Contemporary Italian furniture styles vary

#MiddleburyCT #ItalianFurniture #MedicineCabinet

With its carved giltwood trim and rich velvet upholstery, this sofa would look right at home among the opulent Baroque and extravagant Rococo styles of the 18th century. It was made much more recently, in fact, by Jumbo Collection, a contemporary Italian furniture company that was founded in 1985. It sold for $1,188 at a Hindman auction.

Sometimes the newest fashions repeat what came before – lucky for antique collectors! Decorations on this contemporary sofa suggest the ornate design styles of the 18th century. (Kovels.com photo)

Contemporary Italian furniture may be associated with postmodern, avant-garde trends like Radical Design, Studio Alchimia and Memphis, but older styles are always coming back. Rococo style was revived, like many other past design styles, in the 19th century, and came back into fashion once more in the early 20th century. Today’s design may tend towards minimalism; the simple, functional mid-century modern look is popular, but the pendulum always swings back; decorations like elaborate carving, gilded trim and lush fabrics may come back again before we know it!

Q: I was given this medicine cabinet by a dentist many years ago. Any idea on what it would be worth?

A: Medical and dental equipment, including cabinets, are popular with collectors. Value depends on their size, condition, material and unusual features like rotating cases or other movable parts. Your cabinet is by Clark & Roberts, a company that made dental cabinets, exam tables and other medical furniture in the early 20th century. A cabinet by Clark & Roberts sold at auction a few years ago for about $500. More recently, similar cabinets by other or unknown manufacturers have sold for about $200 to $700. Having the label with the maker’s name increases the value. Asking prices online can go from about $400 to over $1,000. An auction house or dealer who specializes in medical or dental collectibles may be able to give you a more precise estimate.

TIP: Don’t retouch gold leaf picture frames or other gold trim with anything but real gold leaf.

Current Prices
Pottery vase, Hopi, globular, red glaze, sgraffito, figure looking up, corn stalk, symbols, signed, Ellsworth Nampeyo, 3 inches, $190.
Wooden, model, mathematical, cone, segmented, teacher’s, five sections, midcentury, 10 inches, $300.
Inkstand, silver, two cut glass inkwells, ewer-shaped candlestick, tray with pen rest, repousse leafy scrolls, Henry Wilkinson & Co., 6 x 9 1/2 x 6 inches, $470.
Cash register, National, Model 415, Empire pattern, “Amount Purchased” on crest, panel with hand pointing to price, plated brass, wood base, c. 1908, 24 x 18 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches, $615.
Music, sign, trade, Gordon Green, Violinist, Teacher of the Violin, white lettering, black ground, violin at left side, painted, hanging loops, c. 1910, 14 3/4 x 26 inches, $705.
Imari, bowl, cobalt blue wave shaped panels, red and white flowers and birds, ormolu mounts, bronze dore, pierced leafy scrolled handles, rim and base, 11 1/2 x 15 inches, $850.
Furniture, table, Mastercraft style, Trilobe, rectangular glass top, two lacquered brass bases, triangular, concave sides, mid-century, 28 x 81 x 48 inches, $3,840.

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