American of Martinsville Dining Room Set

Q:         Could you tell me the value of a set of dining room furniture made by American of Martinsville? The walnut set, which was purchased new in 1942, includes a table, six chairs, sideboard, china cabinet and hutch.

A:         American of Martinsville was founded in 1906 in Martinsville, Va. It made only bedroom sets until the 1920s, when it introduced dining room sets. The most valuable American of Martinsville vintage dining room sets today are in the Danish Modern style, which didn’t become popular in the United States until the 1950s. Still, if your set is in good shape, you could sell it locally (so shipping costs aren’t involved) for several hundred dollars.