cockbeaded case construction

[albreed]

JD- Take the blades out and work them. Ideally, you want to scribe the blades from the draw fronts before the cockbead is on, as the draw fronts and blades are in the same plane-Al

[Johnny D]

Thanks Al:  Your help here and the photos on your website have been a very significant help to me in tackling this project, which is turning out to be more difficult than I expected.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with a six-shell Newport secretary being a 10, how difficult is a cockbeaded oxbow chest to make by hand? Anyone?

"One decimal only, Vasily"

JD

[jacon4]

"One decimal only, Vasily"

 LOL, Wasn't it "One ping only, Vasily?"

[albreed]

JD- That would be a 4. But a 6 shell would be a 7.......I think a 10 is Pompadour highboy or Gould sect'y.
I  sure hope I'm not starting something controversial here.....Al          PS-glad the site helped

[jacon4]

This is a bit off thread but Skinner has a Boston Mahogany Reverse Serpentine Bureau with cockbeading on the case comming up for sale that somebody is sure proud of, estimate is
75-150k. Pretty good pics so i thought i would post this

http://www.skinnerinc.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2567B++++265+&refno=++902942

[Johnny D]

Yeah that's interesting.  I can't figure the price though.  I don't know much, but it amazes me how some plain, but good, old bureaus sell for a few thousand, and this reverse serpentine guy could get 100K.  Frankly I don't like the scalloping of the ends of the top.  In my little mental box, the top contour should follow the case.  And his overhang's a bit too much.

Jacon:  continuing off thread, I saw a walnut corner cabinet this last weekend that I was smitten with.  First time ever, and I've seen many.  They were asking $3400 which kinda means it's all academic, cause I cain't afford it.  But I found myself wishing that I knew someone who knows what price one ought to pay, and then I recalled that you seem to be pretty well plugged in.  Anyway.

JD

[jacon4]

Well, I am a collector so i follow the market fairly close through auctions mostly although sometimes dealers will contact if they think i may have an interest. Auction houses send me catalogues often and the photographs are usually first rate and i learn alot from them form wise and sometimes construction details as well if they shoot alot of pics.

As to value, it's highly subjective but generally speaking it mostly comes down to condition, provenance, rarity and sometimes historical issues like say, someone famous like George Washington owned it. What i do when considering buying a piece for sale is, i look up the auction records and decide in advance what i am willing to pay. One of the best online auction price services just happens to be right here on SAPFM, Prices4Antiques Reference Database and, its FREE to members, a really valuable research tool. Mark Arnold added this just recently and its a high quality  benefit to the membership. Give it a try, see what you think.

[Johnny D]

yeah wow.  That's amazing, and I had no idea it was there or available.  Thanks for pointing that out.  I'll get lost in there and maybe never come back.

JD

[jacon4]

Yeah, it is a very nice addition to the site. As for your cupboard, if it is being sold by a dealer, they will deal, trust me, there is a depression on in brown furniture in the antiques world. Another nice feature about a dealer is, most will finance the purchase as well so if lusting after a certain piece, i would make an offer & ask for terms. The worst they could say is no, lol.

[dkeller_nc]

This is a bit off thread but Skinner has a Boston Mahogany Reverse Serpentine Bureau with cockbeading on the case comming up for sale that somebody is sure proud of, estimate is
75-150k. Pretty good pics so i thought i would post this

http://www.skinnerinc.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2567B++++265+&refno=++902942

Wow - That's remarkably incorrectly-designed for an original 18th century piece.  I presume Skinner has determined this and would mention it, but I would immediately assume that's a replaced top on first sight.  Just goes to show that Isreal Sack (and then Albert) had it right in "good better best".  Not all that was produced in the 18th century colonies was good....

[msiemsen]

Since the top looks so odd I would on first assuption think it was correct. It would certainly be easy enough to cut down and few dealers would be averse to "improving" the piece if the top was not original. It looks like one piece  crotch to me

[Antiquity]

How do you know that's not the original top?  Customers ordered odd designs in the 18th century and cabinetmakers made odd designs just like they do today.

Dennis Bork

[jacon4]

How do you know that's not the original top?

You really cant tell from pics whats going on with old furniture, one has to be up close in person to evaluate construction details. I would think the top is original based on the auction estimate.