Author Topic: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids  (Read 5375 times)

behold_the_man

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« on: July 31, 2012, 01:37:32 pm »
I have a piece from the Imperial Furniture Co. Can some one help me with putting a value on it.
I have pics, just not sure how to upload?  Thanks much.

sapphire

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3137
  • Karma: +34/-0
  • Without direction, we are lost.
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2012, 01:48:45 pm »
Welcome BTM.

To upload your pics go to the same 'page' that you write a reply.  Just below and to the left of the window you type in you will see Additional Options.  Click on that and next to Attach click on [Choose File] to upload. For more than one pic, just hit (more attachments) and carry on. There's usually enough room for 3 pics. Hit Post when you're done.......it will just take a little longer to appear than just a type written reply.

behold_the_man

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2012, 02:10:09 pm »
thanks for your assistance.  here are the pics of my piece.  any info will be helpful.  ie.  type of piece, age, materials, etc

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2012, 04:12:12 pm »
 You can call it a drop leaf occassional table or a console table, end table or lamp table !!  From the 30`s most likely !! I still have several pieces of this style in storage !! It is commonly called Duncan Phyfe style !! But thats not entirely correct !!  And its made of mahogany !!
Forgot to add it is a reproduction !!
« Last Edit: July 31, 2012, 04:33:18 pm by mart »

ghopper1924

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3316
  • Karma: +136/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2012, 04:14:56 pm »
Very handsome walnut, probably 1930s as Mart said, or 1940s. Part of the colonial revival era, in this case more accurately termed a Duncan Phyfe revival piece, since Duncan himself died long before this was made.

Still, nice piece, good condition, maybe worth $125-$200 or so, depending on where you are.
"I collect antiques because they're beautiful."

-Broderick Crawford

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2012, 07:49:49 pm »
Was in a hurry earlier,, Revival is a much better word that reproduction !!  Had brain fog again !!

ghopper1924

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3316
  • Karma: +136/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2012, 07:56:35 pm »
Looking at the back, I think Mart is right: it's mahogany.

Antique collectors know that when the back of a piece is finished to the same level as the rest of it, then it's quality goods. You've got a beautiful table, part of the colonial revival that swept this country in the early to mid 20th century.
"I collect antiques because they're beautiful."

-Broderick Crawford

ghopper1924

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3316
  • Karma: +136/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2012, 07:57:55 pm »
BTW, I like your alias: isn't that the title of a Michael Moorecock book?
"I collect antiques because they're beautiful."

-Broderick Crawford

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2012, 08:03:42 pm »
I have the drum table and coffee table in storage !!  Also used the same pulls on my 20`s Victrola since they were missing when I dragged it out of a barn/storage !!  I have a bunch of those somewhere !!

behold_the_man

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2012, 08:33:53 pm »
thank you all for the info!  very helpful.  I was also wondering if the numbers on the bottom of the drawer mean anything.  I almost thought the numbers (1027) meant the piece was made October 1927. 

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2012, 08:39:04 am »
No,, That would be the style number !!

behold_the_man

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2012, 09:14:12 am »
LOL!  Style number??  It's obvious what style it is.  They would have been better to give me a date!

I had a piece from the Davis Cabinet Co. and they put the month and year inside the wall of the piece.  This made it very helpful to sell.  Which I did :-)

Thanks again for all your help.  I love this place!

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2012, 09:47:12 am »
Only rarely did a company bother to date furniture !! But a style number was a necessity !! When a retailer ordered furniture from a manufacturer,, it was ordered by style number,, not year made !!  They could order three tables of style 1027 and be assured of getting the correct one if the number is on it !!  They may have made several similar tables !!