The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #114023   Message #2429442
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
02-Sep-08 - 10:24 PM
Thread Name: BS: Antique furniture styles/auctions
Subject: RE: BS: Antique furniture styles/auctions
I agree that Consignment stores, if they are run by the right kind of person, are a good place to sell well-made non-antique. I visit them occasionally, and sometimes find that useful chest, etc. that fits in with my furniture, or that my kids need.

We have a couple of auctioneers here who will schedule good quality furnishings and rugs, etc., 3-4 times a year, along with the handful of 'antiques' that they find over time. Lots of people are looking for particular pieces; usually there is enough competition that the knock-down price will satisfy the consigner and the auctioneer.

Hard to tell from the pictures, but your pieces are in proven styles. Widdicomb furniture was mostly hardwood core, with/without veneer- new quality pieces are expensive and furniture made in the first half of the 20th c. is often better.
Widdicomb (John and the other, name purchased by John Widdicomb Co.) pieces are better than the stuff now showing up in most furniture stores.
Here in western Canada, good used furniture is brought in for sale, since most towns were small until the last 60 years, so there isn't much to draw on.
Bobert is right for the east coast (checked a bit in GA a short time back), but here, the chest would bring $500. Chests and solid bookcases are always in demand here. So much now is particleboard core, and the cheap hardwood oriental imports warp in our semi-arid climate.