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
These were tables in my 87 year old mom's apartment. I'm told they are Duncan Phyfe tables but can find no markings of any kind to identify them for sure. The coffee table has a glass piece that fits on top. There is no drawer on the drum table but both have the brass pieces on the "feet". I would like to sell them but am unsure what to ask. Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Answer Bev - Duncan Phyfe was a Scottish cabinetmaker who came to America in the late 18th century. He set up shop in New York and worked in all of the styles of the day including Federal, Empire, Regency and Rococo Revival. He died in 1854 having never made a coffee table. The form dd not exist then. In fact there is not even a style known as "Duncan Phyfe." That name has been used, erroneously, to identify Colonial Revival furniture, mostly dining tables, that have outsweeping legs that extend from a pedestal.
Your drum table is based on an 18th century English pedestal dining table. It appears to be made of walnut on the top and the skirt. The pedestal and legs are a secondary wood, probably red gum. It would sell at auction for around $75 - $100.
I can't say about the coffee table since I haven't seen it. It may be Colonial Revival but it is not Duncan Phyfe.
Thanks for writing.
Fred Taylor
www.furnituredetective.com
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