Here is another follow-up to my post about the newspaper clipping I found tucked in with the family photos. If you missed it, you can find it in A Series of Disasters or read the clipping below. Since then I have learned a lot about the George Paake (born Joost Peek and also known as George Pake) family of widowed father and five children.
In addition to learning about the children, which I will explore more in future posts, I was told that a piece of furniture that was rescued from the fire is still in the hands of the family. Since I thought you might like to see a sample of what was in that house in 1902, I asked for a photograph of the dresser.
I am not an antiques expert by any means, but it struck me as different from most of the pieces I’ve seen from that period. Since the fire was in 1902, the dresser was most likely from the late 1800s.
Teunis Peek and his wife Jacoba Bassa had six children while living in Lexmond, the Netherlands. In 1865, Jacoba passed away at the age of 41. A few years later (1868 or 1869), Teunis brought the children to the United States, where he settled in Michigan.
Therefore, when the fire occurred at the home of Teunis’ son George, the family had been living in Michigan for over 30 years. Because of the style of the dresser and the length of time in this country, I would assume that the dresser was purchased in the United States.
From a little Google research, I am guessing that this dresser is of the “Eastlake” style. The straight lines were meant to vary from the norm of Victorian curlicues, and the ridges on the corner columns and the stylized branch with leaves carving are typical of that style of furniture.
Do you agree or disagree about the style and age of this piece? and why?
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What a treasure!…and the story even better! Great post.
Lenore, thank you so much! Yes, isn’t the dresser fabulous! It’s so wonderful that they have hung on to it all these years.
My knowledge of antique furniture could fit in a thimble! But that doesn’t stop me from appreciating it’s beauty AND the fact that it’s a terrific heirloom. Good luck on your trek to discover more about it.
Haha, my knowledge, too! Yes, it’s so beautiful! When I found that clipping I had no idea that I would even find out what family it was talking about, much less see a photo of a piece of furniture the family had owned at that time! I am constantly amazed at how much information is out there–it’s all about how to find it! Thank you for your good wishes!
What a beautiful piece of furniture—it has such a classic look that it could fit into a home today or 100 years ago. I have no idea about dating it, but the fact that it remained in the family all these years after the fire is quite remarkable. Great post!
Amy, isn’t it though! So much of the furniture from the end of the 1800s looks the same, especially that found in the majority of American homes (not talking about wealthy people with expensive furniture, some even antique in those days). This piece has a different look and must have been quite modern looking in those days. And, yes, I think it would fit in a lot of homes today. It’s kind of thrilling that they still have the dresser and know that it came from the house with the fire.
I love that the dresser was saved! I don’t know one single thing about dating furniture but I know that it is lovely. 🙂
Amberly, I do too! Yeah, I wish I knew more about furniture, especially the furniture that was in the homes of average Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s. I feel like we don’t even know what the inside of our ancestors homes looked like! That’s why seeing this dresser is so special for me.
The dresser is lovely. I also don’t know anything about dating furniture, but I have a somewhat similar dresser that I think is from the late 1800s or early 1900s.
Did you ever find out any more about your own dresser, Sheryl?