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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: dubiemo on July 15, 2012, 07:15:20 AM

Title: Buffet Mishap
Post by: dubiemo on July 15, 2012, 07:15:20 AM
Been hauling some things around for about 30 yrs. Dusted them for 15 yrs. prior, in my great aunts house. One is this beautifully carved buffet. Can find no marks, and I've looked! Dove tails are not uniform and are located at front and back of all drawers. There is a hidden drawer, top center, with release button located below. Center opens by press-release and holds 3 pull out shelves for, I'm guessing, wine. I would like to know where it came from, how old it is, and what it might be worth?
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: ghopper1924 on July 15, 2012, 07:38:12 AM
Looks European, probably French or Italian. Beautiful!!!! European craftsman continued hand dovetailing furniture well into the 20th century, long after Americans had gone to machine dovetailing, so it makes Euro items a bit more difficult to date. My first thought is 1870s, Renaissance Revival, but it could be later.

I'd compare buffets on rubylane and e-bay for value.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 15, 2012, 09:38:15 AM
Are you located in the U.S. ??  If you can make the pic file size smaller, they are above the size requirements for this site,, then we can enlarge to see detail !!  They are a blur at current size when enlarged !! 2000kb is max size !!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: KC on July 15, 2012, 11:29:34 AM
Ditto what Mart said!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: dubiemo on July 15, 2012, 01:45:08 PM
 Not real savy on computer, so not sure how to shrink or if I can. Sorry.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 15, 2012, 03:12:30 PM
You can resize in your program for images on your computer !!  What program came with the camera or computer ??
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: dubiemo on July 20, 2012, 01:43:22 PM
Think I might have figured the picture size thing out. ;D Let me know if this worked, please.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 20, 2012, 08:03:24 PM
Those pics are fine !!  Now can we see those dovetails and open the doors and take a pic of the hinges on one of thedoors !!  From the front there is something that bugs me about them !! A pic from the inside would help !!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: dubiemo on July 22, 2012, 10:37:56 AM
I did the best with what I have. I also took pics. of locks in drawer and on door.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 22, 2012, 01:41:28 PM
Well, last two pics of hinges are so dark couldn`t see what I wanted but from what I can see,, I would think that this buffet is no older than the 30`s !! Could be French,, can`t say for sure !!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: ghopper1924 on July 22, 2012, 03:37:08 PM
Yep. I'm thinking 20th century now. The dovetails cinched it.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 22, 2012, 07:41:39 PM
Did it for me too !! Still its extremely nice !! Depending on what that guy did to the top,, value about $500. to $750. !!  If left original maybe a grand !!  Reason being, with that wine rack would be a perfect bar !!  And many are retrofitting these for the bathroom,  adding a sink in the top !!   Cheaper and more style than you can build and much less money !! Even the wine rack would work !!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: dubiemo on July 22, 2012, 09:09:05 PM
What might the hidden drawer have been used for? Took me 15 yrs. before I realized it was there.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: KC on July 23, 2012, 10:53:29 AM
Okay...this is one that might need a hands on to determine age.

When I viewed the latch (above the pics that look like a night sky without moon or stars)...it is indicative of those on some of my French pieces that are from the 1800's.  (They drive me crazy because on days when it is humid the cabinet doors stay shut...and on dry periods the doors will swing open occassionally even tho they are locked!)

Better pics of hardware would help!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: cogar on July 23, 2012, 12:31:16 PM
I've been thinking that piece is late 19th Century. ;D
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on July 23, 2012, 12:59:12 PM
That looks like a half mortise lock to me, typical of the 19th century. I think we need to see some good clear pics of the hardware and the back side.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: dubiemo on July 28, 2012, 01:23:51 PM
Moving to storage, thought I'd send better pictures ;D
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: dubiemo on July 28, 2012, 01:28:54 PM
Was told thing was too heavy to keep moving around and we have other sh#@ to move :o so those pic's are what I was able to get.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 28, 2012, 03:11:21 PM
As for the hidden drawer,, I would bet it was used for either serving pieces of silverware or knives and cutlery !!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: cogar on July 29, 2012, 07:46:05 AM
That would be a good place to hide them if you have guests that think they are medicine.  ;D
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 29, 2012, 08:36:32 AM
Medicine Cogar,??? You lost me !!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: cogar on July 29, 2012, 08:48:10 AM
You have never seen a sign posted in an eatery stating .........


The silverware is not medicine.

So please do not take after meals.
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: mart on July 29, 2012, 11:23:36 AM
LOL  No, I had never heard or seen anything like that !!  But I have now !!!
Title: Re: Buffet Mishap
Post by: ghopper1924 on July 29, 2012, 11:36:42 PM
"The silverware is not medicine.

So please do not take after meals."

LOL. Never seen that before, either!