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Need some opinions on this antique dresser

16 years ago

I don't know a thing about antique furniture and thought perhaps y'all could help me out. I've got an old dresser that my Aunt gave me that was my Grandparents. They found it in an old house back in the mid 40's. Its been sitting for quite a while now and I've decided to restore it a bit. From what I can gather, it's an Eastlake style dresser from around the turn of the century. What I'm wanting to know is, can I pin down a more specific date of it's manufactor, perhaps where it was made & also some links to restoration of something like this. Thanks! I guess I'll have to provide a link for it.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb255/Daffypuck/DSC02071.jpg

Comments (9)

  • 16 years ago

    Your style assumption and age assumption are very close if not right on. It looks like it may be walnut or the varnish has aged enough to hide --maybe oak-- but I have seen plenty like this -- mostly walnut. Especially since it has the marble? insert and the small glove drawers. It may or may not have had a mirror. Look closely at the top and the back. Top for a circular mark indicating that it had a sort of free-standing mirror -- these are usually the older ones. If you see screw holes in the back -- it probably had an attached mirror and frame assembly. with the Eastlake style -- more likely a square or rectangle rather than a oval or curved type. I assume that "mess" on the right front is just some old mud-daubers nest. All things condidered -- its a nice piece. Whats the condition of the drawers? one more thing alot of dressers of this type have the "round-type" of dovetails holding the drawer fronts on -- Good Luck with it!! PS the carving on the drawer fronts is called "spoon carving" -- at least around here (Missouri)

  • 16 years ago

    Yeah....neat old chest! Looks like walnut to me too...but I was surprised once with a dresser like that....turned out to be maple.
    Clean it up....soap and water....mineral spirits, maybe a mix of lauqer thinner and denatured alcohol.
    Did you find evidence of a mirror? I'll bet there was one...
    And in "Ioway" we call that "chip carving".
    Great piece....and it will clean up very well....lucky you!
    Linda C

  • 16 years ago

    Gosh I have the same one on my front porch :oP And don't take that as a bad thing...I love it.

    It's hard to say what wood you'll find. I'd bet it's walnut or oak with stain (mine was). It's pretty badly damaged and missing the original handles, but still, it's a pretty piece to clean up.

    Eastlake furniture was an early mass produced furniture. It's basically the Pottery Barn of the late 1800's early 1900's. Unless you have anything identifying on the piece, it's unlikely you'll find out much about it specifically, and there isn't much to bother looking for (eastlake furniture has a value which is not specific to it's manufacturer). It's a pretty piece, needs restoration (find the original hardware!) but it's a nice piece to put some time into!

    And when you're done...maybe you can tackel the one on my porch (but don't steal the hardware....it is original) heh heh

  • 16 years ago

    I did forget to add about the hardware being "wrong". While the glass pulls are nice -- they are really out of place on this dresser. VanDykes out of Woonsocket SD have great price and selection -- Look up other "spoon-carved" dressers -with picts and you will find some brass that looks "correct". Not all brass pulls would look "correct"
    on this piece -- so take your time. I think VanDykes still sends out free catalogs!!??

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks y'all for your great input. After looking at handles of that time period I guessed they weren't original. Thanx for that website, I'll check them out.

  • 16 years ago

    OK, my last post I had to be short, but now i have a bit more time to respond. As I said, thanx so much for y'alls responces. As far as the wood goes, it appears that the front is a dark wood, while the sides and top are a lighter colored wood. The drawers are in fair shape with some interior damage. The real problem I'm concerned about is the glove drawers. The tops of both are warp badly. Since i don't know a thing about restoring something like this, I have no idea what to do. Honestly though, I just want to make it look nice so that i can keep it and use it. I'm not overly concerned about it being perfect. I'm kind of using it as a learning tool on rstoring an old piece of furniture. And yes, I think those handles are ugly as sin, despite the fact that my Grandma was the one who put them on there years and years ago. I've begun he cleanup process. It appears that someone has applied another stain of sorts. It has drip marks, and irregulararities on it. The picture does it way too much justice. The thing is downright nasty looking in person, and smells as well. Since I have no clue how to restore somthing like this, I've probably already made a massive mistake in how i've begun to approach it. I plan on taking it down to the original wood, then applying a new stain and a sealer. I also want to put new hardware on it. Any ideas on the warped drawer tops?

  • 16 years ago

    Alot of people will laugh and skoff at this -- but here goes anyway!
    I have done this on several pieces of furniture-- It does work. Once you have the glove drawers totally finish free--Raw wood- Carefully take the tops off -- Take your time -- they may be screwed, nailed, tacked, or glued. Any combo of these may be present. If this scares you may need to talk to a "in-person" restorer. Just remember they were in pieces once -- and with care they can be disassembled. Once you have the CLEAN/FINISH-free tops. You can actually lay them on the warm grass with the bow up -- put a heavy object on top and check them often and do not leave them out in the rain -- only warm sunny days work here. I have done 2 dropleaf walnut table sides this way. Trouble is that walnut in particular will actually bow the opposite way if you leave it out too long. Been there done that!!
    Once it is flat again -- bring it in out of the sun and moisture (which comes out of the ground (unless you live in a desert)). AS soon as you can --- seal ( with finish of your choice) BOTH SIDES of the wood. I know Im am risking all sorts of doubters here -- but I have done this at least 4-5 times on various parts and pieces. Sometimes it has taken two days in the sun out on my (flat space) lawn. Only walnut has reversed its warp by leaving out too long.I just turned the part over and did it over while watching it closer. Oak seemed to unwarp and stay where it should. Good luck -- I know this sounds overly simplistic -- but IT WORKS!!

  • 16 years ago

    Neat tip markmizzou, will definitely keep that one in mind. (It worked on a 4 wheeler fender I trashed in a mishap, a day spent in hot sun and some water spritzed on it and it bounced right back into shape, ha!) So since wood can expand/contract, no reason to think your tip wouldn't work! ;-)

  • 16 years ago

    Listen to Mark!!
    It works...I have done it on tables and even on the top of case pieces by laying a slightly damp ( very slightly damp) beach towel on the top.
    Linda C