Charles Grimmer & son furniture NY

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Castelli, Mar 4, 2019.

  1. Castelli

    Castelli Active Member

    Hi,
    I am an Europe and I found this cabinet today in a second hand shop. Inside one of the drawers it is stamped Charles Grimmer & Son, but I am not able to find anything online.
    Any help please? Thanks. rib.jpg rib1.jpg rib3.jpg
     
    Ghopper1924 and Any Jewelry like this.
  2. Castelli

    Castelli Active Member

    So, there was a business in the 1930 called:
    Grimmer, Charles, & Son, 230-234 E. 37th st., New York

    Can anyone give a price/estimate for this item? It needs to be restored, it has woodworm, but restoration is not a problem.
     
    Ghopper1924 likes this.
  3. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Circa 1930 is spot-on for this piece. Not a lot of value here in the States (say, under $200.00 most places). I have no idea of the value in Europe.
     
  4. Castelli

    Castelli Active Member

    verybrad, thank you for your answer. Would you say it is an American piece or imported?
     
    Ghopper1924 and judy like this.
  5. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    So, if you and the cabinet are in Europe, and the stamp inside the drawer says New York City, my guess is that’s where it was made and then sent (or imported) to Europe........JMHO......it looks nice and compact.....like someone’s personal writing desk. What are the dimensions??? And I love the inlay work.......

    5B1B6042-2807-4AAB-BBD8-D66E8C38859B.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2019
  6. Castelli

    Castelli Active Member

    Aquitaine, I am puzzled too. Where I am, I see tons of Italian and French furniture.
    I take restoration classes and when I told my teacher it was American, he said not to bother...The front is painted, not inlaid.The wood is Oak.
    Such a shame it is worth so little. I wanted to buy it and restore it, but hardly worth for 200 dollars.
    There is nothing even similar online....
     
    Ghopper1924 and Aquitaine like this.
  7. Darkwing Manor

    Darkwing Manor Well-Known Member

    I would snap that up! Surprisingly, I found some references on-line. Just a cursory skimming shows then as a turn-of-the-century interior finishing firm, with some of their wallpaper designs archived at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in NYC. The son, Otto, was also involved in a shady real estate development scheme. http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-dunsbro-120-122-east-31st-street.html
    I like the paint embellishment a lot and it fits with their company profile as painters and finishers. I did not see any reference in the on-line articles about them manufacturing their own furniture but as a prominent company I'm sure several east coast museums would have more info in their archives. As far as restoration goes, it appears that you might be able to lighten the darkened finish with just careful re-amalgamation, skirting the painted portion to avoid lifting the paint.
    And please, at least go back and carefully remove the tape from the wood finish, if it hasn't already damaged it!
     
  8. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    Wow, I did not see that the design was NOT inlay......still, it remains a very nice piece, and as Darkwing has said, worth restoring......at least, over here!!!!! Just MHO!!!!
     
    Ghopper1924 and i need help like this.
  9. Castelli

    Castelli Active Member

    I will go to the shop, but I am not sure I will get it. They were not sure if the owner will accept the price of 220 euro which is the shop's evaluation.

    The tape is holding the door from falling down unfortunately. I love this piece, I would restore it and keep it.

    Thanks for all the info.
     
    yourturntoloveit likes this.
  10. Castelli

    Castelli Active Member

    Darkwing, thank you for the link to the blog, such a fascinating history of the Grimmer family and their building- the Dunsbro.
    I managed to secure the sale, so i will pick it up tomorrow.

    I am so excited to restore it. Do you know which museums should I look into?
     
  11. Darkwing Manor

    Darkwing Manor Well-Known Member

    I'm excited to see your results! You might start with Oscar Fitzgerald, my former furniture prof at the Smithsonian. He will have a better idea which institutional archive collections to inquire to. His email is oscarfitzgerald@gwu.edu . Tell him Tina Reuwsaat referred you.
     
  12. Castelli

    Castelli Active Member

    Thank you so much!!!
     
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Charles Grimmer
Forum Title Date
Antique Discussion Any idea who this is? King Charles III ? May 7, 2023
Antique Discussion Charles Le Brun red chalk drawing signed Nov 11, 2020
Antique Discussion Charles Slwooko Inuit Figurine Mar 20, 2020
Antique Discussion Identify wooden cylindrical object Charles phinston? Mar 14, 2020
Antique Discussion 2 Charles X Soapy Opaline Glass Vases - Extraordinary Apr 27, 2018

Share This Page