Q: I have the chance to buy an old Sligh dresser from a family member. It’s made of walnut, 54 inches wide, has columns on the sides, a burled oval on the front, and 2 large and 2 small drawers. Can you tell me if it is an antique? What would be a fair price to offer?
A: Charles R. Sligh founded the Sligh Furniture in 1880 in Grand Rapids, Mich., after working for Berkey & Gay as a furniture finisher and travelling salesman. By the 1920s, Sligh advertised itself as “the largest manufacturer of furniture exclusively for the bedroom in the world.” From 1910 through the 1920s, the company offered more than 80 bedroom suites and 11 dining room suites in a wide range of styles, including Sheraton, Louis XVI, Jacobean, Italian Renaissance, and more. Some had a painted finish or painted decoration. Sligh closed in 1932. Your dresser is probably a retro piece made in an older style. A fair price to offer would be $150 to $200.