Mission furniture became popular in the early 1900s with the move by furniture designer Gustav Stickely to construct furniture that was simple, yet durable. This era is referred to as the American arts and crafts movement. The Mission style is based on the spartan furnishings of California's Franciscan missions and is characterized by thick lines of oak, with exposed mortise-and-tenon joints and little decorative carving, according to Collectors Weekly magazine. During this time, many basic pieces of furniture, including armoires, were hand crafted for American homes.
Instructions
1. Find any marks on the armoire that identify the maker. The marks may be found on the back or inside a drawer. If you have an original Gustav Stickley armoire, you'll find a red mark with the name Stickley or a paper decal with the name Stickley.
2. Take a picture of the armoire. You can use this to help you research your armoire and find its value.
3. Look in books about the American arts and crafts furniture movement to help identify and value your armoire. Some of these books may even give approximate values or examples of what past pieces have sold for, which will help you know the potential value of your armoire.
4. Visit local antique shops and auctions with your photo to compare similar armoires and their pricing. This will give you an idea of the value of your armoire if you were to sell it locally. There can be regional differences in pricing of antiques.
5. Hire an antique furniture appraiser. Although there will be a fee for this service, an appraiser can give you the most accurate determination of the value of your Mission antique armoire.
Tags: value your, your armoire, value your armoire, American arts, American arts crafts