Author Topic: Pier table-cabinet identification  (Read 7861 times)

cdburke

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Pier table-cabinet identification
« on: December 16, 2014, 12:08:53 pm »
Hello everyone.  I have spent a lot of time online trying to identify this piece acquired recently but am new to antiques and not even sure what it should be called.  I have found similar pieces referred to as washstands and work tables, but I doubt that was the intended purpose since this piece is more formal.

I was told by the person I bought it from that it is New York and has an onyx top (was his grandmothers and she lived there).  A friend said it's American Classical 1820.  There is one marking on the underside of a drawer that I believe to be the letter "T" written in pencil (photo included).

I'd greatly appreciate any insight and specifics -- the marking, value, etc...

-David
« Last Edit: December 16, 2014, 05:27:01 pm by cdburke »

jacon4

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2014, 01:04:58 pm »
Well, I would say American Empire cabinet, not table. 1820 NY sounds about right in rosewood with paw feet and gilded hardware, nice piece.

frogpatch

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2014, 01:19:44 pm »
I agree with Jacon4 completely. It is a real nice example. A washstand would not show the contents in the bottom. I would hope not anyway.
« Last Edit: December 16, 2014, 01:23:57 pm by frogpatch »

jacon4

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2014, 01:55:02 pm »
As for value i hate to even talk about it, shockingly low unless it has a special provenance or built by a famous maker like Duncan Phyfe.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=empire+cabinet&by_date=2014-12-16T19:47:10.181Z&sort=relevance&dtype=gallery&hasimage=true&type=complete&rows=20

mart

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2014, 02:54:15 pm »
Yep !!Not sure about that grille work on front !!

KC

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2014, 03:53:46 pm »
Hi and welcome!

Do the gridded insets in the doors look original?  Are they made of glass overlay?
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

jacon4

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #6 on: December 16, 2014, 04:01:02 pm »
Good question on grill, it looks to be glass. It may not be original to the piece, ditto the onyx top as well, this piece might have been converted into a bar cabinet at some point along the way. Still, an impressive piece of Empire that is almost certainly american. Value on Empire & Classical tends to be low because it just isn't in fashion, ditto later victorian and, a very good buy these days.
« Last Edit: December 16, 2014, 04:09:02 pm by jacon4 »

mart

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2014, 04:23:48 pm »
These were typically solid doors, many were flame mahogany  !! Of course there may be exceptions but it is the first I have seen with this type door or top !!

jacon4

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2014, 04:33:02 pm »
This could be mahogany or rosewood, hard to tell from pics alone. Agrees, appears some alterations have been done but that is not unusual for a piece going on 200 years old. A survivor!
« Last Edit: December 16, 2014, 04:48:37 pm by jacon4 »

mart

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2014, 04:48:23 pm »
That's true !!  But it is a classic example of American Empire style !!  Oddly enough,, things with feet like this sell pretty well here in my little corner of Texas !!

jacon4

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2014, 04:51:23 pm »
Yeah, even altered, piece still has alot going for it, original gilded brass mounts/hardware for one thing, the feet for another.

cdburke

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2014, 05:28:55 pm »
I appreciate all the replies.  The grill looks original to me, but I’m definitely not an expert – no wear/finish that appears different.   It’s actually impossible to clean the inside glass without removing the four pieces of trim around the door to take out the grill, which I haven’t done.  The grill isn’t any kind of metal.  I included a photo of the interior door with the post , which hopefully provides a better answer.

Is it possible the cabinet could have been built initially by certain specifications, or is the way it appears just not something that would have been possible/done at that time?  As I mentioned, it belonged to the grandmother of the person I bought it from, and he said many of them were custom made.  Neither of us are experts of course, but I was thinking maybe she planted that seed many years ago before he knew anything about it.

Any insight into the marking that appears to be a “T” in the last photo on the underside of a drawer?

cdburke

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #12 on: December 16, 2014, 05:48:10 pm »
Didn't realize it was possible to attach more photos with each post...

cdburke

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2014, 05:55:30 pm »
Interior of door...

mart

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Re: Pier table-cabinet identification
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2014, 06:40:23 pm »
Was pretty sure before that those pulls and the gold banding on the columns had been spray painted,,those last pics remove all doubt that they were !! You can clearly see the spray fuzz at the edge !! A gilded gold would have much more detail and sharp crisp lines,,spray paint hides detail and fills in all the lines !!
As to the doors,, anything is possible !! Another possibility is that if the solid panels were replaced with the grille work and glass,,it was an early replacement and has aged sufficiently to be hard to tell !!
In any case,, the only thing that might reflect on the value is the spray painted pulls and banding !!