Moral Dilemma

[andrewm]

When I moved into my current house ten years ago the executors of the estate left an Edwardian wardrobe in one of the bedrooms. As I have decorated it has moved from one room to the next and has finally found its way into the kitchen where it is very much in the way.

As an aside I suspect it was left there because they could not get it down the stairs. How it ever got up the stairs I don’t know. As far as I can make out the house was built in 1948 but the wardrobe arrived with two spinster sisters who moved in in 1955. When I tried to get it down the stairs it most definitely would not go and it was only when I cut off the newel post and removed the banisters that I could get it down and then only by splitting it into four parts.

So with a wardrobe in the kitchen I now want it out of the house completely. It is Edwardian, I am told made of mahogany although I am not sure and wonder whether it is in fact walnut. Drawers are of oak with hand-cut dovetails all around. All the cupboards are lined with material and all fittings in brass. Considering that it was made before the days of power tools I can appreciate the workmanship that has gone into it.

I had a local auction house around to take a look and the experts view was that it was too dark, to plain and wouldn’t fetch enough to cover the transport costs. I conclude therefore that it is not worth much.

So the dilemma. Do I sell it cheaply or give it away in the hope that it goes to someone who has a house which will suit it and who appreciates the workmanship that has gone into the piece. Or do I break it up for the timber content since the value of the timber is probably more than the value of the piece but in doing so destroy something that is otherwise much better than a lot of furniture available today.

What would you do?

Andrew

 

[woodbloke]

Andrew - if the experts have said that it ain't worth allot, in my view I'd break it up for the timber, 'specially if its mahogany and oak. The timber will be very dry and stable, oak probably quarter sawn so excellent to keep for drawer sides and the mahoghany is probably of a much superior quality to that found nowadays - Rob

 

[ByronBlack]

No dilemma there for me - break up for timber, your still keeping the 'spirit' of craftmanship alive buy making into something else. Timber is very valuable these days and is worth more to you (or someone else) than as an outdated piece of furniture that no one would want. Just makesure you make something decent out of it - no spice racks!!

 

[mr]

Just look at all that lovely timber waiting to be recylcled into something you want / need.
Cheers Mike

 

[CraftNav]

My mother in law recently past away and left lots of furniture that none of the relatives wanted (all too big, too plain, too dark, etc) It was the tip, freecycle or my workshop

Yes its sad to knock apart hand cut dovetails and quality craftsmanship but I have started making boxes out of the wood which I am planning on giving to each of the remaining relatives.

john

 

[andrewm]

Well that unanimous then. Of course knowing my luck its just the sort of thing that when fashions change is going to appear on Antiques Roadshow and be valued in the thousands. :x

 

[tnimble]

A dilemma indeed, its not that it would be worth not that much but it currently doesn't sell due to fashion. This is not only for furniture but for a lot of things. Really special items worth extremely much go to scrap because no one can be bothered having it and the ones who do'nt care for fashion can't have it due to space of funds.

Refinishing pieced without stains, removing decorations or even painting it white, light green or even pink enhances current market value sadly enough.

So either keep it till fashion changes, refinish it and sell it, or take it apart for the timber.