Daryle lambert - Chest 11

Daryle Lambert – Chest for all Occasions

We are never alike when deciding on how to decorate our houses. Some like formal and some like casual, but this you can be assured of there is a chest for anyones taste. I preferred Queen Anne for most of my life but now I'm more into early America. The thing that most catches my eye is quality regardless of style. Beautiful woods crafted by a true artist is wonderful regardless.

I would like to start with a little story. There was this gentleman that brought a piece to the Antique Road Show and ask the value, he informed the director that when he purchase the piece it had been painted in a ugly red paint but he had it striped and refinished. He wasn't prepared for the answer however because the show director ask “ Do you want the good news or the bad. The gentleman said “lets start with the good first.” “Well that answer is easy” he was told “your piece is worth $35,000. “

“Well how could there be bad news” was the owners response. “ You washed $100,000 worth of red paint off it.”

So what is the lesson here that we mustn't forget. Buy each piece as it is and give it the value it deserves in the condition it is in. Never stray from this rule. Yes you might be able to make a piece prettier but in doing so you will reduce the true collector value. Always let your new buyer make the decisions on what he want to do to improve what you sold him. I once bought a very nice walnut three drawer chest for $500. It had all the original hardware and had a patina that was true to its age. I got a little excited and priced the chest at a little over $2000 and it sold immediately. This was another time that I wish that I had waited to really research the piece. You can tell that what I share with you has been learned by making some of the very mistakes I warn you from.

Lets look at some of the style that you will be running across. The federal style appeals to me with its straight lines. You may be expected to pay from $10,000 to $500,000 for a bow front mahogany, Birds eye maple chest. At the present time we have a salesman sample of a federal chest that will be listed in our market place. Your taste my be more toward Chippendale or empire style and you will find the real true antique pieces in these styles very expensive. By doing research you will learn a lot but don't do what I did, if you find a piece that might be exceptional ask the expert and then maybe the second or third one.

Hepplewhite, Queen Anne, Sheraton are also style that will add beauty to any room. When you are on the hunt never be distracted by price. If the price asked seems to rich for you that the moment go and do your research. Yes you may lose it but being safe rather than sorry is always the right decision. If you return and it is gone the way you should is that it wasn't meant to be.

Just a little tip. If you find that piece of furniture that fits all our rules and you purchase the piece have the sales person put a tag “sold” on it and continue in your hunt. If you stop to secure that piece or take it to your car that fabulous treasure might be just around the corner waiting and you will have missed it.

There is a pot of gold waiting for you if the right chest comes your way but remember it will more than likely required waiting for several months for it to be sold at the proper auction. The wait will be well worth it on that special piece.