Larkin oak claw feet table with veneer top?

[Elijah]

Hiya just bought a 48" Larkin oak claw feet kitchen table with 3 leaves. Turns out the top is veneer, while the base is oak. It looks like the veneer is on top of cheap pine. Is it possible that this is the original top? Seems strange to put a veneer top on a nice oak pedestal, but on the underside of the top is the Larkin stamp.

Is it possible to replace the top with real oakaffordably?

Trying to decide whether or not to return this to the antique store for my money back.

thanks Elijah

[Jeffo]

I'd say it's possible that the top is veneered, but that doesn't equal bad. There is a lot of nice, quality veneered furniture. Typically, replacing the top and loosing the stamp will likely hurt the value of the table. That being said, I know more about the company than the furniture, it's value and construction. Larkin was a mail-order soap company circa 1900. The idea was to trade premiums received from the purchase of soap for furniture and other household items. 1904 they commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design their new office in Buffalo, NY. This building considered to be one of the most significant pieces of American architecture. It's a shame that it was made into a parking lot in about 1950, and still is the last time I checked. The Larkin family is also connected to Elbert Hubbard, founder of the Roycrofters, East Aurora, NY, about 20 miles Buffalo. Without them we wouldn't be mail-ordering today - that's not likely, but the did help get the idea going.

Does that help with your question? Maybe, maybe not. I'm thinking you bought the table because you like it, investigated, and are somewhat disappointed, tho hopefully not ripped off. To me, some of the enjoyment from an item like that is the history behind it. Perhaps finding out more about it will help you appreciate it in a different way.

cheers, Jeffo

[Elijah]

Thanks for the information, it helps to know some of the history. Unfortunately we bought the table because we wanted a solid oak table to withstand decades of batterings from children, pets and mother-in-laws, not a veneer table which is going to look like some crap the second our future children gains manual dexterity. And we bought it thinking "The top looks like a bunch of hacks garbaged over nice wood with sloppy layers of cheap finish... it'll just take some careful sanding and stuff to make the thing look beautiful." So we're disappointed that this is the best the table will ever look, and will try to return it today.

Thanks, Elijah

[Jeffo]

Good luck, doesn't sound like the best table for your needs. I can see why you'd want to replace the top, under the circumstances, it might be worthwhile to investigate further if you can't return it.

Jeffo