Q: Attached is the image of an old dresser that’s been in our family for a long time. My husband has not let me refinish it because it might have some value. It still has original drawer pulls and roller feet. I’ve refinished pieces before and really enjoy doing this. Your opinion?
A: The piece seen in images is a narrow, tall, late Victorian chest or dresser with three long drawers topped by two smaller drawers on one side and a cupboard with door on the other. The style is sometimes called a “hat box dresser.”
There’s a basic splashboard at the top back with applied fretwork on the cupboard door as decoration. The top lacks a mirror.
Shots of drawer interiors show the wood to be oak, and it is not a better grain of oak. The current finish looks like a stain or paint mix that may be original or a later addition.
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Anyone who’s watched “Antiques Roadshow” and its clones knows that original finish is sometimes a very big plus when it comes to value.
But — and this is a big qualifier — that’s for pieces that are intrinsically valuable because of age, provenance, maker and/or design. This dresser is a mass-produced, standard-design, utilitarian piece of furniture in a base wood.
Around the turn of the last century, oak furniture of all types flooded the market. Mass produced in huge numbers and in all varieties of style, oak was formed into everything from iceboxes to rockers, clock cases and bedroom furniture such as this. Makers slapped shellac (golden oak) or dark shellac called malacca on pieces and sent them out. By now, most of the dark pieces, especially, have been refinished.
My suggestion is to go for it. You like to refinish and have experience doing so. I’m sure the dresser will look much better after your handiwork.
Before starting, set hubby’s mind at ease with a look at recent prices for comparable dressers on liveauctioneers.com. We found that most unrefinished oak dressers sold for around $100. On the other hand, a refinished golden oak hat box dresser with original swing mirror attached sold at auction for $200.
Q: I’ve been looking for info on this chair my mom got after a neighbor passed away.
A: Images show a golden oak rocking chair that is distinguished by unusual design. The chair is mass-produced, but turned spindles and a high-relief pressed-leather medallion featuring a late Victorian version of a female cameo profile at the top make it stand out. On the down side, condition is not great.
Happily, all spindles and the medallion at top with original hobnails are intact. But this chair has been used; wood surfaces are worn. A once-embossed leather circle on the seat is worn flat. Pressed leather circles often covered points of wear on seats.
Smart collectors know that good design and top condition always sell best. As with all antiques, the market in golden oak furniture is cyclical. Today, oak is a hard sell unless the piece is remarkable.
The cameo plus attractive aesthetics make the chair unique. On worthpoint.com we spotted a similar chair with a more common pressed back that sold on eBay recently for $245. Another pressed back rocker in top condition, also with leather seat, brought $399. Cleaned up, this chair might well bring more.
Danielle Arnet welcomes questions from readers. She cannot respond to each one individually, but will answer those of general interest in her column. Send e-mail to smartcollector@comcast.net
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