Antique Chairs found in abondoned farm

[delong]

I just purchased a farm and found these in the barn, any idea how old, of what origins, and how valuable they might be?

The farm is in Louisiana and the barn is at least 150+ years old.

PICS: http://i.imgur.com/amva7.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tswyA.jpg http://i.imgur.com/lYoj2.jpg

[mart]

Well, I must say its a style I am not familiar with !! Looking at the under side,, those edges look like pretty new cuts and some of the wood is not aged as the main parts are !!  Can you put the chairs side by side and take a good square shot of the seat ??  I am trying to figure if they had a cushion or something else over the wood !! Would not have been used as is !!   If I were to bet right now it looks like they were put together from other pieces of furniture !! I also noticed the small hole at the top of the chair back !! Wondered about that !!  Legs are like Windsor types and constructed similar, back is rather strange and doesn`t seem to fit with the rest of it !!

[delong]

those edges look like pretty new cuts and some of the wood is not aged as the main parts are !!  Can you put the chairs side by side and take a good square shot of the seat ??

Oops, the fresh cut was my fault, I accidentally began sanding the back edge to test out some lacquers to refinish the chair. But I won't be doing that as a friend reminded me antique furniture is best when everything is kept original. Here's a pic of the seat http://i.imgur.com/gtc35.jpg

[mart]

OK Well that explains that but there is still a difference in some of the parts !!  Sorry if I didn`t explain well,, need to see both seats side by side in one pic !! I have PM`d another member to get an opinion, and I am sure a few others will chime in tomorrow !!  Maybe we can put all our heads together and find an answer !!

[delong]

OK Well that explains that but there is still a difference in some of the parts !!  Sorry if I didn`t explain well,, need to see both seats side by side in one pic !! I have PM`d another member to get an opinion, and I am sure a few others will chime in tomorrow !!  Maybe we can put all our heads together and find an answer !!

Weathers a bit dreary outside so I won't be able to take another picture, but the two chairs are exact same, from the size and to the small details, I sent a image to the local historian, he thinks the chairs could be from 18th century when the french arrived in Louisiana he gave an estimated date of about 1760. But even he said he's not definitive as he's never seen a chair like this. 

[mart]

The construction of the chair and the style does not say French at all in my opinion !! Go to google images and pull up 18th century chairs and you will see what I mean !!  That would mean they were from the Louis periods and they are not even close !!  Could I ask the history of the past owners of the farm you purchased ??    Construction feels like New England but for some strange reason I want to say possibly they are of Dutch origin !! Could also possibly be an English Windsor !! Need to check those !!

[delong]

Previous owners were from Pennsylvania, the farm was family owned and operated for 100+, the owner died had no children and the farm was auctioned off. I think these chairs might be Pennsylvania Dutch after I got a call from a local consignment company.

[frogpatch]

They look like German chairs to me. I have seen similar chairs with the similar construction from Germany. These look older and a little more elaborate but similar

[frogpatch]

Here are some real nice German side chairs. You will see the construction style is similar but these are really elaborate.

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5277799

Here is still another one that is closer.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2044448

[mart]

If they were from Pennsylvania that would explain why I had the feeling they were of Dutch origin !!  They are similar to the one Frogpatch gave the link to on liveauctioneers just a bit less fancy !!   A consignment shop called ?? How did that help ??  This would have been much easier had we known the farms history !!