The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-03

it to invest lffberally in anything that
bears the mark of antiquity.
do you have very many calls for Col
onial pieces?" a dealer in secondhand
! furniture was asked yesterday.
DO we? Well, l should say we do"
was his emphatic reply. you know" he
/ continued, II do not think very. much of
this craze that has seized upon those
able to indulge the fancy. Some man or
woman viii rush madly into my store and
! begin inquiring about some colonial fur
! niture. Anything that has an old look
about it, with that finish in workmanship
that stability and made-to-wear app ar
ance that come from the handicraftsmen
of the times in which the furniture was
made, is eagerly seized upon, and very
good prices can be secured.
Some dealers certainly do rub it in in
this business of dsposing of old furniture.
Just let one of them get piece that he
believes some one with the craze will
want. and a good price will have to be
forthcoming. Now look at this piece"
turning to an old sideboard that was only
attractive because of the fine mahogany
of which il was made and its massive
ness, IL would sell this for $40, but you
could easily find other places where $l00
would not be deemed too much to ask for
ii. Yes, sir, the fad followers certainly
get it rubbed in. They seem willing to
take 1t al, though. and guess those who
make business of dispOsing of the stuff
realize a handsome profit.
Most Of those who look for old furni-
ture are not after 1t for any real appre-
citation of its beauty or artistic attrac-
tions. 1t is rather their idea to get a
supply of pieces in order to establish
genealogies. How do they do IL? Why,
simply enough. Some great four-posted
uvfn he oh an ma a IA.
eled as having belonged to the purchasers
grandfather, for it is deemed a great
thing By those who have aspirations to
be regarded as sprung from fine old line
TO have a grandfather, who had antique
furniture. That scheme is worked 10
finish, and many a piece of furniture has
been purchased and within a year vested
by its new owner with some very init
mate connection with some one OF his
forebears.
Dealers have to keep on the lookout for
sales of antiques IL they want TO make
success of the business. They can often
secure bargains al such sales, when the
possessions of some Old family, possibly
because of a division of the estate, are to
be sold out. BY a little retouching, re-
pairing and renovation, the old furniture
can be given an appearance that will more
than double, the price paid for IL at
SAFE.
From the oldest places treasures IN
the antique are often secured. Now and
then they come from the cabins of dark
les, where they have been hidden away
for years and years. Where did the dar-
kes get them? Why, from their old mas
tiers, who gave them the pieces, by work.
ing a little deftness In the picking and
stealing line, or by other means thorough
ly legitimate.
H.,
a good position TO know some hing about
the matter was asked, would be fair
estimate of the worth, as accepted upon
the standard Of the fad prices. OF the
Colonial and antique furniture in Savan-
nah-slOO, OOo?"
YES" he replied, every bit of that.
The fact is that the value would prob
ably be far greater. You see prices are
regulated by supply and demand In the
matter Of antiques, as well as In other
matters. and there Is a limited supply OF
old furniture and a very strong demand.
What do you think about the valuaton7"
he asked of gentleman associated with
him IN business. to which the latter re-
piled that he considered that a sale OF all
the antique furniture In savannah would
easily bring $1,000
Il have little 10 do ln my business" the
gentleman quoted continued, with old
furniture. but now and then I see some Of
H. In getting around among those whom
/ meet In looking after my real estate
business 1 sometimes nnd old pieces that