Highboy value

[wade]

Hello All,
I am getting close to finishing a bonnet topped
highboy. I am following Randall O'donnell's design
from FWW #'s 117-119 with a few minor changes.
My queston is about what the value of a peice like
is . Now, I know this is a very subjective question
depending on many variables. I will explain to you how
I built this peice and with what materials and methods I
used. I will also try to post a photo to give you an idea
of where I'm at.
I also realize the piece is worth what someone will pay
for it, where the market is and the quality of construction.
So with those factors in mind, can anyone give me a ballpark
idea as to what I might charge? I have a couple of interested
parties and need some insight. Searching the web I have seen
antiques from $60,000 to one that sold on e-bay for $ 4,000.
  Maybe in 200 years mine might sell for close to 60 g's >
but I would give it to a loved one before I sold it for $4,000.
I've been working on it for a total of 5 weeks so far,but have
missed a number of days during that time (I have a little sawmill
biz that I do). I havent kept track of the hours but believe I could
do it in 4 weeks of 40 hours each.
Ok, that said, I would like to get $8,000 for it. I guess that would
translate to $50 an hour. Take out materials and overhead and
we're talking $25/ hr. Not much.
So, am I crazy for asking that much ($8,000) or for working for so
little ($25/ hr)? Or am I totally underselling myself?
Here's the details:
As I mentioned above I have a woodmizer sawmill and cut all my
own lumber. While I get all my logs for free from different tree services,
there is still quite a bit of work to do so I dont consider my lumber
to be free. This highboy is made out of walnut with secondary woods
of soft maple for drawer bottoms and framing members, and white
oak for drawer sides and backs.
The case sides, rails, drawer fronts and scroll board all came from
3 consecutive boards 20" wide x 12' long. The bottom case is m+t
and dovetail construction with the top being dovetailed also. I used a combination of handtools and machines with all exposed surfaces hand-planed
and scraped. Top and bottom center drawer fans carved as well as turned
and carved finials. Machined and carved gooseneck moulding.
As far as quality, I would not want to be side by side with a cartouche
recipient, but I would go up against Norm any day>
I know, thats a wide range. Maybe a  71/2 out of 10?
Hopefully the in progress pic shows up and gives you an better idea of the piece.
Well, if you've made it this far thank you! I'm sorry for this post being so long
and  thank you in advance for your suggestions and advice. I hope to have
it done by next week and wil post pics for comments and crtiques.
Again, Thank you. Wade

 

[dkeller_nc]

Not having made and sold a highboy myself, I'm not an authority on this question.  Like anything else in woodworking, the trick is not to make a piece of cabinetwork, it's to identify a client and sell it.  Offhand, though, $8000 seems pretty low for a hand-made piece.  I can garantee that Irion Co. and Anderson and Stauffer would charge a great deal more than that.

A reference point for the lower end of things can be found at Eldred Wheeler's website:

http://www.eldredwheeler.com/

E.W., in my opinion, is what quality factory-made furniture should be - no particle board or "cherry finish" veneers.  Nevertheless, I wouldn't consider their pieces "handmade" in the sense of a one-off piece from a custom shop, either.

 

[klkirkman]

Wade,

Please accept this in the spirit it is offered; I am not an expert at appraising, but I do watch prices of high end period reproductions .

As you say so well, in the end something is worth what someone will  pay for it.

In my experience, individual custom made items tend to be limited in price by the used value of the best of the high end production pieces unless the maker is of some reputation; disappointingly so. I do not like this outcome, but it seeems to be true.

I can suggest an eBay seller who regularly offers this sort of furniture, and a few custom pieces from time to time,  in the hope that the "buy it now prices" may be a useful indicator of the market to you if watched over a long time period: Stenella Antiques, doing business on eBay as "tricks-of-the -trade". I have no association with this firm, but find their ads instructive.

Karl

 

[msummers]

Ok I have LT15 wood mizer saw mill and mill all my wood, so $18k would be just fine if you can find a buyer for it.
What i've done on my last Log was to Document the process of what happens to get lumber, “Very hard work” then how to process it to a beautiful piece of work.
The gears on Dad’s tractor only have 1st and R that’s it.