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garlanre
(@garlanre)
Reputable Member
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 105
09/06/2013 9:18 pm  

I recently refinished this George Nelson dresser and put it up for sale. I am NOT trying to sell it on this forum and won't accept offers, so please don't take exception to my post. My issue does not involve sales; it involves the label, or in this case the absence of the label. People keep emailing me asking whether the dresser has one. It does not. The piece was abused pretty badly and the label got lost. But after I tell them this, I never hear from them again. I can understand that a label is important when it is not clear who designed a piece or when you want to make sure you're not buying a knock-off. But in this case, there is no question that this is a George Nelson dresser. So what's the big deal about a label? Why does the presence of one so greatly affect the piece's value, or even its salability, in a way that has nothing to do with its beauty or its obvious provenance? Oh, by the way, if anyone out there has an extra Herman Miller/George Nelson label lying around, let me know. Sticking a piece of paper in the top drawer may be the only way I sell it.


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tktoo
(@tktoo)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2275
09/06/2013 9:45 pm  

Legitimate gripe.
To my way of thinking, refinishing would devalue the piece more than the absence of a label.
Appears you did a bang-up job, though. Looks great in the pic.
Be patient. The right buyer will come along if it's priced right.


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jw468
(@jw468)
Estimable Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 88
09/06/2013 11:54 pm  

This is my...
This is my take...
Midcentury furniture has reached such a level of popular appeal that many people are purchasing items that they may not know enough about to recognize as the real deal without a label.
The refinish looks beautiful.


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foxxxy
(@foxxxy)
Famed Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 324
10/06/2013 12:35 am  

Why is a label important to...
Why is a label important to some people?
The same reason original paint, matching engine/transmission and body panels are important to car collectors.
These Nelson pieces are not rare, so I dont blame potential buyers from being picky and waiting for an example with a label and/or a piece that has not been refinished.


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garlanre
(@garlanre)
Reputable Member
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 105
10/06/2013 1:51 am  

deleted


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garlanre
(@garlanre)
Reputable Member
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 105
10/06/2013 1:59 am  

Had to refinish it
As you can see, if I hadn't, I might as well have thrown it away. The price reflects the refinish. Sure wish the label had survived.


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Mark
 Mark
(@mark)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 4586
10/06/2013 2:06 am  

.


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Krenit
(@ahilavahotmail-com)
Noble Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 251
10/06/2013 4:05 am  

Label whores. People who...
Label whores. People who will only believe something is "real" if it has a label are too stupid to know what they are buying. They are sheep and insecure in their knowledge, so they need a label as proof.


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NULL NULL
(@teapotd0meyahoo-com)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 4318
10/06/2013 4:10 am  

Hi
You did a great job.


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Lunchbox
(@lunchbox)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 1208
10/06/2013 4:16 am  

foxxy...
Your analogy is ridiculous.


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tktoo
(@tktoo)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2275
10/06/2013 5:41 am  

Garlanre, I certainly didn't mean
to suggest that you had devalued the chest. I meant only that a refinished example would bring less than a piece with its original finish in good condition might.
My apologies for any misunderstanding. From your photos, it seems that you've done oustanding work on a worthwhile rescue.
Perhaps if you state up front that the piece is refinished and sans labels, you'll save yourself some grief?


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garlanre
(@garlanre)
Reputable Member
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 105
10/06/2013 7:26 am  

No offense
taken at all, tktoo. I'll forgive you even more if you sell me a label...


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kcbrains
(@kcbrains)
Estimable Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 97
10/06/2013 7:49 am  

Krenit;
you took the words right out of my mouth.
Thanks for the chuckle.
Nice piece by the way. How did the sides and top turn out?


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bellwethr
(@eusticegmail-com)
Reputable Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 105
10/06/2013 8:08 am  

garlanre -- gorgeous piece...
garlanre -- gorgeous piece and nice refinishing job. I'd be proud to have that in my space.
If you're open to talking offline about refinishing, etc. you can hit me up at e u s t i c e @gmail.com (remove the spaces...)


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garlanre
(@garlanre)
Reputable Member
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 105
10/06/2013 8:39 am  

Here are pics of
the sides and the top. They came out well. I only needed to color match one
2-inch spot on the side where I sanded through the veneer to get that monster scratch out. You can kind of see it on the right side if you look closely, but it's a pretty good match. I was expecting more, but the two ends of the scratch weren't quite as deep, so I was able to maintain the integrity of the veneer. I was lucky because lateral scratches like that are the most difficult to restore.


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