Wartime Utility Furniture

Cazza

Hi!

Wondered if anyone knows anything about wartime utility furniture?? I have a chest of drawers which was originally owned by a Great Aunt. Much as it pains me I have have to get rid of it due to lack or space (I love it, OH hates it, OH has won the argument after nearly 3 years!!) In the past I've had most people tell me it's old wartime utility furniture and therefore it's worth nothing. I have had someone else recently say they disagree and believe it might be worth something - in which case the last place I want to put it is Freecycle! I've tried to attach a photo of it - does anyone know anything about this, is it worth me getting someone to look at it and have it valued or will they just laugh at me?!?! Thank you!

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x47/Caz1981_photos/Chestofdrawers.jpg

paddy's_mum

I'm no expert on antiques or furniture but it definitely doesn't look wartime to me. At a guess, I'd say it is probably Edwardian. Turn it up and have a look at the bottom - is it solid wood?

I wouldn't be wanting to Freecycle it either but if it needs a good home, let me know 'cos I think pieces like this are handsome and deserve better than being dumped in favour of 'contemporary' stuff (but then I've maintained for 40 years that fashion is another name for rip-off!)

hardpressed

I agree with paddy's mum, Utility furniture wasn't made with such good quality wood, more like plywood. Having said that sold some to a secondhand dealer a couple of years, a chest of drawers for abour £30. Utility goods were stamped with a symbol like CC with the date.

Wig

I'm not sure what you mean by wtuf but if you mean army furniture then imo it aint that (unless it's officers stuff). It looks too good to be army stuff. Are those keyhole locks on each drawer? Army stuff is made of solid wood but is a different colour and the top piece on yours looks too good (but it could be veneer or stained).

It doesn't look like it's worth much to me, monetary wise but practically and aesthically speaking it is worth a lot more than some of the carp you get these days. If you don't get a positive I.D. here you could try a post to an antiques forum.

The "piping" around the edges makes it look like it might be worth something.

Wig

This is what I think of as army stuff
http://www.dargate.com/237_auction/237_images/3079.jpg

http://www.dargate.com/226_auction/226_pics/2795.jpg

see similar locks.

pity we can't see/identify the one behind this one
http://ebayimages.goantiques.com/dbimages/ONX1674/ONX16743_05_105.jpg

HugoSP

That is NOT wartime utility furniture. Wartime utility furniture was IIAR produced for civilians during and after WW2. They were well made but were produced on a budget. You will NOT get veneer like that on any untility furniture.

IMO that piece is worth taking down to an auction house specializing in antiques. Go to 2 or 3 established ones in your area and ask for a valuation. Then go with the one who thinks they can get you the most for it.

Alterntively - give it to Paddy's Mum.

Errata

If it's utility furniture it will be marked like this - CC - somewhere. And it was crap!

Sorry - didn't mean your chest is crap! It's lovely. Utility furniture most likely wouldn't have locks as yours has, and was mostly made of crap plywood as it wasn't intended to look elegant but merely to serve a purpose.

paddy's_mum

Cazza - don't get your hopes of a zillion quid up too high but you might enjoy looking at ebay uk item no. 320116935047. If that's not twin to your chest of drawers, I'll eat my hat.

(Dang .. there go my hopes of giving a good home to a handsome piece of furniture!)

Fred_Bear_2

I agree it doesn't look like wartime utility furniture. I have a utility chest of drawers but it's well made, with dovetail joints and solid drawer fronts, basic but honest if you know what I mean.

ormus

that is not utility furniture, its called a davenport chest??? or some such similar name.
i sold one just like it many yrs ago for 90 quid, (got it free), and it wasnt as nice as yours.

never_enough

Definitely not utility furniture, I had some as a student & it was ok but pretty basic. I would guess late Victorian in age, could be made of mahogany or rosewood, hard to tell without a close look but you could try googling for pics to compare. Again, agree it's probably not worth a huge amount. If you go to a local auction they can often be bought sub £50 (depending on condition), but you may get more on ebay. However I think it's lovely (admit to slight bias here as I have a couple similar to yours ). Yours look to be in a better state than mine which have a few veneer chips & a shrinkage crack on the top of one, but I still wouldn't part with them for anything (or anybody!) Apart from anything else they're so solid & hold **so** much stuff!! As you say you like it, I think you should consider getting rid of your OH & keeping the chest of drawers instead! :eek: :rotfl: