Help with 19th Century Furniture

[frogpatch]

Hi all,

A close friend of mine inherited many pieces of 19th Century furniture. They were collected in N. Carolina and just moved to NJ outside of NYC. He is interested in selling all of them. I have been out of the market for quite a long time so I am asking for help as to identification, value and what the best selling platform would be. I think he is considering eBay but I might lean towards a good NY or NJ auction house. I will put these up a couple at a time over the next few days. You opinions are greatly appreciated. I will not be able to add pictures but I can request them if necessary. Thanks

The first is an Empire stand with drop leaves. I have seen these with a pedestal base before but never with square (NY) legs.

[frogpatch]

No one wants to say anything about this piece?

[jacon4]

Well, actually, it's late classical not empire. Value would not be much on this piece as the legs are kinda strange, maybe $100.

[frogpatch]

I do not agree. The ogee curve is typical Empire. The legs are referred to as New York legs and were used in both Empire and Sheraton pieces in the early 1800's If you go into Google Images and put in Empire Sewing Stand you will see one with those legs and no leaves. If you do the same with Late Classical the sewing stands do not have ogee drawers. As for value I agree with you. Maybe 150.00 to 200.00.

[jacon4]

Yeah, the problem is, much of what is labeled as american Empire, isn't. Empire & classical have the same lines (curves if you will) however, empire  is heavily carved, usually has beast/animal carved feet and often gilded brass mounts. Classical has the same lines but little or none of the Empire decoration.

I would note that it is confusing, many dealers,auction houses, collectors misidentify these 2 related but clearly very different styles. There was a discussion about this several years ago on another forum and folks were just not getting it so the forum moderator asked Hollie ( shes a writer by trade and pretty good at it) to compose something that's easy to understand without getting to far into the weeds on this confusing topic. Check it out, clearly written & explains the difference as well the confusing commingling of these 2 styles.

http://rarevictorian.com/2009/06/empire-furniture-isnt-always-empire-furniture.html

[KC]

Do the drop leafs look original?  On the bottom side of the table is it solid wood?  Does the wood look original?

I believe this to could be a drop leaf sewing/work table.  There were two styles.  

The more expensive drop leaf sewing table had the storage section that hangs below the drawers and many times is made of cloth whereas the more ornate/expensive ones have the storage made of wood.

Then there were the ones that didn't have that storage.  

Most side/end tables of this style and from that time period had 1 drawer whereas work/sewing tables had 2.  So, does that bottom piece pull out as a drawer or is it only 1 drawer?  If so, then I would call it a side table.  In the that case it would only bring $90 to $150 in my area.

[jacon4]

To give some perspective, here is a period American Empire stand, about 1825

[jacon4]

American Empire was built here from 1790-1830s or so along with 2 other period federal furniture styles, Sheraton & Hepplewhite. If your friends stand was Empire, it would be in the $1000-$3000 range. True american empire is kind of rare and not cheap either, it was expensive even back in the day. Here is an Empire Sewing table

[jacon4]

well, hopefully, i have thoroughly confused everybody!

[frogpatch]

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/26939
http://www.silive.com/homegarden/antiques/index.ssf/2009/08/19thcentury_worktable_sews_up.html
https://www.harpgallery.com/showroom/item19422.html

No carving here. You say they are all wrong?

I say Empire sewing stand. Sorry

[mart]

I agree with Jacon4 !!  Sorry Frogpatch !!
Have the pulls been replaced on this furniture ??  Those white porcelain pulls look like 1970`s !!

[jacon4]

No carving here. You say they are all wrong?

Yes, they are all wrong. The thing is, most dealers and auction houses are generalist, that is, they know a little about a lot of objects as opposed to knowing a lot about very little. They are not specialist in a single type object (like furniture for instance). Add in that period American Empire is all hand made, each piece is unique and the fact that it tends to be expensive and BAM! it's easy to see how people market a related but clearly different object as the same.

The bottom line? Your friends piece is a late classical stand, about 1850 or later and the value as stated before is not a lot, about $100-$200 in todays auction market. Perhaps the most critical factor here is this, people who collect period american Empire will know the difference, of that you can be sure so right away, that segment of the market is off limits for this stand.

[jacon4]

Hey, i just noticed i became a hero member, whatever that is! Do i get a cookie or something as a reward? I have been here since 2007, so 8 years to get that tag, i used to be a senior member i think.

[mart]

Congrats Jacon4 !!  I think its a good thing for you !! In my case,, I think it just means I talk too much !! 

[KC]

Congrats!  Means you are hanging around here and posting quite a bit!    Glad you're here!