I just got a beautiful buffet over the weekend and would love to find out more about it. It stands 39in tall 58 to the top of the mirror and is 60 in wide. The hardware looks like some I have seen on The Shop of Crafters peices before but thats all I know for now. If anyone can help ID this piece for me I would really appreciate it.

Brent

Hardware

Sweet! Its not Shop of Crafters but its nice.

What a lucky find my friend. Iwill look into my books to see if I can find it.

Ralph

Hello Mr.Stien,
I looked in all of my books and couldn't find it but I am sure I have seen one just like it somewhere but, I'll keep trying.

Ralph

Thank you A&C Junkie and also thanks to you Ralph, I appreciate you taking the time to look for this piece in your rcords.

Can anyone tell me if there is a website that has examples of hardware used by specific craftsman for the purpose of identifying furniture.

Hello Again,
Yes and here is there link;
www.vandykes.com

Ralph

In general, hardware is an unreliable way to determine the maker of a piece of arts and crafts furniture (with the exception of Gus and L&JG, but ever Gus hardware can be found on generic pieces). Many of those Grand Rapids furniture companies bought their hardware from the same makers, and you might find the same hardware on pieces from two different manufacturers.

Hopefully one day you'll discover who made your nice sideboard. But hey, at worst you have a beautiful piece of furniture, with what looks to be a great patina.

Ralph, the link you posted is for contemporary reproduction hardware.

Hello Frank,
Yes, unfortunately you are right as Vandykes are providing simulated A&C parts however they are better than no parts at all.

I would truely like to find salvaged hardware for replacing old parts on old furniture but, I have yet to find such a place. Should anyone find one please let us know for some of us who restore pieces would then have somewhere to buy them. Otherwise we are stuck with buying the newer pieces in order to restore the item as close as we can, or should I say could?

I have found that if you buy a new drawer pull or hinges and if you take a hammer to them for a few whacks and toss them in vinegar for a while they tend to have an older look that may blend in a little better than just sticking the new part on the piece.

There are so many tricks that some folks use to make a furniture piece look old or antique that even the well trained can hardly tell it is not an old piece.

For instance, you may apply three coats of gloss finish on a piece and then come back with a coat of Pratt and Lambert #38 Satin finish that has been cut 50/50 with mineral spirits the item will actually look antique.

It's not nice to fool mother nature but, some scrupulous people have been known to do this very thing and that is not counting the use of log chains that they beat the day lights out of a piece in order to make it look old with dents and marks of miss use during the life of said piece.

Respectfully,

Ralph

I do have to say that there are many "antique hardware stores" throughout the country.
I southern CA. there are two that I know of off the top of my head. One is Liz's Antique Hardware located in Los Angeles and the other is Muff's antiques located in Orange CA.
In addition there are a number of companies that manufacture authentic hammered copper hardware. One is Craftsman Hardware and I purchased some from Craftsman Home Connection.
Google these and you can obtain the contact info.