Mahogany indigenous to America vs Ikea from Sweden: Craigslist naivity

Mahogany is indigenous to the Americas. A darker variety of the tree grows in Africa. However most vintage furniture comes from native United States trees, with a fine, straight grain that took a high polish. Mahogany was used by Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and the Adam brothers for high quality furniture. The rich, red color in mahogany wood was attained by using ammonia. Modern pieces come from the Philippines and other Asian nations.

A generation ago it was still held in high regard. However, a glut of Ikea disposable furniture appeals to a generation who view the simplicity of transient living in a campus as norm when upgrading to an apartment or townhome. They don't want to hire helpers to move grand dressers, desks, tables, or armoires. They resort to acquiring smaller vintage pieces or reluctantly acquire heavier pieces to shabby-chic or chalk paint, lest it hamper their mobility in pursuing a career move.

The market to sell the grander pieces with scrolls and carvings is left to brick-and-mortar vintage stores, estate sales, or flea markets. The latter two resources often sell pieces quite inexpensively to avoid the back-breaking and costly exercise of moving and storage.

Individuals with a piece or a room full of furniture, will first try to sell on Craigslist or a consignment store. Within a short time the pieces are donated to thrift stores where the vintage stores or those with a limited budget but appreciative of older pieces snatch up to refurbish and treasure.

Perhaps in time another generation, living outside of tenement areas and cities, disguised as "2035 plan" developments, will treasure these grand pieces.

We found the items pictured on craigslist - in Los Angeles - this week. The store display was listed at $995 in Glendale. If we had the money and space and justified need we would grab it up ...... The executive desk was listed at $2500 in Sherman Oaks, and for us it was the same story, oogling over a beautiful piece of furniture. The pair of mahogany dressers were listed at $250 from Torrance - alas for us still not in the budget of money and space. Sigh.