I have tried to no avail to research this and get an idea of what and when this piece is from. It is marked "Tippecanoe" on the front bottom with an Indian bust on the right side middle and another bust (William Henry Harrison?) on the left side middle facing the other. It has 2 long handled axes that cross and shaking hands across the top. I dont know if this a commemorative piece from the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, in which William Henry Harrison was considered the "Hero" of, or a reference to his election in 1840 with the "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" slogan. Maybe it isnt either of those. I have researched tokens/jewelry/medallions/commemorative/presidental etc. and can not find this anywhere.
I bought the piano and bench in about 1968. The Piano had been refinished but the bench was unfinished. The finish on the piano was very clear and has remained so, so it was probably Urethane.
I was very taken by the beautiful figure which I assumed was Curly Maple and the workmanship was so good I assumed that it was solid not veneered. It was not until recently when I became interested in its value that I examined it and found it to be veneer over similar solid wood with a lesser figure. There is almost no delamination and there is no visible areas of such. The upper inset panels have been replaced with D Fir plywood panels covered with Mac Tac. The only damage is a little vacuum cleaner bruising at the base and two holes in the top of the foot indicating that there may have been two spindles on each side.
The bench is unfinished and some indications of figure can be seen but not enough to even guess at the wood. The hinges on the lid are broken away and have scarred the underside (as shown in the photographs) but other than that it is in good condition.
My father was a cabinet maker and I grew up with wood eventually becoming a Structural Timber Engineer. I am not expert in furniture woods but have loved beautiful wood projects all my life.
History
I have no knowledge of the piano's history before it came into my hands. It has been indoors since, continuously under residential conditions, moved only once and tuned after moving. It has been played only by my oldest daughter and my wife who no longer plays. I have never had it appraized but am sure that it is a valuable piece. To me at least.
Photographs
This submission is accompanied by a file of Photographs. The pictures were taken with my Blackberry and are unretouched except for exposure.
I have a miniature pottey jug with a cobalt rim that is marked Melmar and (tyron?) N. C. on the bottom. Just under two inches high with a spout and handle. It has a small flake on the rim and a small flake on the side. Otherwise in excellent condition.
I found this teapot or coffee pot in a catholic thrift shop near the United Center in Chicago. I paid $28.00 for it. I don't know much about china - I admired it because it was pretty and looked old, plus it was in very good condition. The gold pattern is still very nice. On the handle - the gold is a little "dull" compated to all of the other gold - but it is by no means pealing off or anything. There is a small green leaf patter around the top of the pot and on the lid but that is it. The bottom is stamped with Haviland France in Green and Haviland & Co Limoges in red. The top is stamped with Haviland & Co Limoges in red.
I apologize for the fuzzy pics. I had to use my phone camera - my other camera is not working at the moment.
