Back to Our Roots show returns to Medina County Fairgrounds: Yenke Peddler antiques

Victorian dresser with carved acorn handle pulls

This Victorian dresser with carved acorn handle pulls is worth about $225. It would fetch more if it had not been painted and still sported its original finish. (Photo Courtesy of Brenda Yenke)

We celebrate the first week of fall and look forward to some late summer weather! This will be the perfect weekend to attune your home and garden with the delights of autumn.

Just in time for inspiration is the “Back to Our Roots” antique and primitive show, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Medina County Fairgrounds, 735 Lafayette Road in Medina. The indoor setting of the Community Center provides shelter for all the great heirlooms, as well as temperature-controlled perks for visitors and vendors. Admission is $5.

Handmade items have been a curiosity for centuries. Some are simple, others are complex. Depending on your style, a hobby involved with an ornamental turning lathe,can produce an article so rare that it has universal appeal.

One such artist was Frank M. Knox, a retired businessman with a side expertise in cabinet making. He bought a Holtzapffel Lathe, made in London, to fill his desire for creating beautiful objects that all would admire. The lathes are rare, numbering fewer than 300.

Back in 1838, the exotic woods used on these machines could turn the ordinary into remarkable. The working drills could shape wood or metal into fanciful designs. Such examples were fluted bowls, geometric vases or perhaps Lucite that was spherically transformed into circles of glowing lights. It was all about the presentation of art and the mastering of the lathe machine. Several museums showcase examples of this Victorian-era glitz.

Hello Brenda,

This dresser belonged to my mother-in-law. Does it have any value and how can I market it, aside from a garage sale?

Patricia,

Cleveland

Hi Patricia,

Your lovely family heirloom is a Victorian dresser with carved acorn handle pulls. It has been painted, so the original finish has changed. It is a walnut piece, with three base drawers (all with key lock entrances) and two top vanity drawers. The tiered top drawer has a pleasing design with the drop spindle design. Meant for a bedroom, it could have a versatile use today. Highest value would be in the original finish, but as it is now, $225 would be appropriate. Selling by auction is always possible, with a slight commission going to the auctioneer. Consignment or outright selling to an antique shop is also productive. A great piece with possibilities!

If you have an item for evaluation, send a clear picture with history to Yenke Peddler, Brenda Yenke, P.O. Box 361633, Strongsville, Ohio, 44136. You may also email photos and information requests for Brenda to evaluate at kenyenke@aol.com.

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