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Dutchess_III's avatar

May I have your opinon on what these may be worth, please?

Asked by Dutchess_III (46830points) October 11th, 2018
41 responses
“Great Question” (0points)

I am dehoarding my house. These end tables have been stored in our unused second floor bathroom, along with a whole bunch of other (useless) things for several years. I finally got the go ahead to just find a home for all of it.
I don’t like the tables at all. They may be old, but they seem cheaply made to me. I don’t care for that long, spindly Queen Anne French look either. They look like War of the Worlds.
I don’t think they’re worth much..but I could be wrong.
What do you guys think?

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Answers

rebbel's avatar

Tree fiddy.

ragingloli's avatar

Hmm. I would say no more than 50 each.
Almost no detailing on the wood, the metal parts are plain and look like stamped sheet metal, and the paint job looks shoddy.

Dutchess_III's avatar

It’s not paint. It’s varnish. I would be thrilled to get $50 each. Check this out on Ebay.

This is kind of interesting. I flipped them over and the drawers don’t go all the way to the back. Shoddy, lazy workmanship, or secret compartment?

ragingloli's avatar

Did I say 50? I meant 25.

rebbel's avatar

I would think $50 for the pair.
Based on what I see the charity, next to my job, haul for free from house clearances.

ragingloli's avatar

It is close to being literal garbage.

chyna's avatar

It doesn’t have any maker mark or brand mark? I would probably just donate them.

YARNLADY's avatar

Take pictures of the e-bay page and quote a “bargain” price of $100,then take any offer.

KNOWITALL's avatar

I’d ask an appraiser tbh, I know enough to be dangerous. Hard to tell in your pic if they just need refinished or if they’re reproductions maybe?

Ebay has some similar for $349, matching pair.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Queen-Anne-Style-Solid-Cherry-End-Table-SET-OF-2/263952930181?hash=item3d74d21585:g:sdMAAOSw4RZbA47A

Here, these are $695

https://www.ebay.com/itm/45621EC-Pair-PENNSYLVANIA-HOUSE-Cherry-1-Drawer-End-Tables/332827506506?hash=item4d7e10b74a:g:dxUAAOSwOnJbtBDp

ragingloli's avatar

@k
Superficially, maybe.
Qualitywise, they are worlds apart.

KNOWITALL's avatar

@ragingloli Hmmm, from her picture, I kind of like them-you can see the wood grain. There are some really nice ones painted grey and refinished that are lovely. Look somewhat similar. I’d think $50 was a major bargain…lol

http://trendmakerhome.info/queen-anne-style-coffee-table/queen-anne-style-coffee-table-handpainted-gray-french-grain-sack-end-tables-chalk-paint-painted-furniture-queen-anne-coffee-table-height/

ragingloli's avatar

Yes, but it is very coarse and non-uniform wood grain.
And take a look at the shape of the legs and especially the feet.
The good ones end in a shaped knobbly bit.
Dutch’s legs just end. Cleanly cut off.
And in general the complexity of the shape.
The expensive ones are, first, a lot thicker at the beginning, and nicely rounded and shaped.
Which means a lot more work goes into making them.
The cheap ones could have come out of a machine.
And the surface finish.
The good ones are properly polished, have a buttery smooth surface.
The cheap stuff looks excessively bumpy.
And the worst part is the underside.
Look how thin the side panels are.
Look at the gaps where the wood rails meet the sides.
Look at the rails on the drawer, and how they are not flush, or even parallel with the rails on the frame.
Look at the cheap wedges at the back, and how they are not evenly placed, or even have the same size. Frankly, I do not think you would even use wedges in a quality product.
Look at the nails on the backside of the drawer, and their random placement.
Look at the plywood they used for the bottom of the drawer.
It is just awful.

Dutchess_III's avatar

^^^ Agreed. I have never liked them. Rick insisted on picking them up at an auction. He has this affinity for “old” things, pretty much no matter what it is. He really can’t tell the difference between old junk and old good. I tried them in my living room….nope nope nope.

Well, I’ll just throw them out there see what happens.

Thanks you guys.

rebbel's avatar

@rojo That’s the one, yes :-) (from South Park, that is)

rojo's avatar

But it works pretty well with that clip though.

rebbel's avatar

@rojo I didn’t get a clip, just a list with search results.

