Request help identifying age and style of antique sideboard

Hello,

Could someone help confirm the age and style and perhaps manufacturer of this sideboard? I have a letter written to my great grandfather in 1897 claiming it is French and from 1750. I'd also be interested in knowing it's approx. value if it's within forum rules to ask. Have been told $2-3K. thank you...

 

Pictures of the dovetails and the underside would be a big help. I think its American,possibly an early 20th century reproduction. Thats all a guess though.

 

Thanks. I'll get additional pictures within the next day or so.

Here's a personal letter to my great granddad which doesn't really authenticate anything but I think is cool. Maybe he got taken with a 20th century reproduction. There's some other doc with the sideboard which I'll photograph.

 

The style is Hepplewhite so would think British or American rather than French. Will be impossible to tell age without construction details, a look at the back, etc.

 

Interesting sidenote. W. B. Standish was the proprietor of the "Old Curiosity Shop" in Plymouth, MA. in the 1890's.

"A veritable museum of colonial curios" per an article in the Boston Globe.

 

Looks 20th century to me as well.

 

Could it be possible that the letter is referring to a different sideboard that your great grandfather purchased in 1897. The letter makes no reference to dimensions, type of wood or any other identifying characteristics. Perhaps your GGF disposed of the piece purchased in 1897 and replaced it with this one and for whatever reason the letters didn't remain with the 1897 piece.

 

Agrees with Brad, it is Hepplewhite style with federal brass pulls (1790-1830). Is it period? i dunno, can't tell with pics provided.
BTW, 1750 would be in the Queen Anne period in America so i think you can safely rule that out.
Photo above is a period Hepplewhite sideboard, C. 1795 at 1stdibs
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/s...IucW6s4XkReJrmGAXGgaArTgEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Thanks for all the replies to date. Here are the other pictures that were requested.

Dovetail in drawer joint...


Underside...


back...


closeup of shield on back...


And for fun, the original copy of the typed letter above...


An "estate sale" person (not an antique appraiser) is suggesting we expect no more than $2-3K in an estate sale. Does this seem reasonable?

thanks....

 

Im no expert,but that sure looks like plywood on the back. I wonder what those shield shapes were ? Im probably wrong,but I still get early 20th century vibes.Even if it were period,2-3 grand is a high end estimate.

 

I think there is a good chance it's period because of the drawer construction & the back appears to have hand plane marks.
Even if period, agrees on 2-3k valuation at the high end in a retail setting, half that or less at auction.

 

Agree that this appears to be period. $2-3K in an estate sale situation is probably about right, if not a bit high depending on area. You might see it higher in a very nice shop in a big city. Always have to keep in mind that, when one needs to sell, you can seldom achieve the results one might see in a high end shop. Particularly with higher end furniture, you are likely to be selling to that dealer and he/she is only going to pay a fraction of what they intend to sell it for.

 

The problem with sideboards is, they tend to be large in an era when most do not have separate dining rooms, the trend today is large kitchens with an eating area and no dining room. Another thing, condition, it usually plays a big role in what the value will be as well as what kind of example is it? good, better, best or masterpiece?

As Brad says, where you sell is very important too. For instance, take victorian furniture, many places you can hardly give it away these days but in New Orleans garden district or Cape May on the New Jersey shore, victorian sells very well because there is a large stock of victorian houses.

 

That screams and shouts English to me. It also shouts to me that it had an overmantle mirror or upper part. That's why the shield infills: it's where uprights have been removed. The back looks more like deal or pine, which isn't uncommon - a cheap wood on the back where it doesn't show. I'm a bit undecided on whether it's period or not. The Victorians had a habit of taking nice Georgian and earlier designs and fiddling with them. As in, an overmantle type mirror. How are those handles fixed inside please? Oh, and a look at the hinges would be useful, likewise if you can get a picture of the veneer edge.

 

It could very well be english. I can't tell what secondary wood is on drawer sides but if oak, it probably is english. Americans rarely use oak in drawer construction in this period. Naturally, if english, that will lower value in USA, no doubt.

 

Thanks for all the comments. I'll get pictures of the handles' fixation and the hinges tomorrow.

 

A photo of drawer sides & bottom would help as well to help determine if an English or American piece.

 

As a value example, here is an american Sheraton sideboard that's coming up for sale at Garth's Americana sale next month. C. 1820-1830, curly maple, walnut & cherry. You could not buy the lumber for what they expect to sell it for, $600-$900.

http://auctions.garths.com/auction-...DEBOARD.&salelot=1167+++++185+&refno=++309749

 

Beautiful!

 

More pics.

back...


notch on back...


handle...


handle fixation (or lack of evidence of)...


drawer side...



drawer back...



drawer bottom...



hinge...



inlay (2 pics)...