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March, 2018 The Antique Shoppe Page 15
A Day at Marburger Farm Antique Show certain dealers to see first, start shopping where you park and work your way to the center of

ROUND TOP, TX– Tuesday, March 27 through Saturday, March 31, the bluebonnets, and the show for lunch. Then shop the other half of the show and take a Marburger Farm shuttle
back to your vehicle at the end of the day.
breezes will appear on command, as will 350 top exhibitors of antiques and art of all styles. Moving to the center of the show, you will find the delightful Marburger Cafe with five
In nine gigantic tents and eleven historic buildings, look for every conceivable type of antique food vendors, as well as gourmet coffee, fresh salads and the Blacksmith Bar for more serious
wonder or original art for a home. liquids.
Look also for JunkMarket Style founder Sue Whitney to sign copies of her newest book, Farmhouse exhibitor Kitty Ables of Tennessee suggests, “Bring a pen. Use your Howdy
Junk BEAUTIFUL: Furniture ReFreshed. Whitney will feature a furniture display and visit with Magazine to track your where-abouts and circle dealers you need to re-visit. Write it down!”
shoppers Tuesday through Thursday. The on-line vintage site Chairish will also be on hand as New York exhibitors Joe Noah and Gwen Yuckel of The Old, The Odd, The Unusual. Says
a new Marburger Farm sponsor with plenty of swag bags. “A lot of our items are heavy. Just drive by later and pick it up.” Or just have on-site shipper,
But if you had only one sweet juicy spring day to visit Marburger Farm, how would you Distinguished Transport, deliver it nation-wide.
do it? Enjoy your spring day at the Marburger Farm Antique Show, open Tuesday, March 27,
Tip: Arrive early. On opening day, enter to park and have breakfast at 8 a.m. On other days, with Early Buying at 10 a.m. Regular admission begins from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and continues
arrive by 9 a.m. Pace yourself, rest, have delicious food and drinks. Shop the entire show. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 31, from 9
“The secret of Marburger Farm,” says Florida exhibitor Michael Whittemore, “is to shop a.m. to 4 p.m.
every booth. Behind a country cupboard could be an Italian credenza. You can find anything Final tip: Come back a second day! One admission is good all week. Parking is free, as is
anywhere here.” shopper wifi. See information on tickets, travel, maps, vendors, prizes, special events, lodging,
Another tip: From Highway 237, there are two entrances to the 43-acre site. You can enter on-site shipping and the Marburger Cafe at www.roundtop-marburger.com or call Ashley
and park either at Houston/Round Top side or at the Austin/Warrenton side. Unless you have Ferguson at 800-947-5799. Follow show news on Facebook and Instagram @marburgerfarm.
Questions & Common Sense Answers

