A Great Yard Sale Find Turns Out to be a Wellington Chest

Q: I recently came across this piece of furniture at a yard sale and found it fascinating. So, I bought it without knowing anything about it, other than I like it. Can you tell me what I have? Thank you. A: This side-lock dresser, also known as a Wellington Chest by more seasoned antique collectors […]

Examine Antique and Vintage Sofas

Watch out for sideboards or sofas that have been altered to a smaller, more easily sold size.    

Antique Chest Drawers

As a rule, the drawer bottom of an 18th-century chest was made of two or three pieces of wood. The Victorian drawer bottom was made from a single piece. The Victorian bottom was often screwed in place.    

The Rustic Warmth of American Country Furniture 

What is country furniture? It depends on who you’re asking. Some people believe if you paint old furniture white, it’s now “country” furniture. But the term country has many meanings. Some American country-style furniture, like that popularized in the 1980s by designer Mary Emmerling who authored 25 books on the subject, may be brand new […]

Dry Sink

Q: I got this from my mother-in-law. I think it’s a dry sink, but the sink doesn’t have a copper lining. It’s very heavy and structurally sound but needs refinishing. It has flat head tapered nails and wooden latches on the doors. How old do you think it is? What is a reasonable cost range […]

English Coal Cabinet

Q:  My parents bought this English coal cabinet from an antiques dealer in the United States about 70 years ago. The paper with “Carter, Paterson & Co., Ltd.” printed on it is on the side of the tin insert. I don’t know anything more about the piece and would appreciate any information as well as […]