Asked on Sep 07, 2014

I have no idea about the history of this antique piece...please help!

I came upon this piece through a friend. Someone told me it was Arts and Crafts. I wouldn't dare paint it! I do need help putting a value on it. Can anyone share their expertise pertaining to its age? Any details and perhaps how much it MAY be worth? Thank you all in advance. :) Tana
  40 answers
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Sep 08, 2014
    This piece is STUNNING! i think you might want to research under the category of "Prairie" furniture. This looks North American made and some of these pieces can be very valuable because they are rather rare. Even if it is not priceless, it is worth keeping in its original form because it is very beautiful.
  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Sep 08, 2014
    In agreement with Jeanette! It looks definitely northern and probably home made.
  • Mary Beth Carrier Mary Beth Carrier on Sep 08, 2014
    Check the inside & back to see if it's all the same wood.
  • 'T' Teresa Harris 'T' Teresa Harris on Sep 08, 2014
    I have this piece also...except mine has 2 drawers at the bottom...it weighs a ton. It was gift from a very good friend that passed.
  • Evelyn Evelyn on Sep 08, 2014
    Look for the Stickley name somewhere on the piece. Looks Craftsman style
  • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on Sep 08, 2014
    It is definitely a Craftsman style buffet/chest. I would agree with Evelyn. Look for a Stickley name. I had one similar, only bigger that I paid $50 for. I didn't want to bring it with me when I moved to AZ and nobody really wanted it in the family. Finally my grandson took it.
    • See 2 previous
    • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on Sep 08, 2014
      @Jeanette S I think maybe you misunderstood my comment. What I was saying is that I couldn't believe that nobody wanted my buffet! But..........it was in Iowa where they are more commonplace. I was not putting her buffet down at all!
  • Ray Phillips Ray Phillips on Sep 08, 2014
    It does look Stickly. The bottom of ther drawer looks like it has some walnut.
  • Jacqueline Jacqueline on Sep 08, 2014
    I happen to come across a very lovely piece on the curb, marked by the fine arts furniture which is stickley! I was so excited I used restore a finish, waxed it and it was good to go, I knew I didn't want to paint it because it's beautiful and I knew it was super old! So I'd guess it's anywhere between 1890-1925. Hope that helps! It sure is beautiful! 👍
  • Carole Alden Carole Alden on Sep 08, 2014
    Wonderful that someone took good care of it. Very nice.
  • Shirley Kalinosky Shirley Kalinosky on Sep 08, 2014
    There's a site on FB called "Dusty Old Thing". You could post there and see if someone has further info for you.
  • Wendy Johnson Wendy Johnson on Sep 08, 2014
    Definatley art n crafts . Don't do anything to the finish without research since you are interested in maintaining value. Sometimes people don't realize even over polishing ruins a piece if you are being picky. That would include the metal.The piece is beautiful btw-lucky you
  • Cathy C Cathy C on Sep 08, 2014
    looks like it could be earlier stickly.... because of the way the front legs extend up through the top. Also check the drawers to see about hand cut dovetails.
  • Angelia Christenson Angelia Christenson on Sep 08, 2014
    I was gonna say early 1900's also but i dont know values of things and dont have the books my mother has on current values of antiques. Its georgeous and has very little scars. I collect old keys (not sure why but every time i find one at a flea market or antique mall i gotta have it....cheap enough thing to collect) I bet i have one that works the locks if they arent permanently STUCK or the pieces that lock it are missing!!! We moved into a furnished olf farm house that was built in the 1800's and there was a very similar piece my husband used for a bar in the main living room but i really wanted to leave the doors open and display old books and wooden spools and such inside in the front foyer. He found a glass door apothecary chest in the attic so we compromised...:)
  • Bam362193 Bam362193 on Sep 08, 2014
    I don't know about the piece but as soon as I seen it I said to myself, "please don't paint that beautiful piece!!" Beautiful!
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Sep 08, 2014
    It's a beautiful piece.
  • Pamela Knott Pamela Knott on Sep 08, 2014
    It is Arts & Crafts period and I'm sure it's solid oak. The bottom and sides of drawers, and bottom of the inside of the cabinet probably aren't but that's normal. Most oak furniture was made in Michigan around 1900, so 1875-1925. The fair market value fluctuates as you travel from state to state and city to city. I'd put a fair market value of $750 on it and an insurance value of $1200. Values are down in Iowa. I'm sure closer to Chicago or New York you could double those values. Don't paint it, don't clean up the brass hardware, don't wax it. Just use a dust cloth on it occasionally maybe with a little oil and have fun with your Arts & Crafts oak buffet.
