How to Determine the Value of an Antique Shaker Table

Hey there, listen up if you got one of them old Shaker tables sittin’ around. These tables ain’t just any piece of wood; they got history, they got style. Now, you might be wonderin’ how much a table like that could be worth. Well, let’s dig into it a bit, and I’ll try to keep it simple for ya.

What’s So Special About Antique Shaker Tables?

Alright, so Shaker furniture ain’t just old stuff folks threw together. This style came from a group called the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, or Shakers for short. They lived back in the 1800s and believed in makin’ things simple but solid. These tables they made? Tough as nails, but with a look that folks today call “timeless.” I reckon they didn’t know they was creatin’ a style that’d stick around, but here we are.

How to Spot an Authentic Antique Shaker Table

Now, if you’re eyein’ that table in your living room wonderin’ if it’s the real deal, there’s a few ways to check. First off, look at the wood. Shaker folks were big on quality, so they used good solid wood, often a couple different types. Look close, and you might see some variations in the wood color or grain. That’s a good sign it’s old and not some new, factory-made thing.

Another thing is the joinery. See how the wood pieces fit together? If you spot some dovetailing – you know, where two pieces of wood kinda fit together like puzzle pieces – that’s often done by hand in these old tables. And lemme tell ya, back then, it wasn’t all perfectly even like you’d get with a machine today. If it looks a little off, that’s actually a good thing for value!

What Makes a Shaker Table Valuable?

Value in these tables, it ain’t just the age, although that’s part of it. It’s also how well it’s been kept. If it looks like it’s been sittin’ in a barn for fifty years, covered in cobwebs and with wobbly legs, well, it ain’t gonna fetch the same as one that’s been taken care of. Folks look for tables with a nice finish, no big cracks, and all the original parts if possible.

And, o’ course, if it’s from a known Shaker community – like one of them tables from Harvard, Massachusetts, where the Shakers had a village – it could be worth even more. There was a trestle table that sold for $117,000 at an auction over there in 2009. Now, that’s a lot of money for a table, but it goes to show how valuable these things can be.

Ways to Check the Value of Your Antique Shaker Table

Now, you’re probably wonderin’ how to figure out what yours might be worth. There are some websites that can give ya a ballpark, like eBay or 1stDibs. Just type in “antique Shaker table,” and see what other folks are askin’. Don’t go sendin’ photos to every place ya find, though; some sites might charge you for an appraisal.

• Price guides: You can find some online guides that’ll list common prices for Shaker tables, though keep in mind these are averages.
• Online auctions: eBay or specialized auction sites sometimes have similar tables listed. These give ya a rough idea but ain’t exact.
• Antique appraisers: If you really think you got somethin’ special, you might wanna pay for a pro appraisal. These folks know what they’re lookin’ at and can give ya an accurate value.

How to Sell an Antique Shaker Table

If ya decide you don’t wanna keep it, sellin’ it ain’t too tough, but you gotta know where to look. Try listin’ it on eBay if you’re okay with folks from all over lookin’ at it. Or, if there’s a local auction house near ya, they might be able to help. For somethin’ as special as an old Shaker table, I’d recommend goin’ with an auction, since they can sometimes fetch higher prices than online sales.

To Keep or to Sell?

Last thing, though, think hard before ya sell it. These old Shaker tables ain’t just valuable; they’re part of history. They don’t make ’em like that anymore, no sir. So if it’s in the family or has some meaning, maybe it’s worth more to ya as somethin’ to keep than to sell. But if the time’s right and ya need the cash, just make sure ya get a good price for it.

So there ya go! Hope this helps ya understand a bit more about your old Shaker table. Whether ya keep it or sell it, now you know you got somethin’ worth more than just sittin’ there collectin’ dust.

Tags：[antique shaker table, shaker furniture value, identifying shaker table, antique furniture guide]