Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-26
MAHOGANY IN DEMAND
SOUTHERN HOMES HANSACKED
FOR RARE FURNITURE.
Remote Region. Of 1ryl.ad and vir-
ginia the Hun5nsp Ground
of Dealers.
From the New York Times. )

From the New York Times
One of the remarkable features Of the
holiday trade this year, az described by
those who have been watching the market,
is the demand for old colonial mahogany
furniture, and in order to provide New
York with an adequate supply many of the
finest ante bellum homesteads of Maryland
and Virginia have been ransacked for their
choicest bits. AS matter Of fact, this
craze for colonial mahogany has been
growing steadily for some time, and, while
not a result Of the holiday trade, has been
accentuated by the custom of giving pres
ents. until 1t has reached proportions here
that have surprised some of the dealers.
A trainload of old mahogany from Vir-
ginia homesteads reached New York last
week. and was preceded by other consign-
ments from places In Maryland and the
Carolinas. These states are the happy
hunting grounds of the dealers who are
supplying the New York market. It is
said that they have cleaned out all that
could be found in the way of desirable old
mahogany from the old homesteads on
Long Island. Money represents a good deal
more in the country districts Of Virginia to-
day than it does in New York, and when a
dealer offers $40 for a grandfather's clock,
$16 for a sofa, $40 for a bureau and as low
as 81 for odd chairs the offers in great
many instances are accepted by the owners
y noeO
Of the cash or are so tired of their old fur
niture that they desire to replace 1t with
more modern makes.
Crime Of Age.
The knowing dealer who thus scours the
remote homesteads in Virginia and Mary
land sees works of beauty and high COM
mercial value under the CRIME of ages, and
does not disclose the improvements that
may be made in the pieces by careful clean
ing and new upholstering. A beautiful ma
hogany sofa with massive claw feet and
delicately carved back and front, modelled
somewhat on the empire style, but entirely
characteristic Of the colonial period, was
bought in Maryland for Sc some time ago
with q lot of otner pieces.
1t had been vanished, and was dirty and
grtmy, but the wood was in perfect condi-
horse hair cloth that Is to be seen in some
houses yet. When 1t arrived in New York
the upholstery was ripped off, the varnish
removed. the wood cleaned and polished,
sold readily for $50, being upholstered
afterward by the woman who bought It
with brocade to suit her fancy.
Upon another occasion the contents of an
change for an equal number of pieces Of
modern furniture Old mahogany chairs
that sold readily In this city after being
polished for $50 each. cost the dealer about
% Willie d SpleHQlQ Sn6ratOn S1Q0-
board inlaid with satinwood, with the old
brass handles, cost him about $40, and was
disposed Of here for $15O.
Four-Post Beds.
There is no demand here for four-post
beds. which were once a tad, but which
can hardly be given away now. When
dealers get them they cut them apart for
the sake of the old and seasoned mahogany
that is in them, and which they make into
other pieces Of furniture. Thus the big
carved posts serve as an admirable hatrack
when they are put on a stand and have
pegs inserted in their sides. and these sell
for $40 each. -
Chippendale chairs that have served
through many generations, improving in
color with the passage Of years, and for
which few years ago there was no de-
mand in New York, are now in great re-
quest. Chairs made by Heppelthwaite, who
lived in England between Sheraton and
Chippendale are esteemed here even higher
than the products of those two makers, for
the reason that there Is much less of his
furniture on the market. A set of six
carved rosewood Heppelthwaite chairs for
the dining room that were imported from
England sold recently in New York for $50
each, and they had the old upholstery at
that. 81