I don't know anything about that particular piece, but I wanted to suggest you give it a good cleaning first. I had purchased some antique dining chairs that were a very dark brown color. As I started cleaning them, I realized they were oak, with many years of grime on them.

Borax worked the best for me.

Have you tried cleaning it yet? That is a beautiful piece, I would like to see your end result, whether that be painted or not.

Oh wow - such a beautiful bench. Is there anything underneath that can help identify? Try posting this pic in the antique forum.

I don't know much about this kind of stuff but I will tell you this. A few months ago I saw a settee very similar to this sell for $1,300 at an auction. So I'd be very wary to slap garbage paint on it. Only people that don't know any better start slapping paint on everything. If you like the cheap painted look then go to ikea.

I'd try my best to find out who made that piece. From what I can tell based on the picture, it might be solid oak. Could be veneer but I doubt it. They didn't make furniture like this out of cheap materials back then.

I will be needing a settee for my entry when I finish it in a few weeks. I only put quality furniture like this in my house. None of this cheap modern trash. It needs a little elbow grease but I'll take this off your hands if you want. In the chicago area?

I just found one going for $4,000

I totally agree with lindac92. If you're not happy with the way it looks after cleaning, perhaps you could sell it and buy a cheaper, newer piece to paint. I'm so glad you asked for other's opinions before painting this; I cringe when I see beautiful/valuable pieces of furniture that someone painted.

Clean with Murphey's Oil Soap, but do not paint. If it is a valuable piece, its value will be hurt by painting. If you still don't like it after cleaning - set a price, sell it and buy something you truly love.

So kimdegroot, have you done anything with it? Please let us know. Please don't put any sandpaper to that!

Do NOT use Murphy's oil soap...it's water based and not good for antiques....use a cleaner that is "spirit based"...not water.

Oh yes.....and please no sand paper!

That's called a chair-back settee . Do a search with that term.

It's pretty cool in a but-not-in-my-house sort of way. Tread lightly with cleaning until you know its worth.

Any updates to share? What did you decide to do?

Whatever happened with this piece?