We are downsizing and need to sell an antique pie safe I bought 35 years ago. I was told it came from Missouri. It is oak and the top portion has a roll-up section and a two door sifting area. The bottom section has two larger doors and storage. It has a white porcelain pull-out counter in the center. I have absolutely no idea what to ask for it and don't want to give away something that might be valuable. Can anyone give me a clue? It's unrestored, but stripped and has a small mouse hole on one side of the roll-up curtain. Thanks!

Addition to above: My wife informed me it's an Indiana Hoosier style pie safe and does not have the sifter mechanism. I hope that helps.

The easiest way to get an idea of the going price of an item is to look on ebay for similar items and see what they are selling for. I looked but I don't know how to ad the link to take you to the auction, but if you go over there, they have quite a few like the one you described and it should help give you an idea of how to price yours even if you are planning to sell it locally.

That sounds a lot like a Hoosier cabinet. All the pie safes I have seen are cabinets with doors, that usually have punched tin insets in them. Usually they have one drawer, either at the top or the bottom of the cabinet. They are usually about four feet tall and about 15 inches deep. Something like this.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bet,

I agree it sounds more like a Hoosier Cabinet then a pie safe. I live in the midwest and seen even those in poor condition go for a tidy sum. Check with some local antique stores and inquire how much it would cost to get one and subtract 1/3rd and there is your price to try to sell (allow for bargaining).

Is there any identifying lables anywhere on the cabinet, on the back side or the inside of the door? Hoosier Cabinets was a brand name and were identified with lables. Of course over time, lable come off. If it is an actual Hoosier Cabinet, it will be worth more that a cabinet that is styled after a Hoosier, and I have seen actual Hoosiers in various states of disrepair, some in pieces that have still sold for high dollar. I would definately check with someone more knowlegable and trustworthy.

Good luck!

Harry ... bet it is the cabinet,,,safes were used to store cooling or cooked food. The cabinet was a true work area ... usually the bake center... thus the bread drawer, sifter, and canisters. Mine was my granmothers... the finally had cabinets built and it was religated to the laundry porch in the late 30's. When she was ready to leave her home ... she had something she wanted passed on to each of us and then we could ask for other things ... I wanted the cabinet...family thought I was nuts... it was painted depression green and the etched glass had been removed... well the glass is back in it , the roll top works, and the scar on the enamel is where she'd put her grinder... and we built ... I had to have the right place for it. My kitchen has some of her yellow ware too.
Mine is from Napanee ... there are 6 or 7 makers.Mine is a larger version ... it is 58". Last year one sold on ebay (48") for $2400.

I'll let you flip through here... there are a couple of pics of it ... hope you find it a good home.
Becky

http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/becky42_bucket/