OT: huge find! Art Deco Dresser

Since we all enjoy style, perhaps you all will enjoy a peek at my new dresser. It’s Art Deco metal gentleman’s dress, by designer Norman Bel Geddes. It’s a bit rough. It’s missing a Bakelite handle, has a small dent and needs a hinge replaced/repaired. The entire piece has been painted over a couple times, so will need carefully stripped. (Hopefully it still has its original enamel intact underneath.) Despite the future work, I’m over the moon! It was on clearance at an antique store for pennies. We got home and started researching out of curiosity, only to discover how rare and desirable it is. We just bought it because we like it ha!

Photo 1 is ours. The remaining photos are just so you can see the piece in good shape.

Does anyone else enjoy finding gems? Or art deco?

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6 months ago

avicennia

Veteran

Yay! Congratulations at finding a gem. Art Deco isn’t my era, but I’m with you on the fun of finding treasures!

Jenni NZ

I like pic 2 best, gorgeous colours. Pic 3 looks like a filing cabinet to me?
I hope your one will restore well. Yes, I love Art Deco, my favourite era to dress up in, and have dining table/chairs in our original house (next door, lived in by DD1 plus her husband and daughter) which were vintage in 1991 and are some kind of mid-century design. I didn’t bring them to this 2018 house which is much more modern, but we did buy a “modernist” bookcase for this new home which I love and which also nods to the era.
Have fun restoring!

RobinF

How fun! Can't wait to see what you do with it!

Bijou

What a find and how wonderful for it to be restored. I have my grandmother's art deco dining table and love that it is so old (at least 80 years old) and that it has been part of the family for so long. It is one of my most cherished possessions.

rebekahphoto

Congrats on a super find! It has a lovely design & great curves!
Nearly all of the furniture in our home is vintage or custom built--mostly Danish modern pieces: some are family pieces I grew up with and a couple are great thrift store scores. My best find was a pair of Poul Jensen Selig Z-chairs for $30!

My most recent "project" is a 60s colormates campaign lingerie chest that Im refinishing to hold supplies in my art studio. will be a good summer project! The original finish is trashed so I am stripping & will finish in a natural stain to show off the wood. (photo - same cabinet, but in good condition)

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Jules

Wow you have a great eye! Would love to see the restored version

5 months ago

Ket

Hello dear Fabbers! Life got lifey and I'm behind. :}

Avicennia, thank you <3

Jenni, I didn't know you were so into Art Deco! That's wonderful pic 3 is definitely not my favorite ha! File cabinet is an apt description, though several of the dressers were done in two-tone color schemes. The photo was more to show the lines of the dresser. I prefer pic 2, however, it will be an expensive restore as that will require a lot of expensive veneer. As we are stripping it, we found it was originally veneered with wood. But the veneer isn't holding up after all the years, paint layers, and stripper. Likely we will repaint it in a single color.

Robin, thank you!! It will likely be next year before we finish it. (It's low on the priority list.) But I'll try to show you all the finished dresser!

Bijou, that is such a special item to have! I love having family heirloom pieces. My wedding ring was my husband's grandmother's ring set. Those items are always so special.

Oh Rebekah!! Such finds!! I just love your lingerie chest re-do. That is going to be a stellar art supply cabinet.

citygirldc

(website)

I love looking at art deco in general, like jewelry and furniture, but I don't own any. However, 20's fashion is my go-to.

Can't wait to see your piece once it's refurbished.

3 months ago

Thank you citygirldc!! I really love 20s fashion. It doesn't love my body type. (Makes my curvy figure look like a refrigerator haha!) But I love the cocoon coats, turbans, makeup, and all the beading and textiles. It was such a beautiful period! How do you like to wear 20s fashion?? I would love to hear more!

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