Is this an antique?

This has been passed down from my husbands grandmother. I'd like to paint it but I wanted to make sure its not an antique or worth anything first. Can anyone tell me more about it?

Plant stand by Hollylogan posted Jul 23, 2017 at 4:35 PM

 

Cute stand.
Is there a bottom under the section with the cut out flower?
If so, I'm thinking it was a plant stand, and the thin piece of wood was added later.

I'm not usually a fan of painting furniture, however, this appears to be a homemade plant stand. Cute and might look better painted.

Not a $100 piece you might destroy.

Wait for other comments

 

Don't think there is any harm in painting this. Could be antique or nearly so but not a high dollar item.

 

Agrees with others, paint away! Most antique furniture people are dead set against painting wood furniture, i am not among them. The reason? because once a piece of furniture leaves the living space, to the basement, garage, barn, etc, it's chances of survival go way down. Paint can always be removed so if it helps to keep your stand in the house, i say paint away!

 

I kind of think it used to hold a large potted plant and the top was added later to make it more functional. I'd paint it.

 

Actually, I'm a bit surprised that this wasn't painted long ago................in the 1920s-30s many paint companies advertised that you could "modernize" your furniture with a coat of paint - instructions usually included in the advertisement. I seem to remember a LOT of black gloss with gold "Chinese" cockamamies (decals)..............of course white with cockamamies of "southern belles" in hoop skirts if it were for the sun porch.....................

 

The top lifts off and theres a sort of hidden "box" area behind the flower. I had wondered if it might be handmade because i cant see any markings on it to give any kind of indication of where or when it was made. Thanks

 

But those examples all have a flat top on the panels. If you enlarge hers, you'll see the top edge is scalloped. Not at all conducive to having a top on it.