Kentucky Dressing Table, ca. 1810
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APPRAISER:
My understanding is that it was my great-great-great- grandmother's sewing table.
GUEST:
My mother passed away several years ago, and when my stepfather passed away, we split up the estate. And since I was the oldest member, I really had the first chance to get furniture. And so the interesting thing about this is that my 90-year-old cousin said, "You have to get the sewing table." And I go, "What?" (laughs) And she said, "The little table with the inlay." I made sure that I brought this home with me.
APPRAISER:
Well, this little table was made in Kentucky.
GUEST:
Oh, well, awesome.
APPRAISER:
It's actually probably made in central Kentucky, and there are actually distinct characteristics on this table that can prove that. First of all, this dates to about 1805, 1810.
GUEST:
Oh, good night.
APPRAISER:
Very typical of that region and period are these inlaid bellflowers that run down the legs, separated sometimes by dots and diamonds. That's a detail of Kentucky. Also, inlay was very special to federal cabinetmakers in Kentucky. So if we look at these drawers, these beautifully inlaid circles. Look at these corner fans. If we pull out the drawer, the secondary wood that we expect to see in Kentucky is tulip poplar, and that is poplar. You can see from the greenish color and look at those dovetails, they're beautifully done. And then look at that oxidation, so it doesn't get better than that.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
That nail is the original rose-head nail. So the drawer bottoms have never been apart. Precision is part of this cabinetmaker, this particular cabinetmaker, who's so far unknown, but his work is known-- a small group.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Part of his program, what he was doing in Kentucky. You mentioned you thought this was a sewing table.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
Why is that?
GUEST:
That's what I was told.
APPRAISER:
This actually is not a sewing table, but is actually even better than that and much rarer than that.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
It's one of only four or five known in the world dressing tables made in Kentucky.
GUEST:
You're kidding me.
APPRAISER:
It's a lady's dressing table. And you see this little arch here?
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
That's one reason we know because the ladies would put their powders, accoutrement in the drawer and it was a status symbol. Cherry wood is typical of Kentucky, but this is walnut, this is better and I especially love the proportions. It's diminutive. Most dressing tables are actually another ten inches long. So diminutive is very good in the marketplace, too. It's one of the rarest pieces of Southern furniture I've ever seen.
GUEST:
Good night (laughs).
APPRAISER:
It is something. It also happens...
GUEST:
I'm going to need a chair here in a minute, people.
GUEST &
APPRAISER:
(both laugh)
APPRAISER:
It also has its original hardware. It was refinished over the years, but when you got four or five in the whole world, that's a more minor detail.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
I would put an auction estimate on this of $20,000 to $30,000.
GUEST:
Wow, that's amazing. I'm going to have to be really careful taking it home.
GUEST &
APPRAISER:
(both laugh)
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