Featured Ebony Smokers Cabinet By G H CLARK.......Valuation.........Please Help

(Reposted in the right category)
Hi all, I have just bought a fantastic solid ebony smokers cabinet, the cabinet was the first piece the cabinetmaker made for himself in around 1910-1920. It has been in the same family ever since. It came with a photo of the maker and some documentation, (newspaper ads and patent slips all in the name of the cabinetmaker) I have no reason to think this isn't true or real (a rare find). According to the seller he made chairs and a table for Manchester Town Hall. I am yet to do research on the actual maker but I'm assuming he isn't famous for any reason, I am trying to find any comparable piece for a valuation but I can't find a single one anywhere else made from solid ebony. The cabinet has solid ebony apart from the back, the glass has a very deep bevel, the handles are cast brass and all in wonderful condition apart from a small shrinkage crack that travels 3 inches along the top and stable (common with ebony) The photos do not do it justice, taken tonight quickly while my Son was asleep in the same room lol
I would really appreciate any help or guesses to it's value?

 

It is gorgeous, raver. Can't help though.

 

Duplicate: Ebony Smokers Cabinet By G H CLARK.......Valuation.........Please Help

 

Better, less confusing, to tag a mod & ask for a thread to be moved than to create a duplicate thread.

 

The truth is I didn't know how to do that, after not having many replies I didn't think I would get any knowledgeable furniture people on the other thread so I reposted it in here with new photos. Sorry if I made some sort of Antiquers faux pas.........bad Raver

 

any marks on the hardware......or a close up of same ?

 

No marks or names on anything, I have looked up the info/history I was given and it all checks out, clark bros were cabinet makers of 48 kingsway altrincham and given that the documentation I was given can only come from them (original patient receipts officially stamped) I assuming the piece has indeed come through the family. I'm just lucky he wasn't a famous maker whose work goes for a fortune as the piece isn't marked anywhere and I've only got a handwritten note that identifies him as the maker of the piece above. Any idea of of value?

 

You didn't give a size. Assuming this is small piece sitting on a bureau? Too bad it isn't by a well known maker or antique. I don't see anything that would make it more valuable than other similar sized pieces, other than being well made, unless the decoration on the top of tobacco canister (which you don't show) is special. Homemade pieces can climb in value if they qualify as folk art, but this doesn't look like that to me.

 

nope, not unless we start finding ebony cabinets of the same ilk...

so, I guess it's up to you to value it....

 

Sorry it's size is 49cm wide 42cm high 25cm deep, typical size of a smokers cabinet. The maker is neither here nor there, it's well made, to know who the maker was doesn't really make a difference to the price in this case.
What I was really trying to workout is the price of a solid ebony smokers cabinet. This is so rare that I can't find another anywhere. It would have been very expensive to make even back then (1910-1920)
I know solid ebony European pieces are very rare and quite sort after but how much more to add compared to an oak piece of the same ilk?

 

I was thinking an oak one is around £200-£350 of the same ilk but how much more should I add (not thinking of selling but would like to know) in value for ebony?

 

Its Beautiful!!

 

Beautiful!!!

 

Here in the US, would expect a couple hundred or so at a good auction. Maybe double that at retail in the right location.

 

It's often amazed me the difference in prices between the US and UK, typically in the UK we have for more antiques per capita and prices are normally cheaper but more and more these days I find I'm buying from the US and paying the cost of postage + import duty and still getting them cheaper that I could buy in the UK. I do try and buy items that are fresh to the collecting market ie items that not many people know about yet, items that have a very specialized market. When I first started I bought Anglo Indian items but now these are very sort after and the cost has gone sky high. I now try and focus on endangered species, clearly I wouldn't buy something new but there are only a finite amount of antiques made from such materials like ebony, of course you can still buy ebony but the cost is very high, so high you wouldn't be able make the cabinet above and still have change from £300 or so. Real lignum vitae is another and then you have all the items that come from animals although these will probably become illegal to sell here in the UK soon unless you have a exemption permit. I have been through my collection and my ivory box may become illegal to sell but the UK has said.............. "Rarest and most important items of their type. Such items must be at least 100 years old and their rarity and importance will be assessed by specialist institutions such as the UK’s most prestigious museums before exemption permits are issued. In addition, there will be a specific exemption for portrait miniatures painted on thin slivers of ivory and which are at least 100 years old."........ I don't know if my box will qualify?

 

It's a wonderful box, a snapshot in time.....
no matter who says what..!

 

I agree, it's the painting for me, although the box isn't bad either. I'm not to sure if I'd have bought the box without the painting.

 

a million ivory boxes........your painting is sublime !!!!!!

 

I'm sure this one will be Ok, it's just veneered ivory