Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-19
OLD FURNITURE FAD.
TT SEEMS TO HAVE 4 STRONG HOLD
on MANY PEOPLE.
VERY GREAT DEMAND FOR IT.
Prize Pieces bring High Prices-Not
So Easy to Find These Days-Pur-
chasing Agents-Thc New England
states Are WeII-Nigh Exhausted.
washington star)

Washington starr
With the presence of summer the rage
for old furniture has blossomed ont anew.
Dealers in all the large cities are Just
now having an unusual demand for il.
This. according 20 one Of the city vendors
Of antique furniture. happens every year
just about this time, but he is unable to
account for the periodical revival OF the
fad.
1.-THE old furniture craze began many
years ago" said he To a Star reporter a
few days ago, land for a long time It was
confined to the New England States. It
gradually spread until now 1t extends all
over the Atlantic States, and as far west
as the Mississippi. II has not reached
the West TO any extent yet. and there arc
few dealers in that section OF the coun-
try. 1t would surprise you to know what
prices we receive for apparently worth
less old pieces OF furniture, all because
they belong TO a long dead past
Eyes, the business is profitable but old
furniture is getting scarce, and we have
greater trouble in securing the genuine
than we did five years ago, when every
old farmhouse 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 exhausted the New England
states, and the most profitable territory
now offered, and one which they are
working thoroughly, Is the southern cOun-
try. Many of the agents employed 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 il,
but II is not to be had for love or money.
| know Of a bit Of mahogany out there
that would be a valuable addition 10
the finest collection Of antique furniture
in the country. I've tried a dozen times
10 buy IL, but IL can't be had. IL descend
ed TO the present owner through halt
dozen generations, and is priced as an
heirloom. 1t is not used and is stored
away I'm an attic, because the owner
thinks IL unsightly. lie is a poor man,
but he won't part with his heirloom.
IN SEARCH or PRIZES
~ took u trip last year down through |
Virginia in search of some rare pieces for |
very fastifOCs customer / have been
selling TO for four years. After two months
I got seven very nice specimens. Country !
people who own old furniture get suspi- /
clOuS az SOOi as you olitI 10 Dul an blt
bedstead or bureau and II takes persua-
sion "a well as money 10 carry the trade
through. In 1895 l was visiting In LOudoun
county, Va, and accidentally came across
a mahogany desk, which l priced 50 high
ly that have refused several good offers
from New York dealers for Il.
II was driving 20 the railroad station
one day when a thunder-shoWer suddenly |
came up. My horse-a young, high-strung
thing-gOt nervous, and / stopped al the
1. slaIf h.. ..IH
man came out and showed me the way 10
his barn, where the team was soon under !
cover. Az | started 10 leave the barn |
for the house, | noticed over in one cor
ner. covered with dust and Uttered with /
cham. a desk such as our forefathers' fore. /
fathers used. In a moment / was brush /
ing away the dust and chaff and closely /
inspecting the desk. There IL is next 20 |
the window, and you can see FOL. yourset !
what a magnificent specimen II is.
II offered to buy Il 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 a. boy; !
the wife might not like H., and similar !
objections were made. The end Of II was !
that I left the place without the desk, |
but with the determination to have IT,
DETERMINED TO HAVE 1T
"The old man took summer bOarders, /
and a week later | had room in his /
house for week | carried along lot /
of good tobacco. and in the evening | |
would tell the old man story after story \
until he became ny warm friend. The /
day before / was to leave again breach |
ed the subject Of the desk 20 him. He |
looked at me with twinkle In MS eye |
and said
well. well. IS that what you have been /
telling me all them good stories for and 7
acting so friendly? You can take the old /
thing along and welcome, but | don't I
know what on earth you want with It,"
"Then did a very ili-bred thing. was
afraid the old fellow would cnange rs ;
mind over night. 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
strapped on behind / would not consider
an offer for DO. IL IS the gem or my pri-
"' UNDER A COAT or PAINT.
'Tn another country house near Cul-
peDcr / found q rare old dressing table
which afterward sold for a fancy price
10 q Cambridge (Mass) man. When 1
first saw IL there was no sign Of it's real
worth A smart young miss who mad
been over 10 stanton 10 school had taken
a lot of white enamel paint and given the
noble old piece ~ mahogany a double
coat. A piece OF the paint faxed on. and
/ saw what was underneath. gave s.
for the dressing table, and sold II for
wen. never mind what | 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. II Is a comparatively easy matter
20 remove the paint without disiguring
the furniture.
There are some very fine private col
lectiOns Of antique furniture I'm Wash
ington. and there are large number OF
enthusiastic collectors here. 7 have seve-
raj customers who drop I'm every dag 20
see n have anything new. Antique fur
niture IS being manufactured nowadays
but the old collector can't be deceived. /
have a couple Of agents out now ransack-
ing old houses ina the country. one OF
them Is IN Virginia and the other IS away
down I'm South Carolina. Old furniture
hunting r. q fad which will never die"