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16 - Antique Shoppe - www.antiqueshoppefl.com
The part about the 1912 Chicago World’s Fair is interesting because
Questions & there was no 1912 World’s Fair anywhere in the U.S. with the exception
of the New York Mercantile Fair which opened in 1911. Here is a
Common Sense Answers site with Fair information http://www.earthstation9.com/index.
html?1900_192.htm. The closest Chicago Fair was the 1893 Columbian
Exposition.
with Fred Taylor 1930s. It is very well made and the refinisher did a good job. You can
Your set is from the Depression era of the late 1920s to mid

see numerous sets like this in the book “American Manufactured
Dear Fred - Can you give me any information on my dining room Furniture” by Don Fredgant, published by Schiffer. It is a compilation
Q. set that I inherited from my mother? The Batesville Cabinet Co. of manufacturer’s ads and information from the model year of 1929.
label is on the inside of the top drawer of the buffet. My mother was One of your photos would not open so I did not get a look at the buffet.
told by the couple from whom she bought this set, that it was originally Your set would sell at auction in the range of $1,200 -$1,500. Thanks for
purchased at the 1912 Chicago World’s Fair. My mother had antiqued the writing and thanks for the photos.
set because it had a dark, dark finish, so I had it professionally refinished
about 12 years ago. The refinisher told me the set is made of walnut and Hi - We bought a cedar chest with a label on the inside that
the table and buffet tops, the drawer and door fronts, and sections of the Q. says it was made by Seaburg Manufacturing Co. in Jamestown,
chairs are burl wood. The drawers and doors have lighter wood inlaid trim N.Y. The label says it is guaranteed to be 100% Tennessee aromatic red
and multi-colored wood flower and vase medallions. The table has two cedar and there’s also a little blurb from the Dept. of Agriculture about
leaves that store on a track under it. Although I would never sell this set, a 1918 study on the effect of red cedar on moths in clothes. There is
I am curious of it’s value. Thank no date. We paid $100 and
you, Janet H. plan to stain it. It seems very
Janet – The history of solidly built and is generally in
A. Batesville Cabinet is an excellent shape although there
interesting one. Today it is part are cosmetic signs of wear (e.g.
of RomWeber Corp. Here is page a water mark on top). It has
that gives a few details about been completely stripped. Any
the history of the company. advice about finishing this chest
http://www.romweber.com/ would be much appreciated. We
index.lasso?pgID=92. had just planned to stain it (dark
Your refinisher was mostly walnut) as you would any other
correct in his identification. unfinished wood. I’d hate to ruin
Your set is walnut – partly. The it. Thanks. Jennifer K.
fancy veneer on the drawer In addition to juke boxes,
fronts, chair splat and table A. it looks like Seaburg
top and skirt is called “stump made some nice cedar chests.
cut” or “butt cut” walnut. The It is a very elegant model made
only actual walnut burl that I with flat cut walnut veneer on
see is on the crest of the china the outside. The legs are made
and perhaps on the frieze of gum and are copied from
panel below it (the straight The chairs to this dining set made by Batesville Cabinet reflect the early Sheraton fluted legs of the
flat surface above the doors, neo classical style seen in American Federal furniture. The china is based Federal period of the early 19th
below the arched pediment and on a design by George Hepplewhite. A very similar cabinet is shown century. The chest was probably
crest). Burl walnut veneer is on page 119 of “The Antique Hunter’s Guide – American Furniture made from the late 1920s to
very unstable and was seldom Chests, Cupboards, Desks and Other Pieces” by William Ketchum, Jr. BD&L. the late 1930s. If the stains in
used for large surfaces like the top are water stains they
table tops and buffet tops. The can be removed by using oxalic
table pedestals, china frame and legs and the chair frame are made of acid. I have a column on that subject and I will be happy to send you (or
gum, a relatively strong, close grained hardwood that can very easily be any other reader) a copy of that column. Staining with a walnut color
made to look like walnut or mahogany. It is often used for the structural is good start but you must also apply a finish over the stain to seal the
members of 20th century American furniture because of it strength and wood. A very low sheen waster based urethane, thinly applied would be
relatively modest cost. a good approach. The gum legs were originally stained with an aniline
Your set is typical Colonial Revival style which means that it uses dye to make them look like walnut and they will not accept the stain the
stylistic elements that were popular during our Colonial and Federal same as the walnut veneer. You may have to use a different stain such
eras. The style of the table is Georgian, a style sometimes used by as gel stain if you wish to equalize the color.
Duncan Phyfe and which today incorrectly carries his name. The china
Send your comments, questions and pictures to me at PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or email them
is a Federal style cabinet reflecting the early 19th century styles and the to me at info@furnituredetective.com
hardware is called Hepplewhite after George Hepplewhite, an English Visit Fred’s website at www.furnituredetective.com and check out the downloadable “Common Sense
designer of the period whose styles were used in our Federal period. Antiques” columns in .pdf format. His book “HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE” is now available for
$18.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Send check or money order for $21.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River,
The chair is basically American neo-classical in origin which covers a FL 34423
Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE”, ($17.00 + $3.00 S&H)
lot of territory. The Colonial Revival movement started after the 1876 are also available at the same address. For more information call (800) 387-6377 (9AM-4PM Eastern, M-F
Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia using styles from our past. The only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail info@furnituredetective.com. All items are also available directly from the
movement continues today. website, www.furnituredetective.com