renovating the antique tables project, page-18

kincella

the making of reproductions is a 'losers' game.

Cabinet Making skills are dwarfed by the price of second hand furniture from the past.Sure they can be reproduced today in skills equal or even better BUT time is money items can't be churned out today at the price second hand/antique items are available today.

For example from the photos and particularly your description you appear to have a Teak Veneer Extension Table. Teak Veneer is from the 50's/60's.It certainly is not definition Antique 100years old.
Solid Teak? it might be but very unlikely.

As you're in Victoria it should most probably be Blackwood to have some Antique credentials.
From Qld I only know Silky Oak,Maple,Cedar,Kauri the gem Huon Pine to be able to spot from Photos but Teak? only seen it in Antique Chests/Boxes and even then SandalWood was more desirable.

Anyhow the most expensive furniture Antique was Veneered. That French Louis XIV whatever gear with exotiuc timber inlays however 20th Century veneer furniture is Blah or at least the greatest tell tale sign of "Modern"/non Antique pieces.

The other one is Ply Wood either as Drawer bottom or Backing Board on chests or sideboards etc.

Ply Wood was "invented" to build Aeroplanes.It wasn't really til the 1930's that it was used extensively in furniture.The old craftsmen wouldn't have a bar of it compared to solid woodwork but times changed.
By the 1940's veneer on plywood was the "deal" and solid wood construction of furniture say like of tables?
Very Expensive.Only for the very rich and exclusive.

Here in Qld we had this furniture "purveyor" called Rosenstengel. Ed Rosentengel about 1920/60 operating.

Hayday he sold a dining room suite for the same price a "punter' could buy a whole houseful what? 6 rooms of furniture-kitchen/dining/2 bedrooms and veranda of furniture for from the local retailer Trittons.

and you know what? it's not the Rosenstengel dining suite that makes the buck$$ today but any occassional furniture,lamps,side cabinets etc that scores.

Anyway just couldn't resist puncturing somewhat the it's old it must be a valuable antique angle.

Bleeding Tables are a Joke!! They survive for centuries.
Kincella you should thank god you haven't 6/8/12 chairs to restore to go with them!!

Ahh antique chairs? there's a sculpture
Pity no one knows how to sit properly in a chair these days!!
lolling rules!