WEBVTT 00:02.500 --> 00:05.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% GUEST: This has come down through six generations of my family, from Tiverton, Rhode Island. 00:07.166 --> 00:10.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Our family folklore has always said that it was a Goddard knee-hole desk. 00:13.166 --> 00:16.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% APPRAISER: This is called a bureau table. People often mistakenly refer to them as knee-hole 00:18.666 --> 00:21.566 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% desks. It's not a desk. It was made as a dressing table, and this would have graced the bedroom 00:23.700 --> 00:28.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of an extremely wealthy 18th-century patron. It was made about 1770 to '80, and we can 00:30.700 --> 00:35.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% tell that by the construction, by the patina of the wood, and also, it has the original 00:37.966 --> 00:42.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% brass hardware, which is helpful. So it is an 18th-century piece. It does have some originality 00:44.933 --> 00:49.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% issues. The lobe is broken off of the drawer. Also, the rear feet are replacements-- 00:51.666 --> 00:53.700 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Right. 00:53.700 --> 00:56.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% APPRAISER: And there's a support that's been added across the entire back. And also, this 00:56.233 --> 00:59.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% door, this recessed-cover door, appears to be an old replacement. It's not the same quality 01:01.933 --> 01:06.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% as the rest of the piece, the wood is a little bit different, the lock is a replacement, 01:08.700 --> 01:11.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the hinges are not original. In terms of where the piece was made, you mentioned the Goddards 01:13.766 --> 01:18.366 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% of Newport, famous cabinetmakers. This is a block-front piece, the way the drawers are 01:20.300 --> 01:23.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% blocked, was popular in Newport. It was also popular in Boston. If we look at the details 01:25.833 --> 01:29.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of the construction, this is not consistent with Newport. For example, Newport block-front 01:31.633 --> 01:36.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% bureau tables have a blade here above the top drawer, and then a large molding. This 01:38.700 --> 01:43.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% doesn't have that. They have exposed dovetails here. In Boston, they covered it with a strip 01:45.866 --> 01:49.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% of wood. And the blocking of the front edge, that's Boston. Newport, they tend to be straight 01:50.966 --> 01:55.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% across. The piece is made of mahogany, and the secondary wood is all white pine. If this 01:57.766 --> 02:02.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% were made in Newport, we would expect it to have poplar or chestnut secondary woods, so 02:04.000 --> 02:07.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% this piece was made in Boston. If it were a Goddard-Townsend piece, that 02:09.933 --> 02:12.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% would bring it to a different level. It's still a beautiful piece of furniture, but 02:12.766 --> 02:17.766 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% the value of what's called "brown furniture" in the industry, is way down from where it 02:19.166 --> 02:22.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% used to be. Particularly pieces that are not perfect. 02:22.133 --> 02:25.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% At auction, it would probably have a $5,000 to $7,000 estimate. 02:26.433 --> 02:27.433 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Okay. 02:29.466 --> 02:32.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% APPRAISER: If this were in perfect condition, even in today's market, it would 02:32.533 --> 02:35.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% bring at least $40,000 to $50,000 at auction. 02:35.500 --> 02:36.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% GUEST: Wow, great, thank you.