I have a beautiful three-piece dining room set that I would love to have appraised. The set consists of a china cabinet, sideboard and server. I believe it is made of mahogany or walnut. On the back of each piece is the number 604. What can you tell me about it?
D. Tanner

Your furniture is from the 1940s. The wood is mahogany, and the cabriole leg and ball and claw foot are of the Chippendale style, popular in England from 1718-1779. Because furniture made from the 1920s through the 1950s was copied from 17th and 18th century English, French and Italian designs, some homeowners are confused as to the age of their pieces. The number 604 is a company inventory number. All three of your pieces have the same number, which is for this particular grouping of furniture. The pieces of your set that are missing are a table with leaf and five side chairs and one host (arm) chair.

Many factors can affect the valuation of furniture from this era. One factor is the condition of the piece and whether it needs repairs or refinishing. Other factors include the quality of work, the detailing of the piece, and desirability. Considering these details will help in placing a value on your furniture.

First, the three pieces of furniture appear to be in excellent condition. Second, the detailing is beautifully done and appealing. Third, the desirability is fair to good, varying from piece to piece. The sideboard is the least desirable of the three pieces because of its size. Homes today are smaller; it’s not as easy as in past years to find room for large pieces of furniture. The server is very desirable because of its small size. It could be used anywhere from the dining room to a bedroom, kitchen or foyer.

The china cabinet, or vitrine, is the most desirable piece. A vitrine is a cabinet with clear glass doors—sometimes with glass sides and top—for the storage and display of china, curios, etc. Your piece has glass doors and sides. Very often, these cabinets were lighted. When we hold an estate auction, this is the piece that everyone wants to buy. Keeping all of these factors in mind, the pieces are valued as follows: sideboard, $400-600; server, $500-700; china cabinet or vitrine, $600-800.

I would like to know something about this pair of candelabra lamps that were purchased at an auction. They are approximately 24 inches high, and the base looks like it’s made from some type of green stone. They still work and the cord looks very old. Can you tell me their age and value?
P. Jensen

Your candelabra/lamps were made around the 1920s. They were part of a mantel set and would have had a clock as the centerpiece. They are a copy of a French garniture de cheminée. The French pieces were often made of gilt and patinated bronze, porcelain or delft and marble bases. Your candelabras are made to imitate this expensive version.

The metal part is made of pot metal which is an alloy or mixture of two or more metals and painted to look like bronze. The base is green onyx, which is made to look like marble. There is a simple test for determining if a metal is bronze, brass, copper or pot metal. A magnet will only stick to pot metal. The pair of candelabras/lamps is valued at $150-$200. With the clock, the set could go as high as $300-$400.

If you’ve always wanted an appraisal of a special antique or an unusual vintage piece, e-mail a photograph of the item to pennie@insidenorthside.com, or mail to Inside Northside, P.O. Box 9148, Mandeville, LA 70470. Include any known information, such as age of item, place of origin and other historical facts. Photographs cannot be returned, and only those items selected for use in Inside Northside will be appraised.

Pennie Carr is a northshore antiques appraiser, auctioneer, and owner of Auction Louisianne, Inc. in Covington.

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