How Can I Determine the Price of an Antique Mahogany Dining Room Set?

Mahogany furniture has been in and out of fashion since it was first exported from the West Indies in the 1720s. People liked it because of its rich deep color and strength. Mahogany comes from enormous trees and so lent itself readily to be fashioned into even large tabletops. Mahogany is almost impervious to woodworm larvae, which added to its popularity. Later, in the 19th century, mahogany was often used as a veneer on less expensive wood. Early mahogany work is often associated with Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779), a London cabinetmaker who designed furniture, including dining room furniture, along classic lines. In the latter years of the 20th century, a more eclectic approach to furniture saw some return in the popularity of mahogany. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Review what you already know about the furniture. You may have checked the provenance when you bought it --- that is, one or more documents stating who the previous owners were and the origins of the set. Check whether the furniture is reproduction or antique. If it is a reproduction, that does not mean it is not valuable, and it may still be quite old. There was a fashion for reproduction furniture in the Victorian period.

2

Check the lines of the furniture and the quality of the workmanship. Old mahogany furniture may have inlay, sometimes of another wood, such as rosewood, or it may be decorated with gold leaf. Check the legs and casters of the tables. You may find that the casters are brass, and the legs have been elegantly turned, using a lathe. This usually denotes a better quality and more expensive piece of furniture. The quality of the work may give you useful clues about the value of the set. Much antique furniture is modeled on the Chippendale style, with features such as lattice patterns on chair backs, leaf, acorn or rose patterns and leather or other luxury fabric upholstery.

3

Study the market. The demand for antique furniture is subject to change and is unpredictable. It is a limited market because large pieces of dark furniture do not suit everybody's house. Attend auctions and visit sales rooms. Study antiques guidebooks and compare your dining room set with other pieces from the same period. Ask a reputable antiques expert to assess the value of your furniture. If you choose an independent assessor, it will cost you a fee.