Clothes Press I (RETIRED)
Mar 20, 2012 11:43:04 GMT -5
Post by maggiedoll on Mar 20, 2012 11:43:04 GMT -5
From American Girl Playthings, Felicity is a closet pyromaniac.
OMG I finally own this!
I've wanted this clothes press for almost twenty years, and finally got lucky last December. The clothes press is made of very heavy, solid wood that is held together by stapler-like nails. The top and sides of the clothes press are very nice, thick and smooth wood while the back, doors, and bottom are made of a lighter, softer plywood feeling wood. How, may one ask, do I know the wood so well?
[*Mod edit to remove dead image links throughout the review*]
This is how my clothes press came home to me. Yeah, I cried. For all it's solidness, the clothes press is not the most hardy piece of furniture ever made. It was not just the wood, but the brass details were damaged in the delivery. However, aside from the bottom the clothes press came together reasonably well with a bottle of wood glue and some hot glue. A liberal partial refund also made the clothes press more palatable.
My clothes press did not come with shelves, which helped in it's price. Without the shelves one can see how roomy the main part of the press is. See, a doll can easily fit into her clothes press but the doors will not close on her. Taking the shelves out may be a possibly for those having trouble making everything fit.
Not the best photo, but one can see how dresses can fit into the press. All my Felicity's clothes (besides the separates) are folded and stacked in the press in two piles. Felicity has a lot of clothes but they barely half filled the press. There is a wrinkle problem, especially for things that get stuck at the bottom and are only worn once or twice a year. However, it is not any worse than clothes stored in a trunk like Kit's. An added bonus is that it is easy to find the wanted dress, unlike a trunk like Samantha. Getting the dress out may be an issue. Even when I finally get around getting her shelves, I still think she will have plenty room to grow. This image also shows the clothes press in relation to Felicity. The clothes press is almost two Felicities. Perhaps Lissie will need a stool?
The drawers are roomy. The bottom holds Felicity's spare shift, night shift and cap, all her other caps and her four pairs of stockings while the top holds her three outfits that are two pieces. If the drawers are too full, clothes may fall out or get stuck and may be difficult to get out. The drawers have pretty brass handles that are functional as well as pretty. They are however kept on the press by tiny nails, which can loosen over the years. I had to hot glue a couple of handles back onto the press.
In my fantasy about this, I always imagined that the top of the clothes press would barely hold Felicity's hats. I was very happy to realize that the top will support the hats and several more things. Due to the overhang of the top, the clothes press does not completely rest against the wall. If would be nice if it was possible to hang something on the top overhang.
The clothes press in the context of my closet. As one can see it dwarfs Kit’s furniture but it is perfect for Felicity’s furniture in matching and scale. Another plus for me is that it looks like in belongs in Felicity’s room, unlike say the doll sized trunks kept by the other dolls.
Pleasant Company promised that the clothes press would be an heirloom to treasure forever. Compared to my 2007 Addy trunk and c 2001-2007 Kit trunk it has aged very well. The brass has not dulled as much as Kit’s and has not nicked as easily as Addy’s. In fact if the shipping incident had not happened I think the clothes press would have been in excellent to new condition. It may take a while to find one in excellent condition on a budget but factor in higher shipping, and I would say go with an experienced seller. I went with a newbie and was very lucky it ended as well as it did. I would highly recommend the Clothes Press as a solid, well-made and historically accurate piece that would make any doll proud to keep her wrinkled clothes in. A+
Clothes Press
Colonial homes didn’t have closets in them, so people folded their clothes neatly on the shelves and in the drawers of a clothes press. An important piece of furniture in fine houses back in 1774, it’s an heirloom for you to cherish today and forever.
H: 251⁄2”, W: 15 1/8”, D: 8”
$150 ET
Retired
Colonial homes didn’t have closets in them, so people folded their clothes neatly on the shelves and in the drawers of a clothes press. An important piece of furniture in fine houses back in 1774, it’s an heirloom for you to cherish today and forever.
H: 251⁄2”, W: 15 1/8”, D: 8”
$150 ET
Retired
OMG I finally own this!
I've wanted this clothes press for almost twenty years, and finally got lucky last December. The clothes press is made of very heavy, solid wood that is held together by stapler-like nails. The top and sides of the clothes press are very nice, thick and smooth wood while the back, doors, and bottom are made of a lighter, softer plywood feeling wood. How, may one ask, do I know the wood so well?
[*Mod edit to remove dead image links throughout the review*]
This is how my clothes press came home to me. Yeah, I cried. For all it's solidness, the clothes press is not the most hardy piece of furniture ever made. It was not just the wood, but the brass details were damaged in the delivery. However, aside from the bottom the clothes press came together reasonably well with a bottle of wood glue and some hot glue. A liberal partial refund also made the clothes press more palatable.
My clothes press did not come with shelves, which helped in it's price. Without the shelves one can see how roomy the main part of the press is. See, a doll can easily fit into her clothes press but the doors will not close on her. Taking the shelves out may be a possibly for those having trouble making everything fit.
Not the best photo, but one can see how dresses can fit into the press. All my Felicity's clothes (besides the separates) are folded and stacked in the press in two piles. Felicity has a lot of clothes but they barely half filled the press. There is a wrinkle problem, especially for things that get stuck at the bottom and are only worn once or twice a year. However, it is not any worse than clothes stored in a trunk like Kit's. An added bonus is that it is easy to find the wanted dress, unlike a trunk like Samantha. Getting the dress out may be an issue. Even when I finally get around getting her shelves, I still think she will have plenty room to grow. This image also shows the clothes press in relation to Felicity. The clothes press is almost two Felicities. Perhaps Lissie will need a stool?
The drawers are roomy. The bottom holds Felicity's spare shift, night shift and cap, all her other caps and her four pairs of stockings while the top holds her three outfits that are two pieces. If the drawers are too full, clothes may fall out or get stuck and may be difficult to get out. The drawers have pretty brass handles that are functional as well as pretty. They are however kept on the press by tiny nails, which can loosen over the years. I had to hot glue a couple of handles back onto the press.
In my fantasy about this, I always imagined that the top of the clothes press would barely hold Felicity's hats. I was very happy to realize that the top will support the hats and several more things. Due to the overhang of the top, the clothes press does not completely rest against the wall. If would be nice if it was possible to hang something on the top overhang.
The clothes press in the context of my closet. As one can see it dwarfs Kit’s furniture but it is perfect for Felicity’s furniture in matching and scale. Another plus for me is that it looks like in belongs in Felicity’s room, unlike say the doll sized trunks kept by the other dolls.
Pleasant Company promised that the clothes press would be an heirloom to treasure forever. Compared to my 2007 Addy trunk and c 2001-2007 Kit trunk it has aged very well. The brass has not dulled as much as Kit’s and has not nicked as easily as Addy’s. In fact if the shipping incident had not happened I think the clothes press would have been in excellent to new condition. It may take a while to find one in excellent condition on a budget but factor in higher shipping, and I would say go with an experienced seller. I went with a newbie and was very lucky it ended as well as it did. I would highly recommend the Clothes Press as a solid, well-made and historically accurate piece that would make any doll proud to keep her wrinkled clothes in. A+