Featured Buffet Help - Age, Uses, History, & Value?

We have a beautiful older buffet/sideboard, and I’d like to know its possible origin, time period, and approximate current value. It’s a very unique piece, it’s also very large and quite heavy. It’s a beast of a piece! (Took 4 men to move it into the house.)

It measures 39 1/2” height x 84” width x 27 3/4” depth.

It has drawers above and cabinets below, as well as 3 very deep pull out shelves on top. It also has a strip of metal (brass?) that is attached along the entire base, possibly to protect the wood from mopping/vacuuming? It also has the old fashion key hole locking mechanisms, no key though. We bought the buffet on eBay from a local family who inherited it from their mom who passed away and they no longer wanted it. If I recall correctly, we paid about $200.00 for it, but it truly seems like such a good quality, solid piece, that it must be worth more than that. Would love any info you might be able to share about this piece! Thank you so much!

Donna

 

Those brasses look art nouveauish ,yet Im getting a mission style vibe too. I think its a transitional piece,maybe circa 1910 period.Just a guess though,wait for Brad to chime in. Its a great piece,I bet its terribly useful.

 

Looks like English oak. Art Nouveau.
The only time I have seen those pull outs was on newer commercial furniture.
Wonder how this would have benefited home use.

@verybrad

 

Agree, late 19th or early 20th century. Odd thing and wonder if it is a custom or commercial piece. Do think English.

 

really large family?
or lots of entertaining.......like at an Embassy ???

 

Turn of the 20th Century English is my vote as well.

 

Thank you all for your feedback! It is such an unusual piece, but it sure stores a ton! Any idea how much it might be worth if I choose to sell? We’re contemplating moving cross country, & I haven’t decided if I want to bring it with us or find a new home for it...

 

Depends where you are...Here in Des Moines the demand isn't really there, so I would say $250-400 maybe, depending on condition.

 

For $200, you will be hard pressed to replace it with as nice a piece.

 

Agree with a couple hundred or so in the Midwest. Large items like this are hard to sell so that might even be optimistic.

 

It’s an awesome piece - stores ALL our china, table linens, & holiday service pieces, but now I need to buy a bigger dining room to accomodate its large size!!

 

I received the attached response from an antiques dealer this morning. I think y’all are on to something regarding this being some type of commercial use/custom made piece, since it’s so much larger/deeper than a standard sideboard.

 

If you use the full image button, people on cell phones will be able to read what you posted.

 

Thank you - - having trouble uploading the pictures under the required size limits on this site.

 

Yes, one would think it's worth more but the reality is, it isn't. Antique or vintage furniture just isn't in style these days & as noted above, size matters, large heavy pieces are a tough sell plus, the the trend today is no formal dining room. A popular remodel today is, demo wall to dining room, even if wall is structural & requires thousands to remove and make the kitchen larger with eating area. Add all that up, $200 is about right, a very good buy actually.

 

Yes, we do realize that it’s not a desirable piece for most. We actually were thinking about demo-ing the wall to our kitchen and turning this piece into and island/breakfast bar. Thanks for your feedback.

 

That works! To repurpose into an island cabinet works out very well.

 

Here is a pic from another forum where someone did just that. Turn of the 20th century english sideboard, i think it looks great & gives space a unique look.