  • Carol Ann McDaniel Carol Ann McDaniel on Sep 08, 2014
    I agree with Pamela knott. I would suggest that you carefully examine the backs and bottoms of any drawers and the case piece itself. Often there are markings, paper tags, imprints or drawer numbering. Bright light and angling the wood can reveal much. DO NOT polish the hardware. Check the legs also for caster holes.
  • CK CK on Sep 08, 2014
    The interesting thing about antiques and their value is "It's worth what you can get for it." Sometimes that's a lot; sometimes it's not what it should be. I bought a high-end furniture designer's midcentury modern end table at a thrift store for $8. The people at the store had no idea what it was. I found out it was valued (at that time) around $600. However here in our market nobody really knew it was worth that much and we barely eeked out $100 when we sold it, sad to say. If you're planning to sell it, that's often the case. If you're planning to keep it, then its value will be priceless. Very nice piece BTW. Its design is so classic that it'll work in virtually every style.
    • See 1 previous
    • CK CK on Sep 10, 2014
      @Pamela Knott So right Pamela :-) And of course what's "in" today might be "out" tomorrow. Remember when Frankoma ware was sought after? I couldn't give mine away a couple years ago. The $8 end table was a Haywood-Wakefield...for those who may have been interested.
  • June Mcnamara June Mcnamara on Sep 08, 2014
    I think it is probably Stickly as well, but was thrown off with another piece I thought was and that one turned out to be an oak piece made in England around 1920. They used English oak which is darker than US white oak. the piece I saw was sold for about $875, in 2005
  • Mary Anfinson Mary Anfinson on Sep 08, 2014
    It is well above the $50.00 amount stated above. If this piece is solid quarter sawn oak try more like $300.00 and upwards . My husband takes old pieces like this and total takes them apart and re-glues them and makes sure the drawers slide in correctly and the doors shut properly. He then refinishes the whole piece and it would easily sell in the $300.00 to $550.00 range easily. Obviously if it is veneered oak it would be less. Please keep it and pass it on in your family. It is a beautiful piece. It is harder to find fine antiques like this one.
  • Martha Martha on Sep 08, 2014
    Beautiful! I want it! It really is a special piece, even if it's not a Stickley.
  • Gardenbuff Gardenbuff on Sep 08, 2014
    In the mid 1800's, an ancestor of mine in Kansas, hired a woodworker to come live with the family and make a trousseau of furniture for one of his daughters. He lived with them for about 8 months. I believe he made at least 3 pieces, one of which was a highboy dresser, solid cherry, and heavy as all get out. We had that piece on loan for awhile until the rightful heir in the family was ready to claim it. Your piece looks very similar. So if you don't find any identifying markings, maybe it could have been custom made. It's a wonderful piece.
  • I'm so impressed with all of your knowledge...and for your thoughtfulness in sharing it. I PROMISE I will NOT paint this beauty. Nor will I tamper with the brass or wood. So happy I reached out to this community. Thanks so much. T
    • Jacqueline Jacqueline on Sep 10, 2014
      A light waxing wouldn't hurt an antique piece, it won't ruin it either, if your keeping the piece and you don't plan on selling it, the value is irrelevant. In my opinion. Value only matters if you plan on selling it, it's YOUR piece! By all means do what you want to it! As long as you don't paint it, lol. And leave all hardware original as well(or give it a light cleaning) again value doesn't matter if you love the piece and plan on keeping it! Thanks for sharing!😉
  • Barbara Brewer Barbara Brewer on Sep 08, 2014
    if I had it in my shop $300.00 would be way low PLEASE just dust,remember it is antique dust. Stickly is it
  • Ingeborg Goud Ingeborg Goud on Sep 09, 2014
    Oh ! Thank you for not painting it .. it looks handmade with lots of love...
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Sep 09, 2014
    Its Arts and Crafts era..1880 to 1910. Its gorgeous.
  • Cp C Cp C on Sep 11, 2014
    BEAUTIFUL piece :) This one is listed on EBAY for a LOT... does not say SIGNED tho, which makes a difference!! To the right person, I am sure it is worth this much... ALL Depends as many have said!! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arts-Crafts-Mission-Oak-1910-Antique-Sideboard-Server-or-Buffet-/111311070621?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item19eaa8259d
  • Again,I thank you all for your input :) I will be selling it and wanted to make certain that I don't over or undercharge the consumer.
