Need some help identify & price

I grew up with this piece. I now am thinking of selling it. However I cant find anything like it to get me to a price.

This piece is from the Philippines. Purchased by my Mother in the late 50s

It is 2 pieces the bottom measures 12ft x 2 ft. & the top 10 ft. x 2 ft.

The bottom is made teak with inlays of mahogany with brass support.
The top is teak with brass shield rounds & squares inlayed with Capiz shells The squats open to store or hold items.

I was told all were made to represent the Philippian's. Teak & mahogany is indigenous there. The inlays are representative of the hill tribe type motif art. Brass is also in the Philippines & used to make metal items. The brass in this is carved to represent a shield much like the ingot headhunters used. And of course the Capiz shell is a known item used in Pilipino art.

Any help would be awesome!

 

Would probably call it a console, though that doesn't quite do it justice. Neat piece that would be great for holding a flat screen TV. Have not seen anything quite like it so hard to evaluate. Value will depend on what your market will bear. What I could get here in Semi-Podunkvile, Midwest, wouldn't approach what you might get in a big city. That said, I would probably price this in the $350.00 range at retail and would expect to get it, or close to it. Could see this going for significantly more in the right venue, or significantly less at a country auction or at some other wholesale venue/situation.

 

Thank you verybrad for the reply. Just some further thinking,in the 50's no one had TV in the Philippines I am thinking this is probably a sideboard?

 

Better focussed pictures would help. I do not understand reference to the top being 2 feet shorter than the base. In the single picture it appears to be all of the same size and all one piece..

I'd call it a sideboard. I assume it has doors in the 4 sections leading to shelves or storage space.

It may be hard to move due to the odd appearance and huge size. Best thing to do is ask a local valuer for an opinion.

 

The platform is wider than the top. You can see the base projecting off to the upper left.

 

in the photo, on the left hand side you can see the bottom is longer than the top

 

Now you point it out I can see that. What an odd design.

 

I wonder if there was at one time a tall chest that occupied that space.

 

no there is nothing to occupy the space. The bottom is finished so you can put the top on the right, left or middle of the piece. I have a 2.5 tall brass lamp on it now. Pretty sure it was custom made. It is an Asian piece. Hmmm....

 

Agree but in today's market you need to think about best use. It is too short for most people to use as a sideboard but the perfect height and depth for a large flat screen TV (If not seen as too long for use in a particular room/space).

 

So you can move the cabinet part ? It could be a marriage then.Design wise that just doesnt make sense.

 

Agreed. Something isn't making sense. How deep is the platform? I'm wondering if it is actually a bench or bed. And do the drawers also fit sideways, with the chest standing tall?

 

Think this explains all. Built in two pieces with flexibility in arrangement. Makes sense to me.

 

'Credenza' is another word that comes to mind for something like this. Where are the legs positioned? I only see one & not another in the matching position at the other end. Where it is meant to bear weight may say something about where what is on top is supposed to sit.

 

It is too short for most people to use as a sideboard

At 10 feet long?

 

short.........not tall enough.....