Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-15
THE OLD FURNITURE FAD
It Seems to Have Strong Hold on Many
People.
Prize Pieces Bring High Prices-Not
So Easy to Find These Days
-Purchasing Agents.

With the presence of summer the rage
for old furniture has blossomed out anew.
Dealers in all the large cities are just now
having unusual demand for it. This, ac-
cording to one of the city vendors of an
tique furniture, happens every year just
about this time but he is unable to account
for the periodical revival of the fad
THE old furniture craze began many
years ago., said he to Star reporter a few
days ago, land for long time it was con-
fined to the New England states. 1t gradu-
ally spread until now it extends all over
the Atlantic states and as far west as the
Mississippi 1t has not reached the west
to any extent yet and there are few deal
ers in that section of the country. 1t would
surprise you to know what prices we re-
ceive for apparently worthless old pieces
of furniture, all because they belong to a
long dead past.
Yes, the business is profitable, but old
furniture is getting scarce and we have
greater trouble in securing the genuine than
we did 1--WE years ago, when every old farm
house contained several rare specimens, All
the big dealers in New York and Boston
have agents in the field constantly looking
up old furniture. They have about exhaust
ed the New England states, and the most
prohtable territory now offered, and one
which they are working thoroughly, is the
southern country. Many of the agents en-
ployed are women, and they are usually the
most successful
There is lots of old furniture here in
Washington which would bring fine prices
Out In Georgetown there Is plenty of it, but
it is not to be had for love or money. 1
know of bit of mahogany out there that
would be a valuable addition to the finest
collection of antique furniture in the coun-
try. I've tried a dozen times to buy it, but
it can't be had. 1t descended to the present
owner through half dozen generations and
is priced as an heirloom. 1t is not used and
Is stored a,o away In an attic; because the own
out he won't part with his heirloom.
In Search of Prizes
Il took trip last year down through
very fastidious customer have been SELL
ing to for four years. After two months 1
got seven very nice specimens Country
people who own old furniture get suspi-
cious as soon as you offer to buy an old
bedstead or bureau, and it takes persuasion
as Well as money to carry the trade
through. In 1896 was visiting in Loudoun
county, Va, and accidentally came across
mahogany desk, which l priced SO high
ly that have refused several good offers
from New York dealers for it
was driving to the railroad station one
cay when thunder shower suddenly came
up. MY horse-a young, high-strung thing
farmer for shelter. The old man came
out and showed me the way to his barn.
where the team was soon under cover. As
l started TO leave the barn for the house
l noticed over in one corner, covered with
dust and Uttered with chaff a desk such
as our forefathers' forefathers used. In a
moment L was brushing away the dust and
chaf and closely inspecting the desk There
1t is next to the window, and you can see
Tor yourself what a magnificent specimen
it is.
Il offered to buy it of the old man, but
he seemed to be suspicious on account of
my evident anxiety to become the owner
of his old desk. He didn't know as he
cared to dispose of the old thing it had
been In the family since he was boy'
the wife might not like it, and similar
objections were made. The end of it was
that l left the place without the desk but
with the determination to have it.
Determined to Have 1t.
Tho old man took summer boarders and
week later had a room in his house for
a week. l carried along a lot of good to-
bacco, and in the evening 1 would tell the
old man story after story, until he became
my warm friend. The day before was to
leave | again preached the subject of the
desk to him. He looked at me with a
twinkle in his eye and said:
Well, well, is that what you have been
telling me all them good stories for and
thing along and welcome, but L don't know
what on earth you want with it."
Then l did a very ill-bred thing / was
afraid the old fellow would change his
mind overnight, and / left the place that
night, after telling him that important
business required my attention in Wash
ington as soon as possible l drove away
in my buggy, with the desk securely strap
ped on behind | would not consider an
offer for it. 1t is the gem of my private
collection.
Under u Coat of Paint
I'm another country house near Culpeper
l found a rare old dressing table, which
afterWard sold for fancy price to Cam
BRIDGE Mass, man. When l first saw it
there was no sign of it's real worth. A
smart young miss who had been over to
Staunton to school had taken a lot of
white enamel paint and given the noble
old piece of mahogany double coat A
piece OF the paint faxed off, and l saw
what was underneath. 1 gave So for the
dressing table and sold it for-weIl, never
mind what 1 got for it.
1T Is often the case that we find ma
hogany of the finest kind hidden under
coats OF cheap paint, laid on by ignorant
hands. 1t Is a comparatively easy matter
to remove the paint without disfguring the
furniture.
There are some very fine private coIlec-
lions Of antique furniture in Washington,
and there are a large number of enthu-
siastic collectors here 1 have several ems
toners who drop in every day to see If
have anything new. Antique furniture is
being manufactured nowadays but the
old collector can't be deceived. l have a
couple of agents out now ransacking old
houses in the country. One of them is In
Virginia, and the other is away down in
South Carolina. Old furniture hunting is a
fad which will never die"