Chippendale-style Chest-on-chest, ca. 1875
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GUEST:
My dad bought it, I believe, in about 1977.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
He acquired it in the Berkshires. My parents used to love to go antiquing to Lenox, Stockbridge, estate sales...
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
And it matched my bedroom furniture.
APPRAISER:
Okay.
GUEST:
So he thought that I would like it and that I could put jewelry in it.
APPRAISER:
You kept your jewelry in this?
GUEST:
Yes, I keep my costume jewelry in it.
APPRAISER:
(inaudible) You still do.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
Do you remember what they paid for it?
GUEST:
No.
APPRAISER:
Okay.
GUEST:
And I tried to find some information on that and I couldn't. I did have it appraised at one time.
APPRAISER:
Okay.
GUEST:
And someone thought perhaps it was a salesman sample.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm, okay.
GUEST:
An antique dealer came over right away and said, "I'll give you $5,000 for it."
APPRAISER:
How long ago was the...
GUEST:
That was probably 20 years ago, I bet.
APPRAISER:
20 years ago. It's exactly half-scale, right on, on, on about, every measurement is half-scale. This is so finely done that it was a salesman sample, probably.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
I mean, you, we can only guess.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
It also could have been made for a cabinetmaker's son or daughter.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
But what are we looking at overall? What does this appear to be? It appears to be a Chippendale miniature chest-on-chest from New London County, Connecticut.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
So, probably the Colchester area.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And we know that from the distinctive wavy fans here and the feet, and the way that these scrolls are graduated. And that is all New London County, Connecticut.
GUEST:
Oh, wow.
APPRAISER:
The primary wood is mahogany, and the secondary woods are chestnut, poplar, and white pine.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
So that turns up in New London County, Connecticut. So, we pull out the, the drawer, you look at the interior, and it's white pine, and it shouldn't really be oxidized, because this is a sealed case. But you look at this backboard, and if you, if I make a tiny little mark on it, you can see that's oxidized wood. It's a reused board from another piece, perhaps.
GUEST:
Oh, I see.
APPRAISER:
So we look at the, that color. We also look at the brasses, and this is the only set of brasses that were ever on this, and in this case, you have machine-cut posts versus hand-cut posts. So that does give away something about the age. About four years ago, a masterpiece sold, from 1770, New London County, Connecticut, and if you saw it, you'd think it was the same exact piece. It's identical. I think that this is an exact copy of the one that sold. This piece was made probably 100 years after-- I'd say about 1875. The one that sold sold for just under $200,000.
GUEST:
(gasping): Oh, my gosh.
APPRAISER:
Yeah, I know. (laughing) Sold for $185,000 privately.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness.
APPRAISER:
It's in a major kind of collection. And it is, if you saw the picture...
GUEST:
Wow. (both laugh)
APPRAISER:
It, it's the identical twin. It's a wonderful piece. It's not from 1770...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
...like the one that sold, but it is a beautiful copy. Value-wise, I feel it's, it's in the range of $3,000 to $5,000 as a wonderful 19th-century...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
...late-19th-century decorative piece. But a beautiful, beautiful copy.
GUEST:
Well, that's great.
APPRAISER:
I mean, so thanks for bringing it.
GUEST:
Oh, thank you.
APPRAISER:
I mean, it's...
GUEST:
I'm so happy. (laughs)
APPRAISER:
(laughing): That's great. Are you gonna put your jewelry back in it?
GUEST:
Yes, I am.
APPRAISER:
You are, okay. You're going to still use it. For now.
GUEST:
For now. (laughs)
APPRAISER:
Yeah.
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