Ya’ll know I am on the hunt for an old rocking horse, right? Well, two weekends ago at the McKinney Trade Days Flea Market I spotted the perfect rocking horse in a vendor’s booth. I made a beeline to the booth, but unfortunately, I was too late. Another lady literally had just bought the horse. She took my business card and said she would call me if she ever decided to sell it . . . I’m not holding my breath though 🙂
I started chatting with the dealer as a way to work through my raw nerves, asking him about some other items in his booth. That’s when I spotted this set of old wooden, hinged “things” propped up in the corner.
I was guessing they were maybe old surveyor’s tools, but when I asked him about their history he told me they were actually a pair of antique wallpaper hangers (he then quickly proceeded to tell a joke about a one-armed paper hanger). At $12 a piece, I thought they were a good buy, so I took them home instead of the horse.
I’ve been playing around with them some here at home, and also doing some research online. Looks like his story was maybe half-way correct.
These are antique wallpaper hanging tools, but I believe they were actually once part of a larger folding wallpaper table. According the dealer, the paperman would hang the paper over the top extended piece . . . from what I have seen online though, these two pieces would actually have a large wooden piece stretched between them and they would function as table legs.
via 1stdibs.com
This is an example of a full table that was for sale on 1stdibs.com. My legs aren’t exactly like this, but you can get the idea. Doesn’t it have an amazing, industrial chic look?
I really like the old wood patina of these pieces.
I’m sure their engineering isn’t very complicated, but my simple mind is quite impressed with all their hinges and how they fold.
This hook and set of slots allows you to adjust their height.
They were just something totally unique, different than anything else I have ever found at a market. I love when I come across an item like that; makes me feel like I’ve won the lottery.
Eclectically Vintage wrote a great post about an antique wallpaper table she found.
Eclectically Vintage
If you click on the picture, you can see more of her post and more images of her beautiful table.
I’m not quite sure yet if I will keep or sell my wallpaper table legs . . . My husband recently said he would like to makeover his office in a vintage industrial look, and these would be perfect legs for a desk. There is a pair that looks pretty much the same as mine for sale though on Houzz.com for $225, so it might be worth selling them also!
Either way, finding the legs helped make up for losing the horse.
What do you think about them?
Linking up to:
I really think they are the bottom part of an ironing board.
They do look like they might work the same way . . . Interesting point Nina.
Melanie, I think it would looks soooo awesome as an industrial table! I can just see it now!
I could use your visionary skills Victoria!
Great find – definitely keepers!
Thank you Kelly! I love the table that you wrote about on your site. It’s beautiful!
Brings back memories. My dad was a wallpaper hanger and he had a table/legs similar to the ones you bought. I had forgotten all about it and wonder what we did with his tools….
Was he really Nan? How neat! You should try to find out where his old tools of the trade might be. Thanks for sharing!
OH I think they are awesome! And I can’t wait to see what you do with them, Melanie!
Thank you Linda 🙂 I’m glad you appreciate their uniqueness.
It IS like winning the lottery! Very Restoration hardware like. You might have missed these if you got the horse! Great find.
Yes Tracy, hey are very RH like. And true, the excitement over buying the horse may have caused me to miss these all together. Good point 🙂
I also love the look of the legs. The picture that you posted set up as a table is awesome. I would try to find some wood and make a top that would work with the legs and use it as the desk for your husband.
Thanks Debra. I haven’t taken the legs up to my shop yet, I just can’t let them go yet 🙂 I do think they could make an awesome desk.
They are wallpaper table legs. My husbands are worn out and I’ve been looking for another set if your intrested in selling at a resonable price please contact me. I need them for Christmas. I’ve been looking for months.
I will send you an email today 🙂 Thanks!
How much are you asking for them?
$75 for the pair Chris
I had a guy come wallpaper a half bath last week and he had a pair of these legs…I thought they were great so I went looking for them! I am so amazed that I found the exact legs. This guy pulled them out of his truck and set a sheet of plywood that he had painted and marked with measurements on top…instant table! He was finished in about 4 hours, folded them up and put them in the back of his truck and was off. I have been intrigued with the design ever since!
Great find!
Thanks for sharing that story Medora! I actually still have these legs, they are folded up in my garage. I wasn’t able to sell them at my antique mall booth, let me know if you’re interested in them!