Rockford Republic Dining Room Set

Q: My parents bought an ornate revival-style dining room buffet, server, table and chairs during the Depression. The buffet and server have labels that say “Rockford Republic Furniture Co., Rockford, Ill.” All the pieces except the 10-legged table are in good shape. What do you think the set is worth?

A: From the 1890s until the Depression, Rockford was home to a boom in furniture manufacturing. Rockford Republic Furniture Co. was founded in 1917 when it took over the factory of the bankrupt Rockford Frame & Fixture Co. J.A. Carlstrom, an employee of the fixture company, headed up the group that started the new company. You are better off selling your set locally because of the cost of moving furniture. Rockford Republic furniture is well-made, so you might be able to sell the set for several hundred dollars, even if the buyer has to refinish the table.