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Description
This center table was originally used as a photography prop for taking photos at Knaffl and Brother Studio in Knoxville TN in the late nineteenth century.The marble is white with some grey figuring and the wood appears to be a white wood such as Poplar or Fir and is faux grained with the Rosewood design. This is all original. There are 4 old repairs, the structural condition is excellent, and this is a table that could hold any lamp or sculpture that could be placed on it. The shaped top makes for an interesting appearance to the table and the original faux graining is mostly intact. Shipping will vary depending on where you live. |
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Description
In 1916, there was a catastrophic fire in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee that destroyed the well known Imperial Hotel that covered one end of a city block. On the back corner of this same block was a small exclusive hotel, The Royal Hotel, owned by J. Allen Smith, the founder of White Lily Flour baking products. The Royal Hotel had major fire, smoke and water damage. It was never rebuilt. During the clean up, Mr. Smith took to his personal home this bedroom suite that had been in the Bridal Suite at the Royal Hotel. It has descended through his family to his great-great granddaughter who is selling the 3 piece suite. The bed stands some 7 feet 10 inches tall without the rollers, the dresser with mirror stands 7 feet 6 inches tall and the washstand is close to 7 feet tall with the mirrored back. Walnut and burled Walnut veneer panels, heavily hand carved, close to a queen size with the width being 60 inches and the length being 6 feet 7 1/2 inches. There is some minor veneer damage but not objectionable and a few pieces of trim that are missing, but overall, this is 99%+ in both condition and being intact. The headboard has a carved mythological head and face on the top that resembles a stylized Indian, the center panel of the headboard has stylized relief, not applied, but almost cameo relief carved floral panel with a hummingbird in the upper left corner. On each side of the center panel is an arched panel below a winged eagle, a center floral carving and kissing dolphins beside the center floral carving. On the exterior of the arched panels on the sides of the bed are recessed carved flowers and trailing vines. There is a carved floral band below all of this with a stylized head in the middle of the headboard. The side rails are ornately carved with burled walnut panels extending the length. The footboard has an unbelievable amount of carving. On the headboard are two hand carved columns on each side of the center recessed floral carved panel that are carved as a perfect match to each other even considering angles or the floral bands. The dresser and wash stand have the same side columns beside each of the beveled mirrors and the frames of the mirrors resemble antique hand carved picture frames. This bedroom suite resembles fine sculpture. This is likely to be either from New York or close by. The finish is old and probably was refinished or cleaned at the time of the fire. The quality of this 3 piece bedroom suite is hard to describe. It is one you almost have to see to believe.
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