  • Carol Tomlin Carol Tomlin on Sep 11, 2014
    I know nothing about it except that it's beautiful !
  • Ray Phillips Ray Phillips on Sep 12, 2014
    If you are selling it, Do not wax or anyother type of cleaning. dust only.
    • See 1 previous
    • Ray Phillips Ray Phillips on Sep 15, 2014
      @Terra Gazelle Bees wax is fine, but nothing else if you are going to sell it. If you are going to keep it use what you want.
  • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on Sep 12, 2014
    Just because it looks like Stickley does not mean it is. You will have to look the piece over very carefully to find the name.
  • Pamela Knott Pamela Knott on Sep 12, 2014
    If you are going to sell it, it's only worth what the other person is willing t give you. Also, if you sell to a dealer, they can't pay much more than 1/2 of what you want for it. I can't believe you would sell it though!
  • Angelia Christenson Angelia Christenson on Sep 13, 2014
    Unless you are strapped for cash i would NOT SELL. You will find it to be worth a fortune in another decade or so and should really be passed down to someone who appreciates the past that is most likely behind the piece. Even a historical museum might be interested ya know. Late 1800's pieces to 1930's tend to go for a LOT. I looked at the ebay posting and saw the price. Thats about what id expect to see in the antique markets in the mtns i go to...my husband scoffs at the "ridiculous prices" but he doesnt realize you are buying a piece of HISTORY not just a piece of furniture.
  • Catherine Smith Catherine Smith on Sep 13, 2014
    What a gorgeous piece of furniture. The coloring and patina on the wood is marvelous. I suggest you use Old English furniture oil on it to help condition and keep it in good shape. I would certainly not sell it.
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Sep 14, 2014
    Not every one enjoys antiques or has a place in the home for furniture they do not like or have no use for.
  • Martha Martha on Sep 15, 2014
    Terra, I agree. But when there is a special and rare piece, I think it would be better to sell it so an antique-lover can enjoy it rather than paint it. I recently saw an article where a woman painted a 1970s/1980s hutch that was real oak but had no particular style and was not a craftsman-made piece. She painted it shabby-chic and planned to use it or sell it. I think that's fine. And some antique furniture was meant to be painted. I have a cottage-y type dresser my ex-husband painstakingly stripped and varnished (40 years ago), but the wood is nothing special and it probably was painted from the beginning. People who refinish, paint and/or sell furniture should learn to know what they are working with. Handmade pieces will become increasingly "rare" (a relative term) and desirable as the population continues to grow and pieces are lost to fire and flood or whatever.
    • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Apr 04, 2015
      @Martha To me 1980's is of no importance, I lived through that era and found nothing of attractiveness in its fashion or style. lol. I just did a 1970's night stand and it looks 100 times better..it was just dark and fake colonial before..now its light and pretty. I have a handmade dresser 1800's...the wood is nothing spectacular and was painted (badly) when i got it. It is now my Coffee station and very pretty and utilitarian.
  • Heliane Ripley Heliane Ripley on Apr 04, 2015
    I just love your arts and crafts sideboard and would buy it in a minute if the price was right.
  • Gwen Barham Loftus Gwen Barham Loftus on Sep 26, 2016
    You have a lovely buffet! I have one that belonged to my great grandmother. If I had to guess, it looks like it is made of "tiger oak", which was common back in the day. As to it's worth, I have no idea....most of younger generation have NO interest in antiques. They tend to purchase IKEA/disposable furniture. I would never consider 'painting' any of my antiques as I love the natural wood look. If it brings you joy, keep it and love it!
  • Cindie Cindie on Oct 03, 2016
    OMG. That is beautiful. Arts & Craft period is around 1910-1920. The top drawers would be used for silverware. Notice the locks on those drawers? Plus they might put napkins and smaller stuff in them. The middle is used for dishes. The larger drawer is for tablecloths. Clean it with Murphys Oil Soap. Gently. No scrubbing. Then use a good oil based furniture polish on it.
  • Carole Alden Carole Alden on Oct 04, 2016
    Don't paint. I wish I could have found one like that around here. I just paid about $376 for a similar copy at Wayfair on the web. Has open shelf on botttom. Called Lowrencetown console