Patty_Melt's avatar

If they have any collectable value, the less you do to clean or repair, the lower the value.
pbs, antiques roadshow, provenance.

stanleybmanly's avatar

You shouldn’t depend on us for an assessment of these pieces. I would first examine them closely for some identifying mark regarding their manufacturer. You probably know enough to gauge the quality of construction. Check out the joints and try to identify the wood. If nothing else, have a carpenter or cabinet maker take a look at them.

Dutchess_lll's avatar

I don’t think they are worth thebtime or trouble of getting any kind of formal appraisal on. @Stanly. Raginglolis assessment was pretty spot on IMO.

snowberry's avatar

Are the drawers dovetailed in construction? That would be your first indication as to age. If they are then they are going to be better made. Somebody took some time to make sure those drawers have nice veneer on them. They very well may be worth money.

Try watching Antiques Roadshow. Somebody will come on with stuff that looks like junk and that they think is junk and it turns out to be worth a fortune.

Patty_Melt's avatar

I’ve seen very bland looking wooden chairs turn out to be pre revolutionary, and worth a bundle.
Most of the surprise valuables were obtained at auctions and yard sales.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

I collect certain antiques but not furniture. I do know that looking to ebay for pricing is only going to get your hopes up. All antiques there are overpriced and by a considerable margin.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

@Dutchess_lll & @Dutchess_lll
What have we here??Twin accounts?

Patty_Melt's avatar

Hmm, interesting ^

Dutchess_lll's avatar

Guys…I was unable to log into my normal account when I was on my phone so I made this second account on my phone.
It just means I’m on my phone, not my desk top.

Dutchess_lll's avatar

And I LOVE Antiques Road show and similar shows. That’s why I am pausing before I write these pieces off as junk.

snowberry's avatar

I believe they are French provincial.

There are professional appraisers who can help you figure the value. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/10/how-much-is-your-stuff-worth/index.htm
http://www.crawforddirect.com/worth.html

A few years ago I needed to have something appraised. The lady I called said she had two ways she could work with me. If I had a house full of things that I needed appraised then she could come to my house and charge by the hour. If it was just one or two items, and I didn’t want to pay the extra for the house call, I could take high quality photos of the items (top, bottom, sides, and close-ups of any makers marks, signatures, unique features, or damage) and put them on a CD, and mail it to her. She also told me to be sure to get the dimensions.

It might be worth your while to have them appraised. I’ll bet they’re worth something, and you might actually have a treasure on your hands.

Patty_Melt's avatar

I just realized my mistake above.
It should say, the less you do for cleaning and repair, the higher the value.

Adagio's avatar

If like me you enjoy Roald Dahl*s short stories, you might really enjoy “Parson’s Pleasure”. All I will tell you about it is that it involves collectors of old furniture, hoping for that prize find. I think it is from the “Switch Bitch” collection.

Pandora's avatar

If PB can sell this simple table with no drawers for 169. as a sale and they normally charge over 300 then, I think you shouel be able to get 50 or more for your tables. https://www.potterybarn.com/products/florence-bedside/?pkey=cfurniture-sale-view-all&isx=0.0.5512

chyna's avatar

^Is that a false drawer front?
The legs are turned and it has a shelf. It is also new. That’s why it’s 169.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Huh. I have a table very similar to that Florence table. I picked it up for 5 bucks at a second hand store in Wichita years and years ago and refinished it. It’s sturdy and very functional and nice to look at. Here are two different pics of it. Please ignore the mess around it. It’s the storm before the calm.
And not a word about my Dr. Seuss socks, you hear me?

Dutchess_III's avatar

I’m going to ask $120 for the pair, see what happens.

YARNLADY's avatar

^^^ let us know

Dutchess_III's avatar

I will. Thanks.

Dutchess_lll's avatar

Nothing yet.

Dutchess_lll's avatar

Well! Not 20 minutes after I posted that I got an offer for $100. I “relunctantly” accepted.

chyna's avatar

That’s great!

YARNLADY's avatar

YAY!

Dutchess_lll's avatar

She has found excuse after excuse not to show up. It’s wierd.

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