Posted 11 years ago
tileguy
(1 item)
Help trying to figure out what time period these benches were made and if its worth anything . I would like to just restore it back to new but don't want to find out afterwards that I should have left rustic ,of course theres a crazy story to go with it!
So my Father-in Law whom is not really sentimental or handy or into antiques or buying souvenirs etc for anyone , found this bench at a tennis club he goes to in Japan ( first picture) So totally out of character for him he tells the tennis club that he would like to buy it to ship back to the states for his son-in law ( because he likes old stuff ) They said it wasn't for sale ,they didn't know anything about it ,not sure how it got there . Cut to 6 months later he is back in Japan goes to the tennis club and its gone! Turns out they had hid it to give to him as a surprise.
So he borrows a car , takes it apart ( which probably took him hours ) packs in cardboard and sends it FedEx ,couldn't send the wood because of trade laws ,but I am sure he spent more than the bench is worth just on FedEx !
I know...... bench to the side I am very lucky to have such a great Father- in Law everyone is jealous cause he never buys anyone anything personal ,so I don't want to let him down and not restore it properly.
But I have looked everywhere on the Internet and have not seen another one like it
Any info would help !
Thanks Tileguy
Adopt the father-in-law. Keep the daughter until you have mastered forging his signature. Just having fun. That is a really great gift & you have a great father-in-law. Tell him I say Hi.
Oh, to answer you question. I would leave it as is unless you have major varnish peeling, which I don't see. I don't think Coke paid for that, so you probably have a "one of a kind". I would record the history & attach it in a way that it can't get lost.
Hey, TGBWC, if that is hand cut, it certainly has a signicant value. I could easily see where a local Japanese Coke dealer would have that made.
I agree with TGBWC, that it is a 1990's fantasy piece! Enjoy it for what it is and the story behind it, thats priceless! If you want to restore it, go for it. Won't effect the value.
Thanks all for your responses ! Blunderbuss2 thanks for the support ,great idea on putting the history on the piece so when I give to one of the kids down the road they will know the story .
Ill make sure to post pics when I am done with it .
I like it & would love to have it on my gallery. Does anybody know where I can get one cheap?
Know anybody going that way that will pick one up for me? have friend going to S. Afrika tomorrow but the other way. Had "Around-the-worlds" without having to go anywhere or buy a ticket!