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 At a recent estate sale that our firm conducted, one of the customers came with several pieces of her china tea service, which she asked me to examine. Although I saw only a few of the pieces it consists of five cups and saucers, five scone plates, a tray, and a set of a lidded sugar and creamer on their own tray. The surfaces bear hand-painted decoration of birds and flowers. She has since sent this photograph via e-mail with a description.
Most importantly, the bottom hallmark bears the inscription that the pieces were made by "Paragon Fine China to commemorate the Birth of the Princess Margaret Rose, Aug. 21, 1930. England." Princess Margaret (1930 – 2002) was the younger sister of the present Queen, the daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who were Duke and Duchess of York at the time of her birth. She was a popular figure in Britain, and ironically died three days after the fiftieth anniversary of her father's death, and less than two months before her mother's.
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 A local gentleman recently purchased this lady's work table. The mahogany veneer was in poor condition, and the piece has been refinished, with the missing veneer having been replaced. The secondary wood is yellow pine. He thinks the hardware are replacements, but the casters are original.
This work table dates from the mid-19th century, between 1840 and 1860. As readers are aware, I usually recommend not refinishing antique furniture, but in this instance, with the need to replace missing veneer, refinishing does not have such a negative effect. I say that because most individuals would not like having a piece of furniture with chunks of missing veneer in their homes. In time the sheen of the new finish will dull down and not be so obvious.
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A couple from the Middle Peninsula purchased this writing table/desk at an antiques auction in New England. The wood is mahogany and the finish is original. Closed, it appears to be a simple desk; opened, it expands to a large writing surface, perhaps suitable for a lawyer’s conference with clients. They questioned whether it could be a dining table.
Without seeing the piece, I suspect that this is an early 20th-century amalgamation of several motifs, designed primarily for a lawyer’s office. It is unusual, but also basically impractical. The cabinet part is too small for the average office worker, be the party an attorney or not, and at the same time the writing surface, although sufficient for a large conference, when opened, makes the use of the cabinet almost impossible.
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Page 9 of 29 |
I think that really SUCKS< Even Thou-The Cem...
