Antique furniture. Refinish, or leave it be...? [WITH POLL] and now w/PICS

[aircooled]

Just recently inherited an old wood framed couch, coffee table and something else they call a 'library' (looks like a china cabinet on top, but an office desk on bottom).

All show wear from it's age, but all are 70 to 100 years old, and high quality stuff...

Would you refinish or leave it be...???

edit: pics of coffee table:
pic 1

pic 2
it's hard to see on the pics, but it's all wood fasteners, no nails or screws...

 

[aircooled]

no opinions?

 

[xSauronx]

pics? if its shows some age, but not in a crappy way id leave it alone. refinish if its really bad, or would look better in your place if it was new looking

 

[Spencer278]

I think it is worth more if you left it alone.

 

[Epic Fail]

Leave it unless you really know what you are doing.

 

[MikeMike]

yup. its worth more if its un-refinished.

 

[aircooled]

I kind of dig the "wear and tear" look myself, and I don't want to de-value it by re-finishing, but it would definitely look better redone.

No pics at the moment, maybe tomorrow.

 

[preslove]

Leave it be, then get it appraised. If they aren't worth anything, refinish them.

 

[aircooled]

pic 1

pic 2

this was given to us my my wifes grandmother. it was built in the 1920's. obviously it's got damage from wear.

 

[aircooled]

BTW- no nails or screws. it's all wood pegs holding it together.

 

[woowoo]

Leave it alone

 

[AdamSnow]

If you are planning on keeping it and not sell it later on - re-do it...

if you want to make money off it someday - leave it alone.

 

[casper114]

If your willing to do the work and you know you can do a good job, go for it!

 

[JulesMaximus]

How old is it? Is it really an antique? Any value as an antique? There is a ton of old furniture with no antique value but with some of the really valuable antiques it can be difficult to tell. I'd talk to someone who knows about these things before messing with it.

Edit-Have it appraised.

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
How old is it? Is it really an antique? Any value as an antique? There is a ton of old furniture with no antique value but with some of the really valuable antiques it can be difficult to tell. I'd talk to someone who knows about these things before messing with it.

Edit-Have it appraised.

We know it's at least (or over) 70 years old (since my mother-in-law is 70 and they got it when she was born). So not knowing the true definition of "antique" I may be wrong. But it is definitely old real wood stuff. It's scuffed up enough that you'd want to re-do it, but old enough that you have to question it first.

 

[Gand1]

DO NOT REFINISH IT!!!!!!

You will kill any value that the furniture has. It looks to be a craftsman style table but seems a bit unusual and can possibly be Norwegien (sp?). Looks for a label or makers mark or signature on the bottom. If it is a good piece of designer furniture it could be worth thousands. If you refinish it, you might as well stick it in a wood pile and burn it.

My wife is an antique dealer, I'll try to get her opinion of it later.

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: Gand1
DO NOT REFINISH IT!!!!!!

You will kill any value that the furniture has. It looks to be a craftsman style table but seems a bit unusual and can possibly be Norwegien (sp?). Looks for a label or makers mark or signature on the bottom. If it is a good piece of designer furniture it could be worth thousands. If you refinish it, you might as well stick it in a wood pile and burn it.

My wife is an antique dealer, I'll try to get her opinion of it later.

i think one of the peices has a code or serial number on it. I'll check it out when I get home from work