I don't care how old this chest is, it's been refinished, retrofitted with non original hardware, and it has no legacy, nothing, nada. This guy is kidding right? That being said, you don't need lineage or legacy for a historical piece to be of value, furniture can be graded by other means, but this piece has no other means, not even the original finish. This chest is nearly 300 years old, pine would have a much deeper amber patina to it with that amount of time behind it. So either two things are happening here:

1. He sanded it down before refinishing, in which case the piece is worthless.
2. He Found a chest that is much later than originally thought in age.

If you look at the darker spots where dings and nicks have formed, they are left virtually black in color, indicating the surface was completely sanded, leaving behind the darker nicks below the sanded surface. This may have been a great piece, until the refinishing took place. Then this fellow goes and adds hardware to it in the form of a chain or something to that fact.

I am not a furniture historian by any means, but things just don't add up.

 

Here is the $68,000 eBay link

 

I restored an old chest that had been refinished too. It had been antiqued with paint and striping. I kept thinking junk, just junk. My wife wanted it done so I removed most of the finish and found out that was an early American hand made chest that had been originally red stained to look like expensive wood. That was a common practice back them. Then I found something that made it priceless. When I got to the inside, I could barely see something that looked like writing.

It took a while but I finally could read it all. It said,"This chest is for my little girl, Karen JB 1951" When I showed my wife she had some tears. She had long ago forgotten where the chest came from and she was 4 years old when he gave it to her.

That my friend, is a true priceless piece of work Ron!

A friend buys old blanket chests. One particular (and expensive) one need a minor repair. He took it to a place that said they could do it. The guy used the wrong materials and then completely sanded and refinished the chest rendering it virtually worthless.

 

Moral- leave it like you found it.

Just now, lew said:

Moral- leave it like you found it.

Amen Lew! I know we have all watched Antiques Roadshow! I see "That Guy" that walks in with a beautiful Pennsylvania High Boy chest on chest, built in the early 1800's. The appraiser is oohing and awing over it, he values the piece at around 125 grand, then he see signs of refinishing, and the appraiser darn near faints, and puts a final value on the piece at 6 grand. If only you did not refinish it he tells "That Guy"!

Especially today, in fashion and design, the more beat the item looks the more in demand it is.

looking at the e-bay link I can see multiple cross grain scratches around the handles. the nails holding the hinges and handles on might be round? it's a bit difficult to tell other than by looking at the heads

Considering the chest was hand planed to final smoothness originally than finished by the early craftsman, if the chest was sanded by this gentleman, all those fabulous hand plane ridges and valleys were likely sanded smooth as well.

I also do not understand the knots. all the old growth timber back then would allow for clear straight grained stock to be used.

It's probably a reproduction.    Museum quality restoration.  Gotta love it.

 

Now just for giggles  a 1700 era immigrant blanket chest would likely be flat topped because in the 1700s  space was  - - well - - they didn't have much so the top would have served as a place for things while the chest was closed.

 

A google images search of that period blanket chests  reveals a dearth of arch tops

 

Edited March 30, 201610 yr by Cliff

4 hours ago, John Hechel said:

I also do not understand the knots. all the old growth timber back then would allow for clear straight grained stock to be used.

tighter  growth rings too.

 

On March 29, 2016 at 6:53 PM, Ron Altier said:

I restored an old chest that had been refinished too. It had been antiqued with paint and striping. I kept thinking junk, just junk. My wife wanted it done so I removed most of the finish and found out that was an early American hand made chest that had been originally red stained to look like expensive wood. That was a common practice back them. Then I found something that made it priceless. When I got to the inside, I could barely see something that looked like writing.

It took a while but I finally could read it all. It said,"This chest is for my little girl, Karen JB 1951" When I showed my wife she had some tears. She had long ago forgotten where the chest came from and she was 4 years old when he gave it to her.

 

That is an awesome story!

 

It has most certainly been refinished and for the most part them want that old darken original finish on old furniture to obtain the high value. Without some special provenance  then the chest would only have a value of being old.

Seems like you're being a little harsh, John...after all the listing says it's actually a "gorgeous museum quality restoration" (!) 

Edited March 31, 201610 yr by Fred W. Hargis, Jr

3 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis, Jr said:

Seems like you're being a little harsh, John...after all the listing says it's actually a "gorgeous museum quality restoration" (!) 

OK OK. Then let's say it moved from worthless to 400 bucks?. After all the guy did put some labor into it.

Well in the final analysis it's worth whatever some one will pay for it,

Maybe he'll get his 68 Gees,  Maybe not.

 

3 hours ago, Cliff said:

Well in the final analysis it's worth whatever some one will pay for it,

Maybe he'll get his 68 Gees,  Maybe not.

 

And that Cliff, is what it all comes down to isn't it?

You know, if he gets it, more power to him! He may be the one who is on to something here. Maybe I'm the knuckle head for putting in 10 hour days at my day job!

well look at the Kardashians.     I've tried and tried and I never found anything where those girls said or did anything unkind or cruel to any one.    Yah they are cheap and trashy,  but those girls  take an  extraordinary amount of guff  in the media and still they manage to separate a whole lot of coin from a whole lot of fools and  they got wealthy doing it.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Cliff said:

well look at the Kardashians.     I've tried and tried and I never found anything where those girls said or did anything unkind or cruel to any one.    Yah they are cheap and trashy,  but those girls  take an  extraordinary amount of guff  in the media and still they manage to separate a whole lot of coin from a whole lot of fools and  they got wealthy doing it.

 

 

You said the "K" word and it made me throw up a little bit in my mouth.

3 minutes ago, Todd Clippinger said:

You said the "K" word and it made me throw up a little bit in my mouth.

 

spit it out man. spit it out

 

Just now, Cliff said:

 

spit it out man. spit it out