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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: JeffinNC on March 31, 2010, 07:59:29 pm
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Hi everyone: new poster here. I'm trying to track down a little information about a chair that I own. I've had it for about 10 years and over that time no one has been able to help clarify the style/manufacturer and other information.
Any information anyone can provide, including web links, is much appreciated. Thank you!
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeffgh/005-1.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeffgh/005-1.jpg)
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Welcome to the forum , JeffinNC .
Cool-lookin' chair .
Is the floral motif on the back of the chair painted/inlayed , or both ?
Can't tell for sure from the pix .
I'd love to see a pic of the bottom of your item .
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Welcome!
Wow! Nice chair.
Figure that is inlaid.....but would like to hear as well......
Could you please post a pic of the back of the chair AND a pic of the underside of the chair!
ALSO history of where you got the chair from - are of world you are in as well. This all helps to put the pieces together!
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BEAUTIFUL!!!
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I bet poor D&B is hopping up and down right now, knows just what it is and his computer won't cooperate to let him answer!
Beautiful chair! It may be tough without anything to go on. Can you provide some construction photos of the underside? Things like the style of the nails used and construction techniques may be able to give us some clues, at least to the age.
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First of all, thanks for all the kind words and the welcome aboard! They are very much appreciated! :)
A few more pictures are posted below - hopefully these get all the requested perspectives and views in there. And yes, the design on the back is an inlay. I added a shot of one of the back legs - it fuses into the body of the chair, as the picture shows.
As to the story - I purchased this chair in Winston-Salem, NC about 10 years ago from a dealer. The only thing she told me was that it was owned by an older gentleman in town who had passed away, and that his brother was selling off his antique collection. Beyond that, I don't know much other than I bought it because I'd never seen a chair quite like it before.
So any feedback as to its origin and manufacturer is definitely appreciated. :)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeffgh/001-1.jpg)
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Another picture
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeffgh/004.jpg)
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And another ...
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeffgh/003.jpg)
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One last photo - closeup of the inlay.
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/jeffgh/006.jpg)
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Thanks for posting all the extra images , JeffinNC .... also for the answer abot the inlay work .
Another question here - is the back veneered , (it seems to be , from your images) or solid one-piece ?
I'm thinking 1870's on it's age ... have you gotten any opinions from those who've seen it ?
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Hi Fancy.
I was also thinking 1800's but can't zoom in on these pics.
The acanthus leaves and carving are beautiful.
Are the front feet claw foot? Please post pic.
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Hey fancypants: yes, it is a veneered back. And I've just shown it to one person (earlier this week), who is checking around his network of contacts to see what he can find out.
KC: no claw feet. I'll post a picture of a leg soon. If you would like to get a closer look, I'd be happy to email some photos your way.
Thanks so much to everyone for your feedback and assistance! This is my favorite piece just in terms of being unique - I'm prepping my house for sale and am going to further downsize (from 1200SF to ??), but I'll definitely have to leave a little space for this. :)
1870s perhaps? Wow - the conversations this chair must have overheard! ;D
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Welcome JeffinNC! Just want to say what a beautiful chair.....glad you're going to hang on to it. Plenty more
conversations for it's history. ;)
Grabbed one of your images and played with it to try and show up some of that leg detail. It has a really
interesting 'flounce' reflected both top (below the seat) and bottom.
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Hey sapphire - thanks for the kind words, and for taking the time to work with one of the leg photos! It's much appreciated!
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I agree with the 1870's or so. From what I have seen of Victorian period furniture this would surely qualify. THe one question I have and not sure if anyone else noticed. In one of the pictures there are holes in the legs where there would have been casters at one point. Obviously they could have been added at a later date, but if they are original and if this is a Victorian formal sitting chair it would not have had casters.
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One question- What is the width of the seat?
The reason I ask is that to me, this chair has a distictly feminine look, like a ladies chair. However, the arms and the slats below them wouldn't allow a lady to arrange her skirts over the chair, or to accomodate a bustle. Does anyone have any thoughts on that? It would have been impossible to sit in with a Civil War era hoop skirt, and difficult with a an 1870's - 1890's bustle. Could the arms indicate a later period, perhaps early 1900's, when ladies skirts were slimmer and didnt need to spill over the sides of a chair? Or is this chair intended for the man of the house?
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Okay we have what appears to be a cabriole leg in the front and straight in the back. The beautiful carved back with inlaid acanthus leaves - shield back. Firmly carved arms.
I am thinking early 1900's Accent chair.
D&B borrow a computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL (I know what I am wanting to say......don't want to say something that is way wrong and get hopes up!)
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I'd agree with what has been said previously re age and purpose. The only other thing I would add is "WOW" That is one great looking chair!! Love the inlay. You are lucky to have it!
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Talesof: interesting thoughts there. The front of the chair measures 18" to the outer edges of the seat, and narrows to 11 1/2" to the outer edges in the back.
KC - haha! I don't even know D&B and I'm ready to call in a healer and a computer tech to help meet both our needs at the moment. ;D (Seriously, my hopes for a speedy recovery to D&B.)
CAF: thank you! I am really happy to have it.
Thanks everyone once again for your thoughts and feedback - I keep doing a few random searches based on your feedback to see if I can track more information down.
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Jeff you have and interesting, chair. it's the work of a group of people known as Aesthetes. commonly known as the aesthectic
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can't talk & type. the aesthetic period took place from about circa 1875 to 1901. this chair would sell in the $450.00 Dollar range.
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D&b: thank you so much! Hoping that you are feeling much better! I'll research the Aesthetes -- sounds like a wonderful period.
Thanks again to all for the helpful tips!
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I agree D&b it was from the aesthetic period. But his piece is so unusual and concise in the way it represents itself. This one can transcend time periods.
I would gander if this could be traced back to a well-know maker during this time (I am betting this was an American made one) it would go for more.
In my neck of the woods (south) this would easily sell for $600+ if in fact it is solid wood construction (no laminate) and in great shape. It could pull more at auction.
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Thanks, KC. Do you happen to know if there were any such manufacturers here in NC or somewhere else in the south? I might check around and see if there are any historians or historical sources I might tap into here.
Right now I'm tickled to be going in a good direction - but I'm thinking there's probably a nice story lurking down the path somewhere.
Thanks everyone for your kindness.