#1319-Imperial Oak Library Table - 100tonsofstuff - Estate of Richelle's Antiques Online Only since 1998

100tos#1319 WOOD OAK HONEY OAK MISSION TABLE LIBRARY DESK with Original Sticker see pic. TABLE MADE BY:IMPERIAL FURNITURE Co, Grand Rapids, Michigan. circa 1904-06 Size 32X50X30H DESK/TABLE. 1/4 SAWN OAK TRESTLE LEG MISSION STYLE ORIG FINISH

Weight:_ 115lbs Size: 32X50X30H

#1319. Arts & Crafts Quartersawn SOLID Oak Library/desk. Has a 'Postcard' top so-named due to the length/width aspect ratio and the rounded corners typical of the actual post cards of this period (earlier postcards had sharp corners that did not fair well in mail bags). Trestle Legs with 'Thru Tenon' End Stretchers.  ORIGINAL reddish brown finish with age darkening and circular discolorations. 3-drawers with Copper "Ring & Rivet" Bail pulls. Inside of frame is decal sticker "Imperial Grand Rapids Mich" with red crown. Center drawer bottom has painted stencil "S55" and drawer cavity has chalk mark "464". Note also the lack of wood darkening (age oxidation) in the drawer cavities versus the exposed areas.  Weight 115lbs  (Family piece since 1977)

From our research, prospective buyers of the "Quarter Sawn" should be aware that some other makers of "Arts & Crafts Oak Furniture" used thin "1/4sawn" veneered oak over less expensive boards.  For example; 2000ATA&Cpg466 uses 'veneer' in the descriptions of at least two furniture items in their 'Arts & Crafts' listing.  However, F. Stuart Foote, the founder of Imperial Furniture in 1905, being the pre-eminant lumber wholesaler in the region, knew better.  Much poop on "Imperial Furniture, Grand Rapids Mich." is available on the Web at 100TOS.COM at least that’s the way it looks from the hits we're gettingJ.

General note on 'oak' furniture- Encyclopedia of Coll Vol. OP pg7, "Oak Furniture. Turn of the century (1900) very popular. Sears (Roebuck) did great business mostly ornately press/machine carved. Center of this industry was Grand Rapids Michigan." Last para pg7 "….some people came to refer a plainer style called 'Mission Oak (pgs 16-17), some of which also came from Grand Rapids." 'Some' not lots, much, many, most; just 'some'.

Through-tenon end stretchers & medial footrest (trestle) stretcher (no thru tenon). Original Reddish brown finish. Original Copper ["]Ring & Rivet["] Bail Pulls. Missing 2 decorative tenons on back of back legs. Several discolorations & aging add to its personality.

TABLE MADE BY:IMPERIAL FURNITURE Co, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  HISTORY: Imperial Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan was founded in 1904 by F. Stuart Foote (previously chief lumber buyer for Stickley). Mr. Foote made High Quality Dining & Occasional Tables. This is in the Mission Style but more decorative[>drop the 'BUT more decorative'<]. Imperial Furniture guaranteed their buyers a lifetime warranty. This company was bought out and eventually closed. This could be called a Library Trestle Table-Desk or Writing Desk. This Table-Desk has been in our possession since 1977.