ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996                 TAG: 9603270083
SECTION: HOMES                    PAGE: D1   EDITION: METRO 
COLUMN: Antiques & Designs
SOURCE: KATHY SUE GRIGG

SOFA AND CHAIR IN SALEM HAVE AGED GRACEFULLY

I'm always on the look out for the unusual, and I think I found it in Salem at the Olde Salem Stained Glass & Antique Shop.

John McDaniel, the owner, met me at the door, eager to show me his newest find - a magnificent hand-carved sofa and chair. He doted over it like a father with a newborn child, rubbing the fine wood thought to be Brazilian mahogany and talking a mile a minute about what he's been able to find out about the pieces.

He said that he has called in all the experts he knew and that everyone was of the opinion that the pieces date to the late 1700s or early 1800s.

McDaniel believes the pieces originated in Paris, were brought to West Virginia, then to Roanoke and finally to Dublin, where he bought them. They have been reupholstered, and the original horsehair stuffing was reused.

On close examination, I noticed the artist took special care when carving the woodwork. The expressions on the cupids' faces make you wonder what he was thinking as he worked. It's possible to see a hint of smiles. He also carved roses, lots of them, and the workmanship is incredible.

Christie's of New York is interested in auctioning the pieces, McDaniel said. He said he has been told the set could bring as much as $50,000.

I wish I could be the highest bidder.

Kathy Sue Grigg is an associate at Surfaces Inc. If you have ideas, questions or comments about her column, write to her in care of The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010.

LENGTH: Short :   42 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:   The sofa and chair, which have been reupholstered, are 
          thought to be made from Brazilian mahogany. The pieces may have been
          made in Paris in the late 1700s or early 1800s. Cupids with a faint 
          smiles on their faces dominate the hand-carved designs (right) on 
          the pieces.  color






















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