Try to put this chest back together or pull the hardware & sell that?

I'll bet that was a nice piece in the day !!
If you don't have all the hardware....then maybe piecing it out would be the way to go once you've determined it's age and style.
( the hardware on the front legs is very specific to that style , so selling with the leg , may even be an idea....yes , no...maybe ???

I'm not sure that's marble....& is it cracked in half ??

 

Other than a little chip here and there, the veneer is in good shape? If so, I would think this is worth putting back together. Selling the top and hardware might be less hassle but you probably would not net as much. Now, if you have a specific use for the top and/or hardware that will enhance something else and make it more salable, that might be the way to go.

For example if you have a nice iron base that you could use the top on to create a nice higher ticket item, you could sell the hardware separately and come out further ahead with less work. I find that people always want marble tops but they don't want to pay all that much for them. They usually have more value as part of something else.

 

Picture number 2: It looks like someone in combat boots covered in chalk dust (or white paint?) walked all over that black board.

 

It looks like it was pretty. I'd probably dry fit it back together to see if you can. If things are warped, it would probably be easier to piece it out.

 

A beautiful piece and worth the restoration effort to me, but that's what I do, and I would rather bring it back than piece it out. More satisfaction when it's brought back to life as a useful piece of furniture.

 

I concur, but I for one don't have the skill, equipment , space or time it would take to restore it...

Just sayin...

 

Sell it as-is as a "needs some TLC" and someone will buy it. I think most people would underestimate the resources required to restore it properly.

 

Hi,
I think it repairable and would look great. However if you do decide to scrap it, be sure to remove the veneer. Thicker old veneer is hard to come by. Our old dump had the crunched up remains of tossed furniture. The trash truck would toss in furniture and then smash it into pieces. I got a lot of valuable pieces of veneer that way.
greg

 

That's a shame, Book.

I love the veneer and hardware... will be interesting to see how it looks put back together.

If it doesn't work, though, I could see a repurposer making good use of the parts.

 

from what I see it might be an Italian copy of a French Empire writing desk or chest of drawers.
perhaps someone recognizes where the marble comes from ?
I'd test the hardware if it's ormolu, but no high hopes...

 

as easiest first step with a stone and acid - as with silver - to have a look if color shown goes in direction of gold.

 

If the stripe looks flat out red, don't waste acid on it; it's mostly copper. If you get anything else, you might have scored. Ormolu mountings are worth money on their own to restorers, even if the piece is past saving.