Featured Early 18th Century Delaware Valley Walnut Table

I measured the top, it's about 3/8" longer with the grain so that is correct but more importantly, this top was hand planed. It could still be a replacement top, later 18th or 19th century but the photo's lie, you can't tell that it was hand planed with the pics provided. This top could very well be original even though i agree, the pics say otherwise.

 

LOL, well, i am semi retired so i work, just part time, i accept maybe 2 in 10 of projects offered but that keeps me pretty busy. Hey! at the end of the day it's just a piece of old furniture, no ones interested in old brown wood these days.
Plus there's the entertainment value, day trip to visit the piece, talking it over with museum peeps, the hours spent on research, posting here & there, bla bla bla. It's all about the HUNT, ya know?

 

And if all else fails, you can go get yourself an old cigar box and carve Ruth into the top and dream.... I hope this one isn't a put-together piece, or Ethan Allen!

 

LOL, no, it isn't put together, it may have a replacement top but it's not fake like the one in philly museum. The proportions on this table are perfect, dead on balls accurate. That fake table by comparison is rather hideous, the drawer is to small, there are no pins at the stretchers or apron/skirt, the chippendale pull is weird, etc. etc.
LOL, just HAD to bring up ruth! Nah, if i miss this table i miss it, no big deal & certainly not a ruth event! If you collect what i collect, you are gonna miss much more than you hit, just part of the dealio.

 

I can't help bringing up Ruth; it's my name! (LOL) How that Philly fake food anyone is a good question; I don't know much of anything about pre-1800 furniture and it looked seriously off to me too. The phony looks like something out of high school shop class back in the 40s.

 

Good luck James...& no , you weren't being an idiot......just overly excited to share your findings.

I picked up 2 silver bracelets on eBlech once.....after helping out the seller many times before....but when I saw the artists mark on these, & knew that very few would recognize it as I had.....& well, there's a time to help yourself...before others!

& I'm loath to give away ' all ' my secrets !

 

That's right! i had forgot. The fake was donated in 1928 so dunno how long before someone caught it. Most museums have entire rooms full fake stuff that people have donated and they most likely thought was the real deal and doing a public service by donating.
Good luck James...& no , you weren't being an idiot.....
No, really wasn't being an idiot, just got caught up in a situation! Like now! I was thinking the storm was gonna help me, no go though. If i lose this piece, i am gonna blame Irma!

 

UPDATE: i won! $600 hammer and almost $200 BP so, $800. total.

 

Yay!

 

Yeah, i am thrilled with it, i woulda gone a little higher. I don't have any early PA stuff & no splay leg pieces either which is not a real common form, tougher build so less of them.

 

Good one James! I've been rooting for ya!!

 

Thanks! i beat Irma and walked away with an old table too! good day for me.

 

So happy for you James!!

 

Brown wood is definitely off; compared to 20 years ago, that table went for cheap. Woot!

 

Oh - I'm so very glad you won! And at such a nice price.............

 

Yeah did, i was hoping it would, if it had been at Pook in PA who specializes in pennsylvania objects it probably would have been much different price wise. Country auction in the boonies helped me no doubt, no one knew what it really was and i slipped in the side door there.

 

Nice piece. Congrats on your sucess!

 

Thanks ALL! I was lucky, the stars aligned for me on this one and i was fortunate to bag this early table.