AboutFred Taylor Expertise I will attempt to answer questions about American antique furniture, including construction details, style, period, manufacturers, care, repair and storage. I do not have any background in appliances, musical instruments, sewing machines, lighting and clocks and will not respond to quesions about those items.
Experience I ran an antique furniture restoration business for twenty years. I am a nationally syndicated columnist on the subject of antique furniture for such publications as Antique Week and New England Antiques Journal. I have produced one video on the subject of furniture identification and my book "HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE" is now available.I have also published articles in Antique Trader, Chicago Art Deco Society, Northeast Magazine, Victorian Decorating and Lifestyles, Professional Refinishing, Antiques and Art Around Florida and Antique Shoppe. You can visit my website at www.furnituredetective.com
Education/Credentials BSBA Finance, University of Florida, MBA Finance, University of Florida
I have an 1930 wardrobe that states on the inside of the mirror door Taylor Bilt Furniture. I can not seem to find anything out about this company or the pieces value. Can you help?
Thanks,
Tony
Answer Tony - Your piece is called a "chifferobe." It is the combination of the two words the describe the two pieces your cabinet is derived from - "Chiffonier" - meaning a chest of drawers and "wardrobe" - a portable closet.
I have not run across a piece labeled "Taylor Bilt." I do know that the term "Taylor Made" was the trade name used by Jamestown Table Co in the 1930s.
Your cabinet is made of a secondary wood, probably red gum, stained to look like walnut. I would have guessed it was from the 1920s but you can verify the date by looking at the back of either of the mirrors. You will have to remove any paper or wood backing to see the back of the glass itself. The glass will be dated on the gray side of the mirror if it is original to the piece and has not been resilvered.
Your chifferobe would sell at auction in the $250 range.
Thanks for writing.
Fred Taylor
www.furnituredetective.com
)