Monday, February 16

Meme ~ Meme ~ Meme ~ Meme



My blog friend Bob-kat has tapped me with another photo meme. This is the one where you open your sixth folder and post the sixth photo in it. Since I have already done that one, I chose 2 other photos which I haven't posted yet.

Above is a dresser, mate to the bed in the photo below, that my mother bought at an auction or antique sale in West Virginia back in the 60's. It was completely black with grime and the wood was so cracked and dry it was shrinking. She put the set in the garage and waited until warmer weather, and that summer, she completely refinished both pieces. I really wish she had thought to take "before" pix, because you might not have believed your eyes. I had to lighten this photo quite a bit so that the detail would show up, but it didn't essentially change the color of it.



You can't see it here, but the foot board on this bed is just as ornate as the head board, and it has lots of grooves in it. I remember being home that summer for a visit, and watching mom use wet/dry, very fine sandpaper wrapped around a metal nail file to get down into the grooves, corners and curlicues. With her, it was a labor of love and she slept in that bed for many years before I brought it to our home.

I took these photos recently, along with a few others, to submit to Ant*ques Ro*dsh*w, since they are coming to Raleigh this summer. If one of my pieces gets chosen to be on the show, I'll let you know. Wish me luck!

13 comments:

MaR said...

Lovely antiques and what a wonderful job your mother did!! even if there isn't a "before" picture.
Wishing you luck with the Ant*ques Ro*dsh*w!! :)
I am (very) slowly catching up, have a wonderful day!!

Kay Dennison said...

Fabulous!!!! I love antiques, too.

Bobkat said...

What gorgeous pieces of furniture and what a good restoration job your mother did. I do hope the pieces get chosen for the show (fingers crossed)!

Thanks for playing along :)

gemma said...

That is such a beautiful bedroom set. Your mother was a woman of taste and obviously she had a deep pool of patience. What a job.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I'm here via 'the dharma bums'. What beautiful pieces those are. Thank goodness people hung on to them and didn't end up using them for firewood. Just think.. love was made, children were born and folks probably died in that bed. The life absorbed into that wood. I would love to hear those stories. Great restoration. I never would have had the patience.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

Very interesting furniture pieces. It's so interesting to know the history!

Darlene said...

To refinish something as ornate as that set is indeed a labor of love. Your mother must have had the patience of a Saint.

I do wish you luck and hope your headboard and dresser and worth mucho loot.

Anonymous said...

Wow, your Mom is impressive. That is such hard work but my, is the finished product lovely. Always think I can do that but after half an hour with sand paper, I am looking for other projects.
Totally admire those who see it through.

Granny Annie said...

That set is gorgeous! I don't believe I have a ceiling high enough to put a bed like that in. Be sure and let us know if you're going to be on the show. I'm guessing they will pick both pieces.

Star said...

They just don't make them like that anymore. The furniture or your Mom. Surely something in all of your collectibles and antiques will get on the Roadshow .

whimsical brainpan said...

I love that dresser!

Anonymous said...

Niece pieces and a great back story. If only that bed could talk! ;)

Chancy said...

I love "Antiques Road Show"
I hope your lovely heirlooms make it.