I have a wonderful old desk that I just refinished. It was a labor of love and an attempt at perfection. I found this old desk at an auction out in the country. It was painted dark brown, (and about fifty other colors under that)! It had great design and I decided to take it home and paint it. When I got around to working on it, I discovered it was solid walnut. Upon further inspection I found a paper label inside the drawer. It reads Jos Peters Furniture Co. At the bottom of the label reads "Member of St.Louis Board of Trade". This would have been a painted table originally I am quite certain. If anyone has any information about this Jos Peters, who I guess was actually Joseph Peters of St.louis about 1875 give or take 20-30 years, it would be greatly appreciated. I have calls in to the Historical Society and the Newspaper. The desk is a two drawer Low Boy or Side Table. It has skeleton key locks in each drawer, vase shaped legs ending in ball feet. After studying various styles of furniture I have a theory that this is a William and Mary styled piece. This era ended in 1775 so I am thinking perhaps it was a Centennial piece completed somewhere close to a 100 years after. This would date it approx. Civil War to 1890? Knowing when this gentleman was making furniture would greatly aid my theory.
Did the desk and a small metal plate with the name and date on it? I am at work now but I have a piece of furniture that has a metal piece with a company name on it and an address in St. Louis. I have looked every where on the internet trying to find information and was just looking a little more tonight. the piece of furniture I have is a cedar chest.
I have two pieces of Joseph Peters furniture -- our last name just happens to be Peters, but probably not related. My pieces are not walnut, but are of a cheaper gum type lighter weight wood -- a "faux" oak finish was painted on them replete with black "grain marks" (it's the original finish -- I think old Sears Roebuck catalogs feature this type of "fake finish furniture" back then -- cheaper than real quartersewn oak ! However, you are 100% on target with the "shape" being distinctive -- the chifforobe has a rolled furniture style, on casters, round knobs, etc. -- great form; and the dresser has a huge plate glass beveled square swinging mirror and rounded simple curves. Skeleton Lock keys. Let me know what else you find out ! Cheryl Peters VintageSalver
oops and I forgot to mention, inside the chifforobe door where the metal "u" shaped tubular rack is fastened, a gold and green decal reads Jos Peters Furniture Co.
I also am looking for info on the Joseph Peters Furniture company. I have a piece of furniture with a tag - no logo, just a piece of paper stuck to a portion of the furniture that is not visible without removing a piece of marble. The tag reads "LADIES' PATENT TOILETTE The improvement in Bureaus, Dressing Case or ladies' Toilette as here presented is a property by patent-right of the Joseph peters Furniture Co., of St. Louis, Mo. . . The claims will be made known by advertisement, and all infrengement promptly dealt with."
It is a beautiful piece - has a beveled mirror set in a frame with little carved arches at the top. It has a small case that the front opens and reveals 3 small niches - almost desk-like. Then it has 2 small drawers and 2 large drawers. There is marble across the top of the little case and on each side of it. Family tradition says that the case was brought from a plantation in virginia to western missouri just after the civil war. That would fit with your theory. Please let me know if you know anything else about the company or my piece!
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