Reworked filing cabinet is repurposed

#Middlebury #Antiques

Decorating has once again become informal, like the “country furniture” era in the 1980s that led to rooms with “non-furniture furniture.” An old cobbler’s bench became a coffee table, a cranberry scoop was a magazine rack, stacked orange crates were shelving and tin Grape Nuts signs were hung as art.

This 48-drawer filing cabinet was used to store folded business mail in the late 19th century. But mail is now filed in page size folders in a file with much larger drawers. It was repurposed into a storage cabinet for jewelry or some other small items. The price at auction was $1,331.

A new “technology” style began about six years ago. A refinished workbench with a polished vice or gears is a dining table, and a church bench replaces three or four chairs. Refinished oak filing cabinets from an office or library provide storage for jewelry or folded shirts, and wall-to-wall carpeting is out, replaced by polished wood floors.

The result is unique and childproof since the pieces have survived bumps and spills already. And the clever buyer can find solid wooden pieces for bargain prices. An Ohmer’s Sons office filing cabinet with 48 drawers and the original brass hardware was auctioned in Maine for $1,331. It was made in Ohio before 1898, when Edwin Seibels tried to patent a way to file a flat letter in a lateral file folder instead of stacking mail inside its envelope in a drawer. Reworked factory and office furniture of the past has become more popular for the living room, and it is going up in price. There are even reproductions available.

Q: I have a piece of Niloak pottery, which has some stains that look like drips, possibly from furniture polish. Is there a way to clean this?

A: Niloak Pottery was made at the Hyten Brothers Pottery in Benton, Ark., from 1910 to 1918, and again from 1921 to 1947. The pottery was made from Kaolin, a soft, white clay. The name “Niloak” is “kaolin” spelled backward. To clean Niloak pottery, use a soft cloth dampened with water. If the drips are furniture polish, they may be hard to remove since the polish probably contains oil, wax or another water-resistant ingredient. Some people recommend using a mild solution of water and dish detergent. Don’t soak the pottery, avoid rubbing the surface too hard and be sure to blot it dry.

Current Prices
Moriage, vase, stick neck, pink rose, orange, purple, flowers, pale green, handles on shoulders, 9 x 5 inches, $60.
Cupboard, bonnetiere, Henri II, stepped crown, spindled frieze, leaves, flowers, panels, 78 x 34 inches, $300.
Boxing trophy, figural, De Molay Championship, silver plate boxers, engraved, Hollenbeck Chapter, wood base, 1933, 13 x 11 inches, $700.
Leather purse, tote, beige, ivory, black, gold tone zipper, optional shoulder strap, Givenchy, 10 x 9 inches, $1,320.

Tip: To see if a worm hole is real or a fake made by a drill, use this test. Put a needle in the hole. If it goes in for more than 1/8 inch, the hole was made by a drill.

For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com.

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