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Collectibles-General (Antiques)/drop leaf expandable gate leg table

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Expert: - 6/15/2010


Question
drop leaf table
drop leaf table  
QUESTION: This is drop leaf gate leg expanable table. Could you help with the age and value. I am not sure what kind of wood it is. The only marking on the bottom is "patent pending"

ANSWER: the wood is probably sweet gum and manufacturered around 1920-30.  as is retail around 150 in a shop.  restored to natural and stained wood 350.  do you have a leaf for the table??

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If I refinish it what color do I stain it? Also what is the best way to get the paint of the nooks in the legs

Answer
if you have never stripped a piece of painted furniture before i urge you to have it done professionally BUT not in a dip tank.  it should be done with a flow over system or out of a soup can using a methylene chloride based stripper.  i promise you that this is not a home project.  when i strip something i take it as far apart as possible.  for example, i would take the top off the base of your table, thatke the leaved off the central part so i would have the base, which i would take apart as much as possible then i would have 4 sections of the top separated and the leaf.

staining depends on your home decor, i like a warm reddish brown.  it goes with everything and looks good.

bobklein1@cox.net

Collectibles-General (Antiques)

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robert klein

Expertise

In regards to American antique, vintage and collectible furniture I can help with wood identification, styles, age, periods, historical coatings, materials, techniques, repair, restoration, refinishing. ****SEND PICTURES****WITH YOUR QUESTIONS ON ALL ITEMS OR THE QUESTION MAY BE REJECTED****PLEASE, NO CAMERA PHONE PICTURES as the quality is usually poor****preferred size max 1024 x 768; min 800 x 600--jpg files as attachments in ONE email to Please include the question posted to allexperts in the email so that i will know to what they refer. Because of the amount of emails i have received, for which i thank everyone for their confidence in me, please DO NOT send emails before posting the question to allexperts. I truly want to help but only have so much time and would like to give each person the attention they need.

Experience

I have been in the antiques furniture and restoration business and in the sales of antique furniture for 40+ years and have continued my education in the trade attending workshops and seminars various organizations and private collectors. This clip taken from a book written in 1915----> I think it is important---->> The furnishings of the home are seldom swept and garnished for to part with family relics is breaking faith with those who handed them on with the remainder of their worldly possessions to their heirs There were many who made special bequests of their furniture and one of such would write in his will To my dearly beloved nephew John I leave my mahogany bureau desk and the tea china in the cupboard over it Can we imagine nephew John's grandson or great grandson parting with that beautiful Hepplewhite bureau bookcase or cupboard full of priceless Worcester china because his dining room or library is furnished in modern fumed oak or late Victorian incongruities No the home connoisseur values his family possessions

Organizations
Professional Refinishers Groop, Int., AIC, Antiques Dealers Association

Education/Credentials
BA Florida State University BA University of West Florida 1971

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