John Sikorski: Cabinet could be refinished one day
Q: I recently purchased the cabinet pictured in the attachment. I want to know if it is valuable before I paint it. It is tiger oak and in excellent condition. Thank you. — C.F., Internet
A: The china cabinet you have was made in America circa 1900. Tiger oak refers to the tiger-like striping of the wood grain. The decorative grain is from the oak timber being quarter-sawn, revealing the medullary growth rings of the tree. China cabinets like the one you have were produced in large quantities in the United States during the last quarter of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. Paint it if you like, but use a paint that can be removed if someday someone should want to refinish the cabinet. Current market interest in tiger oak furniture is flat. Have fun and enjoy it as you like.
Q: I found your name in your column in The Gainesville Sun. Do you know where I may be able to sell off a large collection of FiestaWare? Some are vintage with rare colors. Whatever help you may be able to give will be greatly appreciated. — K.A., Internet
A: I imagine most of our readers recognize the name FiestaWare and many likely own some or used to. It was produced by the Homer Laughlin Pottery Company. They first introduced FiestaWare in 1936 and, after a very successful run, discontinued it in 1972. Due to popularity, they brought it back into production in 1986. Serious collectors seek out pieces from the original period.
There are numerous websites selling and buying FiestaWare. I suggest you check what Replacements Ltd. in Greensboro, North Carolina, is willing to pay for the pieces if they have an open to buy. The phone number is 1-800-REPLACE. Simply tell them you want to sell your FiestaWare and you will get some insight about what the interest in your particular pieces is currently. Good luck.
Q: My dad has a case of 24 small Coca-Cola bottles from the 1940s or ’50s. The case is in pretty good shape. Are they worth anything? — M.B., Internet
A: In the large specific category of Coca-Cola memorabilia, the case of small bottles is not looked for by serious collectors. The outlook for future collector interest is dim. They are sold on the Internet for affordable prices; you can always check with a seller to see if they are buying. In other circumstances, it is catch as catch can.
— John Sikorski, with more than 35 years of experience, is an Ocala-based antiques advisor, consultant and broker. Send your questions to Sikorski's Attic, c/o The Ocala Star-Banner, 2121 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala, FL 34471-7752, or email absantique@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: John Sikorski: Cabinet could be refinished one day
