Approx age, value or origin of ornate hand carved hall tree?

[mkorns]

The little old lady I bought this from told me it was from 1890-1900. It is handmade from oak. It is handcarved with the faces of pilgrims or English dressed figures. Wood pegs that screw in rather than inserting or metal hooks.
Barly twist legs and dovetail drawer.

It is 7' tall 42" wide and in good condition for it's age. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Links to photos....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19515499@N04/5398074623/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19515499@N04/5398075131/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19515499@N04/5398674790/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19515499@N04/5398073965/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19515499@N04/5398073647/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19515499@N04/5398677292/

[mart]

Can you do pics of the back ?? You can download them here just click on additional options, then brouse for the pic you want, click on it or open it and when you hit post, the pic will be with it !!   Hope I got all that right !!

[mkorns]

here is a picture of the back

[mart]

Back looks correct for the time period !! Its a nice Victorian piece and is probably age correct. The Victorians loved the gargoyles and elaborate carvings !! Legs as well would place it from that time period. The areas on either side would be for umbrellas or walking canes since they were considered very stylish then !! Some had a tin piece that fit in the bottom so rain would not drip on the floor.  The value is really not that much since the homes today have little room for big hall pieces. I would say yours might sell for around $300. depending on where you are located. Here about $200. would be more like it !!  Yours is in very good condition so possibly a bit more than $300.

[mkorns]

wow thanks for the help. I have the inserts for the umbrellas. They were not in when I took the pictures.

[mart]

Thats even better !!  Most of the inserts are lost over time. Check on prices for your particular area. Some things that don`t sell well here in Texas will sell higher in the north east.  Just depends on what people are looking for !!

[Oceans64]

Very nice looking piece!!

[mkorns]

I guess i need to ask. Is that a wholesale or retail estimate?
Thanks.

[mart]

If you sell it yourself, thats probably what you could expect. If you sold to a dealer,, probably 50 to 60% of that !!  If you are thinking about selling it,, try putting it on Craigslist in your area.

[mkorns]

I plan to keep it. Just wanted to have the facts straight.
Thanks to everybody for all the info.

[Oceans64]

It doesn't seem like alot of $$ for such a pretty piece but Mart has a point on the smaller homes - Plus most homes have a coat closet (altho my hubby has yet to find ours).  Where I live, Pacific NW, antiques are not as common as they are in the East but we have retained a good amount of turn of the century homes in the larger cities so people like to decorate with them.  I can guess that it would get somewhere around $350-$400 on Craigs list here.  Hosman is a better judge than I on that as she watches Craig's list.  Maybe she will chime in.

At the auction I attend I would say $200-250 but it could easily be more as (IMO) furniture goes high there and I'm a lousy judge of price at that thing.  A few weeks ago I was sitting on a bench waiting for my chair to come up.  It was ok and I was thinking with a nice oil it would be good for the garden.  Very simple bench and sun aged.  I figured no one would want it and I could get it for $20.  The thing sold for close to $300!!!! Left me wondering what the heck I was sitting on!!    

[mart]

You were also asking about origin,, its probably an English import.  Years ago they shipped English antiques here in quantity. Some were stripped and refinished others sold as is if they were in good condition. They were cheap compared to American antiques !!  I had a shop back then and a guy in the next town had a dip-strip vat and a warehouse. He bought English furniture by the semi-truck load. I purchased many pieces from him.

[hosman321]

I love it, it's beautiful! I agree with oceans, it all depends on where you live. We live in a very young state (Washington) and furniture/large pieces are usually equally young. So, anything pre-1900 is typically more expensive than other areas. I could see someone paying $400 in my area.

[KC]

I think your piece is exquisite.  More ornate than most and seems to be right in line with the time period you were told. The back of it reinforced that for me.

I am in Texas and believe that it can sell up to $500 in terrific shape....especially with the liners!  I personally wouldn't take less than $350 for it!