i decided to tackle a little bit more of my grandmother's table today and saw the maker's label. found my table on the internet in australia!
except this one is nice and mine's all covered in grime and decades of lead paint





ohhh if i could just wave my wand and make grandma's look like that! anyone else like the old stuff?
the fact this site wants so much money for it makes me a bit nervous doing refinishing myself
but i don't have much choice. gawd those legs are going to be fun to strip.

emm said:

Hi emm ~ I have had an Antique Shoppe and sold them for many years. This is a beautiful gorgeous table and has great "bones". Try to find someone reputable and knowledgeable in your area and take it to them before you touch it with any type of stripping product. You can reduce the value hugely by removing the original finish. A conservator can help you decide the best way to proceed. It may help to get a couple of opinions. There are often appraisers at antique shows or shoppes where there are several dealers under the same roof. Each layer and each element (paint, cigarette smoke, mildew, grime etc) requires a different procedure so as not to destroy the original finish. Good luck! What a beautiful treasure.

What does the maker's label say?

did you really? very cool. i like the stuff where you know the story behind the piece. hate hate hate the thought of any family pieces being sold. you don't have the shop anymore?

the top of the table was already screwed as my bachelor uncle sat at the same spot with his oily farm clothes everyday and had worn through the finish. it's oak with a faux walnut grain finish. maker's label says:

national table co.
owen sound ontario canada
manufacturers of
tables of quality
at medium prices

no: 347 (something)
kind:
size: 6-44

would have been bought late 1920's

Ohhh brb - imma take a couple pix

Mach said:

emm said:

Gothic furnitures

emm said:

Ontario is the Provence of Canada just across the Lake Huron from me (although it's quite large). My shoppe/business is called Rare Earth Antiques. I now sell only at shows or on the internet. My little shoppe was broken into about five years back and $10,000.00 plus of art pottery and glass was stolen so now I keep a low profile. It's part time (my full time job is working with teens) but it is a passion for me. The name Rare Earth is indicitive of the unique properties of clay or glass from each individual area and how that translates into the art form.
Don't you wonder how things like your beautiful table made their journeys and what secrets they hold? I can hold an old piece of glass or pottery and just feel the artist's spirit within. That's too bad about the oily clothes but even that is part of the history of the piece, right?

MarySharon said:

umm yeah the north american idea of antique is just a bit skewed when you think of the history that europe has! gorgeous though.

emm said:

We were given this piece about 20 yrs ago - the man said then it was close to 60 yrs old or more and was always in his family - Michael is now totally refinishing it



the bottom - seat part ... it opens for storage
solid red oak


the top - we have not put the mirro back in yet


we are also in the process of redoing an original solid oak kitchen table that was in the farmhouse I grew up in ( the house is over 200 yrs old now )
[Edited 2/14/09 13:48pm]

MoonSongs said:

oh no that's terrible! and brazen! the theft that goes on in rural canada is sickening. an old farmhouse can be stripped of everything including doorknobs and coathooks before anyone's even noticed. glad you've recovered and adjusted the way you do business. a passion is a passion that can't be ignored!

the bulk of homestead furniture came out of ontario by train as there was just no industry here. as far as the history of the piece... i'm kind of hoping to reveal a big ol' burn mark on the top of the table... as that would be indicative of it's life as a hard working kitchen table. now, the family history of a huge huge spinning wheel (6' x 8') that came from england... i definitely wish i knew more about that one!

Mach said:

beautiful! did you use it before you started the refinishing? when i start thinking about all those family pieces and where to put them i think i need a bigger house!

emm said:

No we did not use it - it was covered and stored in the basement

I have several different old pieces as well - will try to do some pix soon -

Michael brought me the most beautiful yellow roses and made me a
"from scratch" homemade chocolate cake that is to DIE for so I am off to spend a litle time with my man