antique dresser

From: Lindy A.
Date: 29 Mar 1999
Time: 00:32:19
Remote Name: 216.178.132.106

Comments

I realize this is primarily antique restoration site; however, I am looking for a starting point on the value of a dresser I have owned for 41 years.

My mother purchased it for me when I was a baby at an antique auction in Maine. I am in Texas (which is not the antique capital of the USA). All I have been able to learn is that it was made by a furniture company in Maine during the civil war period (which was only in business for 10 - 15 years (as evidenced by the manner it was made). It has a full length/tilt type beveled glass mirror with beautiful carving surrounding it. The dresser drawers as assembled in a unusual way...instead being dove tailed, there are a series of semi-circles with a peg in the center of each (this is how the idenity of the Maine furniture maker was make). All drawers have working metal keyhole/assembly's. The dresser has various other carving on it, two large bottom drawers, with two offset smaller top drawers, the full length mirror sitting to the left them of the smaller drawers (directly over the larger bottom drawers.

There are no scratchs or mars of any type on this dresser.

My problem is that I want an appraisal done, and what I have heard from two people in Texas are so far apart in amount that I don't trust either one of them. Can anyone on this site lead me to a reputable antique furniture appraiser in Texas. I live in Waco, which is 100 miles south of Dallas & 100 miles north of Austin.

I would certainly appreciate any help that those of you on this site can give.

Lindy Ausburne forlynn@texasinternet.com