What is the age and value of this farm table/desk
by
Karen
+6
I recently purchased a vintage desk/farm table at an auction and would like to find out the age and should I restore or leave it as it is? I will be selling it. The drawer is missing, has dovetail.
9 answers
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I own an estate sale company and can tell you that we usually get around $100-$200 for that piece. I would say just clean it up and use some wood restorer on it so whoever buys it can pick what they want. I know I am a big while fan and this would look good in that but the primitive look of it would be ruined if you did it. Hope this helps!
Yvonne Day Aka Miss Ruby
on Jun 23, 2016
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Wow, it's lovely! I collect a lot of antiques and with wood pieces the four most important things to look at are rarity, provenance, quality, and condition. If you want to sell it as vintage or an antique; I definitely wouldn't paint it like Yvonne wrote. I myself would only dust it well. Keep in mind that old doesn't automatically mean antique and the missing drawer is a big deal. I personally think that this was handmade by someone from looking at the top, sides and legs. Have you asked the seller of it? You also have the option of replacing the drawer and giving it a makeover! Best of luck to you!
Bryan's Workshop
on Jun 24, 2016
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Check it out carefully - has anyone tried to fix or restore any part of it? Do you see nails or screws? Are the heads of the nails square or round? Are the screws flathead or phillips? The missing drawer will lower the value some but not much. If there are no repairs, you're probably looking at around $200. Don't paint it.
GrinninGramma
on Jun 24, 2016
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I agree, don't paint it. I like the primitive look. Clean it and maybe condition it, turn the front to the back so you can't see the missing drawer.
Suzanne Lee
on Jun 24, 2016
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If you are going to keep it, you could have a good woodworker make a drawer to fit it out of old aged barn wood. That would give you the entire look. I also would not paint it. Perhaps stain it darker or just use a good wood cleaner first, let dry, then use a good wood wax to enrich and hydrate the wood. You would need to use the wax a few times a year to protect the wood. Lovely piece...if I lived near you, I would give you $200 for it easy!
Judith Watson
on Jun 24, 2016
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Don't buy your red sports car yet. It is not an important piece. The top is two old saw toothed boards slapped together, the drawer is gone, not unusual size or style. It has sat in a garage a couple decades. I would pick that up in a country used furniture store for about $50-100, no more. Garage sale, $25. Clean it, maybe light oil polish. and buff, or leave as is, sell for $100. It has some practical usage value as a 'working side table', not a designer placed piece. (the red sports car will have to wait)...;)~
Johnchip
on Jun 24, 2016
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Please don't paint it. I love the natural wood.
Dee
on Jun 24, 2016
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Are there square nails or hand made screws? This will help date it. Clean it up and you would probably be able to get between 150-200 out of it on etsy. Maybe a little more.
Jay Richards
on Jun 24, 2016
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Get Briwax without stain. I worked in a store that sold unfinished reclaimed wood. That is what we recommended to our customers. We used a farm table next to our register and waxed it at least once or twice a month. An unwaxed surface you may want to more often to begin with. Waxing is an old method of coating old furniture. Check out their website I am posting the product we used for the furniture in the store. http://www.briwax.com/briwax.htm
Lynn Palmatier
on Jun 25, 2016
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