Stencil-decorated Work Table, ca. 1825
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GUEST:
I used to be a wall stenciler back in the '80s and '90s, along with a friend. And we traveled around Michigan and did stenciling, so I became very interested in stenciling. And when I saw this table, I really wanted to own it. And so we bought it in Ohio at an auction. And we have lived with it ever since.
APPRAISER:
This table presents some clues as to where it was specifically made. We're not sure, but we seem to have a certain consensus that it resembles closely the work of two cabinet makers, Alexander Kinnan and States Mead. And they were in New York on Broadway, and they operated as a partnership in the 1820s. We found this exact stencil border on a piece of furniture that was sold
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
several years ago.
GUEST:
Uh-huh.
APPRAISER:
Also, there were some other aspects that made us think that we could at least make the attribution to that partnership. I found an example of a chamber stand that had a sort of loosely carved acanthus leaf panel. And on the base you can see there's this banded border. That's kind of a New York thing. Really surprised that the top was in such great condition. So somebody, I suspect, for decades must have had a cloth or something on this.
GUEST:
Maybe.
APPRAISER:
Because it's protected. If we look at the back of the piece, this has non-working drawers. They wanted this piece to be placed in the middle of a room
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
to be admired from every angle. And in all likelihood it was used by a woman who was proficient with, say, needlework or embroidery.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
She probably kept her supplies in here. How long ago did you buy it?
GUEST:
Probably about four years ago.
APPRAISER:
And what did it cost you then?
GUEST:
We paid $2,000. So I don't know if that was too much or not.
APPRAISER:
No, I think it wasn't too much. I think it's a fair price. The furniture
market has been affected rather significantly.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
A lot of young folks don't particularly find any interest in these things.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
So I think the piece of furniture is definitely worth what you paid for it. And it might be worth a little bit more because of the condition.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And let's-let's... you know, let's add at least $500 for passion, right?
GUEST:
Okay, sounds good.
Appraisal Details
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