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Q. We recently moved my mother (now 93 years old) into a small apartment with elderly care. When dividing up the furniture and other things she didn't have room for I took the bedroom suite and now have it in my guest bedroom. I didn't know much about the furniture except we always had it and I knew we couldn't get rid of it.

       I am enclosing pictures of the complete set which includes a mirrored vanity and matching bench, a chair, a tall chest and a full size bed. The cushion on the chair may have been recovered, I do not remember. The mirror is in perfect condition. I made the quilt on the bed from a pattern my aunt had and know its a grandmother's flower garden. I know the pattern comes from about 1939. Is this fitting for this furniture?

      I am not interested in selling this suite but I would be interested in your opinion of what the value of it would be. Any information you can give me would be appreciated.

A. Your nice set of furniture was probably made in the 1930's in the style that was known at the time as "Art Moderne". It is known in current times as "Art Deco" but that term was not coined until the 1960's. The veneer is a combination of satinwood, avodire, zebranowood and oriental walnut, all exotics which have not been used in commercial quantities since World War II. The veneer is laid over what is called lumber core plywood. Each surface starts with a solid core of birch, poplar or gum and layers of veneer are added to both sides of the core for beauty and strength. You can best see this process by looking at the unfinished bottom edge of a drawer front. Close inspection will reveal the five layers.

      The pattern you have on the quilt is, of course, contemporary with the set. If you get curious about exactly when the set was made, there is a date stamp on the back of the mirror. Once the mirror is removed from the vanity, examine the gray side of the glass. Somewhere, in darker gray on the back side will be the date the glass was made which will be close to when the set was made. All original American plate glass mirrors made in the 20th century have a date stamp.     

      I refer you to a book by Harriett and Robert Swedberg, "Furniture of the Depression Era", Collector Books. There is a set made by D. Bassett Manufacturing Company of Bassett, Virginia that is virtually identical to yours on page 83. New copies of the book have an updated value guide in them so you can get an idea of the monetary worth of the set. My guess is that set, in excellent condition, would sell at auction in the range of $750 - $1,000 but its sentimentally is probably priceless.

Q. I think I got in over my head when I agreed to restore an old wing chair my wife found. The upholstery is not too much of a problem since the padding is in good shape and I can do the frame repair that it needs. My problem is with the springs in the bottom. It has the zig zag type of spring under the padding. Two of them are off the frame and one is broken. I can't get enough leverage on the two loose ones to stretch them back to the frame and attach the clips. I can get a replacement spring but what's the use if I can't install it. What's the trick?

A. Its not a trick, its a tool. There is a specific tool designed just for stretching and installing the notorious "no sag" zig springs. It can be acquired at any upholstery supply house and at most general supply houses such as Van Dyke's Restorers (www.vandykes.com). Almost any upholstery shop has one and some will even order you one along with a length of spring and new attaching clips (recommended), especially if you buy some fabric from them. Just be very careful with the springs. They are installed under a lot of tension as you have found out and a poorly secured spring can cause serious injury when it recoils. I have scars on my left hand to prove it