Hi Lynette,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

The Arts and Crafts Mission style is one of the most influential furniture movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It emerged as a reaction against the mass-produced, overly ornate furniture of the Victorian era, emphasizing honest craftsmanship, quality materials, and functional design.

The movement originated in Britain during the 1860s under the influence of William Morris and John Ruskin, who believed that handcrafted objects possessed greater artistic and moral value than factory-made goods. Their ideals spread to the United States around the turn of the 20th century, where they evolved into what became known as the Mission style.

The name "Mission" arose because early examples were thought to resemble the simple furnishings found in California's Spanish missions, although the connection is largely stylistic rather than historical.

Distinguishing characteristics of Mission furniture include: straight, clean lines; solid oak construction, often quarter-sawn white oak; exposed joinery such as mortise-and-tenon construction; flat panels with little ornament; heavy, substantial proportions; hand-hammered copper or iron hardware (the oval brass pulls on this table are atypical and possibly later replacements); and a finish that highlights the natural beauty of the wood.

I have a comprehensive book of Stickley designs and patterns and this particular table isn't in it, so I'm pretty sure this isn't by Stickley. While I've found identical Mission oak library tables offered for sale online, none are labeled by another maker so I'm not able to make an attribution at this point.

The identical oak library tables I've found for sale online are priced between $2,000 and $3,000, though these are retail prices. When similar tables have been offered at auction in recent months, they typically sell for between $500 and $1,500, depending on condition.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique Arts & Crafts Mission oak library table with side shelves
unattributed maker, circa 1905-1910
Of rectangular section, the slat sides enclosing inset bookshelves, the frame fitted with a single drawer. Unlabeled.
(Height probably 28-30 inches); width: 42 inches; depth: 26 inches
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition with minor wear commensurate to age and use.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 500-1,500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia