Antique Sears Catalog Dining Table

19 years ago

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about how to find out some information on a dining table.

I was told by the gentleman that refinished it for me that it was an old Sears Catalog Dining table, possibly from the late 1800's.

The legs are detatchable with big screws, and the leaf and legs fit into the table apron perfectly to make a square box for what I assumed was for easy shipping. The table top is gently beveled. The man who refinished it said it was Chestnut wood, and made a new leaf out of an old piano lid he had to replace the original leaf that was long lost. (I'm not convinced it's chestnut, I still think it might be oak)

Does anyone know what the best way to research old Sears pieces is? I've included a rather poor picture below.

{{gwi:1374517}} Just click to enlarge!

Featured Answer

nitegale
Original Author

19 years ago

Thanks Linda!

I'll see if I can get some better pictures, especially of underside and the square nail heads and wood telescoping rails for the leaf. I'll also see if I can get a shot of the whole thing bundled up with leaf and legs fitting into the apron. It's a fun little piece.

My mother purchased the table around 1972 in one Seattle's better antique shops, and she handed it down to me in about 1985. I don't really care what it's worth, I think it's still one of the prettiest dining tables of that style I've ever seen. It doesn't have the bulky over turned legs that alot of them and it's nicely proportioned, almost petite. I was more curious about the history (being the dorky history buff that I am. haha)

Unfortunately, I have 4 digital cameras in this house and it seems none of them are working correctly... I'll see if I can borrow a friends this week.

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Comments (7)

lindac
19 years ago
Well mostly what I see is chair backs....
Those "old timers" you have to take with a grain of salt....
Lots of different manufacturers sold their stuff out of Sears and Roebuck catalogs.
That table doesn't look ( what I can see of it) old enough to be dating before about 1910 at the earliest.
As for chesnut...it was not a very good wood for furniture....and some old timers, my grandfather was one! loved to lower their glasses, get right down to the grain of the wood and say..."Chesnut! American chesnut...don't find that any more" LOL!
I think you probably are right...oak!
Lets see more of the table.
Linda C
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nitegale
Original Author
19 years ago
haha, just heard from mom, she said she paid $225 + tax for that table in 1972... she remembers because Dad came unglued and almost divorced her when he found out :D I have to guess he forgave her since they're still married some 35 years later. haha
jean_tips5_gmail_com
15 years ago
I, too, have a Sears dining table, with a wheat "skirt" around the top edge, and 5 turned legs. This is oak. I researched it and found it was made by a firm called Roper in 1902-1907 in Michawak, Indiana. It has two leaves. I would love to find out how much it is worth. I paid $800 for it in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1980s.
HU-2618859257
4 years ago
Recently bought this table, but seller dismantled it before I could snap a picture. My husband had to remake the brackets as originals were rotting - must have been stored top resting on maybe basement floor.

Need picture of underside of table to reconstruct.

Enclosed is a drawing from Sears and Roebuck catalogue 1902 listing price.

Seems they sell now for $900-$2000 depending on number of leaves and condition. We refinished ours - oh my beautiful - using Minwax Red Mahogany Oil based stain and Minwax Oil based satin Urethane. It's definitely oak.
HU-2618859257
4 years ago

...just another picture I found online showing this type of table. Found them listed for around $2000 with many leaves.
lindac92
4 years ago
Listed is one thing.....sold another. I have seen one or 2 recently sold at auction for arount $125 to $200.

I have that table's brother. I had it cut down some 40 years ago to coffee table height and ditched the center leg. Was in the garage for a lot of years but think It's gone now.