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Post by scathma on Apr 17, 2019 11:06:52 GMT -5
Thank you for posting the high-quality pictures of the pedestal and brace, Michael. I find the discoloration pattern on the brace interesting. Given the straightness and cut-off, the lighter edges would seem to indicate that those areas were covered up (perhaps by other pieces) leaving the center area with the writing to darken from exposure to the elements, yet the area where the pedestal and brace connect is not similarly lighter in color? One might ask why the author didn't simply write around the area covered by the pedestal so the message could be read in it's entirety while the table was still assembled? Because then the reader might not make the connection between the mounting holes and the singnature! By requiring the reader to disassemble the table in order to see the complete message, the author hopes to guide the reader to make the connection, short of writing "Schau dir die Löcher dummkopf" (" Look at the holes stupid")
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Post by Michael on Apr 18, 2019 8:54:54 GMT -5
You're welcome. Of course its because of Mark that I have these and why I am always telling everyone they should visit or at least reach out to him for information! I don't need to tell you since you are quite aware already. Now I want you to look at this picture again. Blow it up by placing the "+" over the picture. Look closely at "our" confession block resting on top. imgur.com/OBLp2tQLook at the side of it. Years ago, probably around 2005-ish, Rab, Mark, and I were trying to figure out "how" this could have been used to make the holes in the notes. We spotted these pin holes on the sides. Naturally we considered they might have something to do with it. We also considered other reasons why they might be there. I believe either Mark or Rab suggested a table cloth being pinned to it or something like that. Again - I don't know. But what I do know is that IF I didn't go to the Archives to look at it myself, more than once because this wasn't my first time, I would have NEVER seen these "thumb-tack" like holes.
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Post by Miss dockendorf on Apr 18, 2019 10:27:33 GMT -5
It just seemed like everything had to do with the tag/stamp on the table and that isn't on the piece which was turned over. This is an important fact in not only dating the table but identifying it as a true Mersman table. Mersman furniture was stamped as such with a number included as part of that stamp. If this table is unmarked as you say, then it probably is not a true Mersman table. This makes it even more important to have it evaluated by an antiques dealer. Here is a link to a good article about Mersman furniture which includes a picture of the stamp used by this manufacturer. www.antiquetrader.com/featured/mersman-tables-remain-a-staple-of-20th-century-colonial-revival-furniture/This is my Mersman Table, also have a dumb/silent butler and end table that all match. This is a good example of the stamp although I'm not sure of the year. The silent butler is a pedestal style and both levels have a brace that is round.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2019 17:59:02 GMT -5
This is my Mersman Table, also have a dumb/silent butler and end table that all match. This is a good example of the stamp although I'm not sure of the year. The silent butler is a pedestal style and both levels have a brace that is round. Thank you so much for posting pictures of your Mersman Table and the stamp. I have been looking at pictures of Mersman tables online and I have noticed the round table braces on some of the styles. I am wondering if the table brace shape has anything to do with the period of time or year that a table was manufactured. Do you happen to know what time period your tables date to?
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Post by Miss dockendorf on Apr 18, 2019 18:26:13 GMT -5
You are quite welcome, Mom is guessing the coffee table and end table were bought about 1946 when her family moved to a bigger house in D.C. The round butler has been around since the mid 1930's and was given to my Grandmother by a friend. The butler definitely has a round brace on each level. Can take pictures if you like. Have wondered if the Mersman stamp having color indicates it's a later date than the 1930's variety. The butler has a stamp but it's barely visible and black, no color.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2019 19:17:24 GMT -5
You are quite welcome, Mom is guessing the coffee table and end table were bought about 1946 when her family moved to a bigger house in D.C. The round butler has been around since the mid 1930's and was given to my Grandmother by a friend. The butler definitely has a round brace on each level. Can take pictures if you like. Have wondered if the Mersman stamp having color indicates it's a later date than the 1930's variety. The butler has a stamp but it's barely visible and black, no color. You bring up a good point about the variations in the Mersman stamp. I have seen rather plain stamps and some that are more elaborate. These variations definitely have some meaning. It could be production dating or have to do with the decor styles that Mersman produced. Maybe tied to the name changes the company went through during its years of business. So, if the table brace with the german writing on it is square, it would make sense that the table top would have been square also. The table legs in the picture Michael posted look like pedestal table legs. I wonder if Mersman made square pedestal tables in the 1930's? I guess I will have to do more searching.
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