it's actually peeling, so pressed on). Then the craftsmanship, is it glue and nails or dovetails and dowels. Then condition, looks to have water damage. From the antique shops I frequent, the foot board and the mirror would probably be the biggest dollar items, as an entire set, $500 (+/- $200). Better condition, little better quality...suddenly $15-1800 doesn't become that far fetched. Disclaimer...brands and maker marks can and do throw a monkey wrench in the entire process too.
Yep. And a great rule of thumb with a lot of things is, if it looks like it would be a total bitch and a half to duplicate/replicate it, then its going to cost a lot to own it.
 
They were zinc actually and fairly common to find. Not worth much. Now if you find a copper 43 then you have something.
Or a 43 44 licence plate. They only issued those to government vehicles then. A matching set is worth gold!
 
Those pieces you have are very common and do not bring much at antique shops. My wife has that exact dresser with mirror in much better shape. As said before if you can get $200 for it all let it go.
 
Nothing to add, but any time I hear talk of antique furniture....this is ALL I can think of :D

 
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