Need help with antique parlor set

[Sweet Freedom]

I have an old parlor set (settee, rocker, chair) I believe is Empire furniture that I want to sell, but I can't find the set online to figure out it's approximate worth. Any suggestions of where to search?

Thanks! :hi:

[grasswire]

1. we have a couple of furniture sellers here

Hopefully one of them will be able to help you.

Do you have a photo? I'd like to see it.

[Sweet Freedom]

2. I'll scan them later and post

They are pretty simple...I think they are mahogany and have small three-claw feet on wheels. No embellishments in the wood otherwise. The set belonged to my great grandparents, so I'm guessing my family acquired them pre-depression era (by the looks of the upholstery, I wouldn't be surprised if they are 100 years old. :) ).

[Sweet Freedom]

3. pictures

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[mtnsnake]

13. Your set is either mahogany or birch with a mahogany stain

and most likely made somewhere between 1890 and 1915. It is empire style, but probably not true period empire. True empire we be more toward the middle of the 1800's, like around 1850.

Furniture has taken a nosedive. 3-pc sets like your can be bought at most auctions nowadays for anywhere from $200 to $450. The set pictured in the Live Auctioneers link in this thread is a heavier duty set with more massive details, plus tufted upholstery, thus the higher price. It also looks earlier in age than yours, although similar in looks.

If you're thinking of selling it, avoid putting it in an auction because these type of parlor sets can go for a song on a bad night. Craigs List would be the way to go with a set like that. If it was mine, I would expect to get somewhere in the neighborhood of $250 or $300, but the nice thing about Craigs List is you can ask whatever you want. Don't be afraid to try and get much much more than what I'm telling you, though. You never know.

[Sweet Freedom]

14. Thanks! How depressing :)

I bought it from family 15 years ago for $250 and paid to have it shipped across the country. I so hoped it was worth more. Oh well!

Thanks for the input.:hi:

[Kat45]

4. I have something similar.

I didn't know it was called a parlor set. Thank you for giving me the proper terminology. I also have a settee, rocker and chair set, which I believe my parents said "came with the house" when they bought it in the fifties. It belonged to an old couple who'd owned the house. A player piano also "came with the house," and my mother always regretted that they couldn't keep it at the time. My mother always wondered if the parlor set was worth a lot or not. I think it is also likely antique, but looking at the picture you posted, I think it's a different furniture style than yours, though mine is also a simple style. (I know absolutely nothing about furniture styles.) I also don't think it's the original upholstery. Have you found out anything about its worth or where to find information?

[Sweet Freedom]

5. Unfortunately, no.

I have found similar Empire furniture online, but not quite this style.

[grasswire]

6. if you google "empire parlor set" you will find a lot of info

Here is a link to a set that looks very much like what you have. The value is estimated at $700-1000 at auction.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7981210

[Kat45]

7. Are there any sites with photos of different styles of furniture?

As I said in an earlier post, I also have an antique parlor set but it appears to be a different style of furniture than the OP's. I know nothing at all about furniture styles, and maybe if I can see photos of different styles I can figure out what style set I have.

[Sweet Freedom]

9. try here

http://antiques.about.com/lr/furniture_styles/338339/1/

Also, sometimes furniture will have a manufacturer stamp on it (look under the furniture).

[Kat45]

11. I'll look under the furniture for a stamp.

Thanks. Though it seems like whenever I find some old furniture or other items, there is no mark on it, with the one exception being a Lane cedar chest that I have.

[Sweet Freedom]

10. if you have photos, you can ask

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Collectibles-General-Antiques-682/

I may do this, too.

[Kat45]

12. Thank you. That looks very helpful.

I'll have to take a picture of the set and submit it. (Unfortunately, the pieces are currently in two different rooms.)

[Sweet Freedom]

8. Thank you, grasswire.

I have done that before, but was hoping I might be able to find my set (I've seen similar sets to mine with price ranges from $300 to $3000!)