Newbie with a furniture question

Hello everyone,
I am new here and of course I have a question. I have an opportunity to get,
1- this piece,
2 - the makeup desk with mirror, and
3 - the mirrored tall armoire with drawers.

We are new to buying antiques. We are building a new home and we want to put mostly antiques in it because they were built to last, and also look better than todays Chinese furniture. We have already purchased several mahogany pieces like the dining room furniture and some small tables. Also we just got a beautiful side table for the entryway foyer. Now we just stumbled upon this set and since its something we are intrigued with we would like to know a few things.

Can anyone tell me if this is considered "Art Deco" and what kind of veneer is on it?
We have looked everywhere and don't want to pay more than its worth. We don't mind paying a fair price, we just don't want to get beat over the head.
They are asking $300.00 for all. There is some damage to some of the colored glass tiles on the makeup desk on the small pull drawers left and right. On top of the armoire on the left side the veneer is buckling up but unless you put your hand there you can't tell.
Some other minor cosmetic damages but not that one would notice unless pointed out.

My mother who is 79 years young is telling me that it was probably made in the late 30's or early 40's and that the price of those are way way down these days.
I often wonder how she knows these things. She told me to offer them $100.00 and let it go if they wanted more. We feel $300.00 is fair but if we can save a dollar we like to try.
So we are turning to the people here to help us.
Thanks

 

I agree with your Mom.

If they turn down a $100 offer, you can always go up a little if you really want it. If you pay $300 out of the gate, that's $200 you won't have for other things you need. You've got a house to fill!

Do wait for others to comment, particularly on the style and age (although I think your Mom also correct on the approx. age. That rounded front edge is typical 30's-40's.)

 

Mom was right (they usually are ) . Id offer half that for all 3 pieces,and would walk away if they turn it down. Stores are chock full of this type of stuff,you about cant give "brown" furniture away these days.

 

Its amazing its possible to get this at 300.00 much less possibly 100.00
These are heavy and all the drawers are very smooth. All dovetailed front and back and No Compressed Wood! Woo Hoo!
We purchased an expensive bedroom suite several years ago from a high end company and the drawers are all stapled? Looks nice but the quality is lacking indeed! Looking for nice antique furniture is fun.

 

Ok call me stupid but what is "brown" furniture?
Thanks

 

I wish we were lucky enough to find a mid century or danish living room set. Those are going for a pretty penny. At least the ones we have seen are. Anytime a mid century piece hits a local habitat for humanity store, or craigslist its snapped up quick.

 

Real wood furniture that is not painted white (or some other combination of colors.)

 

Hello, folks, yes, these can be termed "brown furniture" but they are still "storage" pieces.

If you aren't going to be using (don't really want to buy) the "makeup desk with mirror" then I could see offering what you are comfortable with for the two "storage" pieces (mirrored low chest and the mirrored tall armoire with drawers).

Just my opinion but . . . a "storage piece" can "sometimes" be placed in the back of a walk-in closet to hold off-season clothing and accessories (gloves, hats, mufflers, scarves, woolen socks, purses/pocketbooks, etc.).

 

We actually was thinking of using these 3 pieces to go in our 11yo granddaughters bedroom in our new home. Its a large house, over 4000 SqFt and we need "filler" furniture. We want to help her learn that old things can be good things. Antiques are another way to show how much craftsmanship was put into the "old stuff" vrs todays junk.

 

I am always getting on my mother for painting her furniture. She has painted solid mahogany tables and beds before. I don't get it. I like to see the real wood myself. Never understood painting it. Never will. Im glad my wife and I think along the same lines. We like any Mahogany, Cherry, or Maple and even "Blonde" woods in the home. Painted furniture belongs on the porch.

 

Here are a couple pieces we picked up in the last week. The corner cabinets are Fancer Bow Fronts and the Chest is a "Dauler Close" of which we have had a hard time finding information about. Made around 1930 is about all we know.

 

Here are the 2 other pieces.

 

Oooo,I love those corner cabinets! The thing is,the set,while pretty and well made,isnt particularly rare or special. Its mass produced,theres possibly millions out there just like it. $100 a piece is just too much to pay. In my humble opinion.

 

Welcome to the forum, oldschool.
I love your furniture, and agree with the others on the price and date for the set.

 

Hi,
It is high priced but when compared to new crap furniture it is still cheap. If you like it and can afford it, buy it. It is still better than buying new crap. I just hate house filled with new crap in a few years it will look shabby and need replaced. Buy old and it will last for years.
greg

 

The corner cabinets and the 'Dauler Close' chest are nice in my opinion... having a refined appearance. The other lighter waterfall style pieces are more common and generally a bit lower quality. Condition looks very good on all.... this is important, as repair can often exceed value. Looks like you're on your way to a well furnished home.

 

your items are lovely.....enjoy them for a long time !!!

 

I am going to buck the trend a bit here. While you might find this furniture or similar somewhere sometime for $100.00, is that fair to the seller? I don't know how badly the seller needs to sell but an up front price of $300.00 for three pieces does not seem too bad to me. Negotiate a bit but 2/3 off is insulting. I would expect to see these at $300.00 or higher in a retail setting, even in my off-market. Brown furniture is in the dumps but there is a bottom limit for furniture in good condition.

 

300 bucks for these 3 items............in a heartbeat !

 

Thank you all for the helpful and nice comments. My grandfather, God rest his soul, told me years ago. "Buy what you need and not what you want, when the time comes you will have money in your pockets to buy what you want." My wife and I are almost to that point in our lives where we will worry more about medical bills and hospital visits than the house ( both of us are 59 years young.) The new home is possibly 18 months out due to numerous reasons and everything we are buying now goes into a climate controlled storage unit. OUCH!
We raised our children in a small home of less than 1400 SF and we don't have room to store the items we are now buying. Its a mess actually, but we would rather buy a good deal now and store it, rather than wait and have a home we have to hurriedly place furniture and nicknacks into.
What got me started on antiques was actually finally getting my grandfathers old secretary. It was his mothers and is quite old I believe. Nothing fancy about it at all. But I love it and the quality and workmanship is second to none compared to todays furniture. I live in NC which was once the Furniture Capital of the World. Today I am sad to say no one here can create a box with 2X4's because we have lost those tradesmen to overseas cheaper labor and materials.
Thank the Lord I was raised when I was, to understand the value of things and how to care for them.

Well to sum this thread, my wife just called me and said she decided she wanted to wait and not get the set. She said she just isn't into that particular style so,
If mama aint happy, no one is.

I am happy to have found this site and hopefully be a contributing member. Again thanks for all the comments and if anyone in the Raleigh NC area wants this set PM me and I will give you the details. It has to be moved by tomorrow though!