with Fred Taylor

Dear Mr. Taylor - Is it possible to tell from the enclosed photos if I have a 1920s I like this set of questions. Here I get to answer two readers’
Q. sewing cabinet or one made in the 19th century? I found the cabinet in a junk inquiries with one set of information.
shop at least seven years ago. At the time it was covered in a green "antiquing" paint.
That paint came off very easily with a little denatured alcohol. I was surprised to find the Do you have any info on cupboards called
string inlay and the small four-pointed star or sunflower inlay Q. McDougal? I have a set that we took out of
on the top. I believe the cabinet is primarily walnut. There is old house that was put in when the house was built
some old damage to the top which looks like burn marks but in 1927. It sold as a set called the Domestic Science
overall it is very handsome. Any help dating this piece would Built-In Kitchen Units. One cupboard has the flour
be appreciated. bin. The book rack, coin holder and spice rack bottom
Tom R., Richmond, VA. shelves pull out. It has a porcelain top. The name plate
When I first looked at the photos I was absolutely is also on the top. The other cupboard has a cutting board,
A. convinced that you had a 19th century Federal 5 drawers and 2 shelves that pull out, also with the same
drop leaf work table with the leaves removed and 20th name plate. Any info would be of great help.
century astragal boxes added on the ends. At first glance Thanks. Karen L.
the form appears to be a 20th century version of what is
commonly called a Martha Washington sewing table. But
the construction of the drawers clearly is not 20th century Hi Fred. I just purchased a beautiful piece of
work. All of the 18th and 19th century "Martha Washington" Q. furniture and want to know
cabinets I had seen looked like the illustration on page 249 more about the craftsman. The markings I have found are
in John Obbard's excellent book "Early American Furniture", McDougal Furniture, Indianapolis, Indiana...1857. Can you
published by Collector Books. This page shows that the lead me in the right direction to research this further? Thank
Federal Sheraton work table that resulted in the nickname you for your time.
did not have a series of stacked drawers in the front but Karen M.
rather had a drop front opening and the astragal ends were Karen - McDougal was a very famous mid Western
smoothly rounded and not angled as the more modern At first glance this looks like a typical higher quality “Mar- A. maker of cabinetry, especially Hoosier style cabinets.
pieces. Similar smooth front cabinets with rounded ends are tha Washington” sewing cabinet from the first half of the They were located originally in Indianapolis but moved to
seen on page 339 in "The Antique Hunter's Guide - American 20th century. Closer examination reveals dovetail joinery in Frankfort in 1910. The history of the company is available
Furniture - Tables, Chairs, Sofas and Beds" by Marvin D, the drawers that is certainly not 20th century. This could be in several books on the subject of Hoosiers. A good one
Schwartz, published by BD&L and as illustration 591 in a Federal period work table. is “Hoosier Cabinets” by Phillip Kennedy. It is available on
Helen Comstock's book "American Furniture", published by Amazon for about $15.00. Also, on Amazon is “Indiana
Schiffer. Cabinets Including Hoosier, Sellers, McDougal, Napanee, Etc.” by L-W Book Sales, about
But further digging discovered some variations in 18th and 19th century cabinets. I $25.00. Here is a site that specializes in replacement McDougal hardware if you need
found three such cabinets on page 111 of Miller's "The Antiques Directory", Portland any. http://www.rufkahrs.com/hoosier/mcdougndx.html. There also is an excellent
House. One of the cabinets looks like the other Federal cabinets but two of them have video on the subject “The Hoosier Cabinet” from Uncle Tom’s Hoosier Cabinets and
the same sectioned ends as does your cabinet and as do all the modern versions of the Parts, 5680 W. McNeely, Ellettsville, IN 47429. The last phone number I have is (812)
cabinet. All three of these tables are dated between 1800 and 1815. Then my newly 867-5060.
acquired copy of the Winterthur book "American Furniture - The Federal Period" by
Charles F. Montgomery, published by Schiffer, arrived just in time. There is a section Send your comments, questions and pictures to me at PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL
on Federal work tables beginning on page 416 that shows the standard round end, 34423 or email them to me at info@furnituredetective.com
smooth front tables as illustrated previously. Then on page 419, illustration 422, is a Visit Fred’s website at www.furnituredetective.com and check out the downloadable
table identical to yours in curly maple. It is attributed to a country cabinetmaker in New “Common Sense Antiques” columns in .pdf format. His book “HOW TO BE A FURNITURE
York or New Jersey, circa 1815-1830. Next to it, in illustration 423, is another similar DETECTIVE” is now available for $18.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Send check or money
cabinet in mahogany, made by John Sailor of Philadelphia in 1813. order for $21.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423
It is quite possible that your cabinet is a period piece. However, I believe the top Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE”,
either has been replaced or veneered. That burl looking walnut just does not go with ($17.00 + $3.00 S&H) are also available at the same address. For more information
the Federal flavor of the table. But other than that, I simply can't tell from the photos if call (800) 387-6377 (9AM-4PM Eastern, M-F only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail info@
this piece is the genuine article from 1815 or so or if it is a 20th century "cobble". That's furnituredetective.com. All items are also available directly from the website, www.
the frustrating part of this job. If I could just see the piece! I suggest you have the piece furnituredetective.com
evaluated by a dealer familiar with early Federal pieces. I would be interested in what
you find out.