Featured Chest - William and Mary?

With apologies, I present the Malm.

 

Crikey, not been to Ikea in a while; wood chip, cardboard and plastic film have gone up in price!

 

Sorry but .
I’ll have the other one any day!. Bargain

 

Agree

 

@James Conrad I was watching this chest that just sold a few minutes ago at an auction in Austin for $800. It was described as: "English William and Mary oak chest of drawers, 17th/ 18th c., two-board top, two short drawers over three long drawers, all with geometric paneled drawer fronts, rising on ball/ bun feet, approx 37.25"h, 39.5"w, 22"d Start Price: $500.00"

 

Yes, English being the keyword there price-wise. The population of America in 1700 was about 250,000 people, in the UK about 8 million.
So the main thing there is, early American furniture that survives is very rare & very expensive, it's not rare in England or expensive, relatively speaking.

 

OTOH, wood being organic & perishable, if you go back a bit in time to the late medieval period, early European furniture can get pricey in a hurry.
Here is an English "Aumbry" or "Livery" cupboard (medieval pie/food-safe)
C. 1520 for sale at 30,000 GBP or $41,000. USD

 

Love the carvings. It would be interesting to know all the people who've owned it the past 500 years.

 

Wouldn't it be something if you could get a kind of spy-cam footage from the piece throughout it's history.

 

The really sad thing is that I could walk straight past that at a car boot sale without looking sideways at it. Are there any more photos?
Note to self to learn more about furniture.

 

https://www.marhamchurchantiques.com/antique/henry-viii-oak-carved-food-cupboard/
LOL, Here is the link, dealer in Devon. Somehow I doubt you would see one of these at a car boot sale (guessing similar to garage sale here) but, you might see a later repro of one.

 

You never know!

 

LOL, even the later copies made from reclaimed timber, they are not exactly giving them away.
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22695/lot/222/

"In the mid-16th century manner" copy built from old wood, sold $5000.USD

 

I don't know but I would guess, genuine pieces of this period furniture would be considered the "Holy Grail" among early furniture collectors in Europe as most of it is in museums.

 

You hear of things being found in charity shops and car boot sales and being taken to the Antiques Roadshow so I’ll keep my eyes open. Just be prepared for the giggles when I present my ‘treasure’ to you, especially if I’ve hauled home a load of firewood