Hi all, huge apologies in advance as you'll need coffee (or wine) to get through this!
Technically not an ebay related question but am trying to learn a bit more about Spanish mahogany rather quickly (am a novice with antiques!) as I am hoping I can help a good friend of mine out.
I used to sell on here a lot years ago and specialised in vintage clothing and accessories but had a tiny bit of knowledge on antiques from my father.
An absolutely lovely friend of mine is a fair bit older than me and was struggling with uploading an item on Gumtree so I've offered to do it for her. I'm just waiting on photos now but the basics were that is indeed a genuine Spanish Mahogany antique dining table, roughly 120 cm and apologies but some of the measurements were missing so that is either diameter or across the middle and oval.
So obviously a bit tricky yet without photos but she sending some through so will upload when she does and the issue is she has no idea of age other than it was handed down in her family so is a minimum of at least 70 yrs old but could easily be much, much older.
So here is the thing. I knew antique spanish mahogany is quite collectible in some cases and that there was every chance her suggested price was way, way too low. I also know that she's stubborn and has no interest in money or material items, she would never spend a cent on herself...and she should. So she is likely going to argue she just wants it out of the way (they are downsizing) and I am trying to find the $$ to buy it myself if she insists on selling at the price she's put on it.
She's just putting $450 on it and if it's worth a lot more I can't let her do that, so want to buy it simply so I can then sell it properly and give her what it is actually worth.
Honestly, if there is one person that deserves something special it's her, so I am desperately trying to get an idea of where to start as I know she wouldn't bother with it being assessed so if we have to go and pick it up and take it to the auctioneers then we will.
It would take an even longer novel to describe who she is. She's well known in our line of work which is voluntary as she's basically done the most incredible things over many years, devotes her life to these causes yet still has an amazing work background. She's a lawyer but does anything there for free, she was the GM of the RSPCA, was chosen to be a politial candidate which is actually unpaid and she had to give up her paid work for a govt dept because it's seen as a political conflict.
She does all of this 24/7 which is amazing as I am a lot younger with 4 children, 3 who have special needs, and she seriously does so much more.
As I am one of her closest friends I also know things others don't, which includes the fact she has recently had a lot of surgery, is undergoing tests for cancer and financially they do easily struggle as much as us as her husband is in his 80's so not working.
So in a nutshell then I am desperately trying to get some idea about this table as she never stops and if she refused to take the money then bugger it, I will be making sure her and her husband have an amazing, pampered and relaxing weekend away which she can't refuse. It would be wonderful if it was worth something and they had a break for the first time in years.
I am trying to work out how on earth I can get just some idea of whether or not I should actually be taking this to our local antique auctioneer or not as I truly have no idea how I can even date it.
Does anyone here know anything at all about spanish mahogany and it's styles through the eras that may be able to help give me a rough idea when I have the photos?
And from my description alone am I right in thinking she is seriously undervaluing it?
I apologise terribly for THE longest post ever no doubt lol, I thought here would be the best spot to try as I know that those of you with any knowledge of antiques will give it to me straight over whether it may only be worth what she's looking at putting on it or if I'm right in thinking it's worth a lot more.
Thank you SO much for any help, it's a big ask I know!
