unidentified chairs need help

[mmiedema112]

I have these old chairs i would like some info on if available i got them awhile ago cant find anything about them. I think they are hand carved due to the imperfections in the wood and not 1 is exactly the same as the other. I think they are Chippendale chairs of some sorts but not sure . I am very curious as to their origin any help i very greatly appreciated, thank you.    

[bigwull]

just click on additional options...rocket science not needed.....

[mart]

Can you take a pic of the underside of the chair so we can see the construction ??  Theyt are Chippendale style but this style was made well into the 40`s so seeing how it was made will help !!

[bigwull]

These chairs look very much like their copies of Chippendale,s from China...or a similar country...

[mart]

Could be or bad refinishing !!  Way too shiny !!

[ghopper1924]

Agree, way too shiny! If that red color is accurate, it was probably made in the Phillipines as a copy.

[mmiedema112]

The shiny stain on the chairs is an attempt by previous owner to restore not original color.

[bigwull]

Well, I,m afraid he has made a bit of a pigs arse...of doing them...and what value they did have has been diminished somewhat...This colour is all wrong...and the only thing that you may be able to do is rub them down and re-stain them to a more acceptable colour...see link, these will give you some idea as to what colour you can aim for...but on no account do you use a varnish stripper, because if these are made of dark oak, or elm or other hardwood...then if you use a chemical based stripper the wood especially oak, will turn black...and all you will be left with is an unholy mess....double zero steel wool should be used...
but  not used on oak, because remaining traces of iron may react with tannins in the wood to produce blue or black iron stain. Bronze wool or stainless steel wool may be used to avoid this

[cogar]

...but on no account do you use a varnish stripper, because if these are made of dark oak, or elm or other hardwood...then if you use a chemical based stripper the wood especially oak, will turn black..

Bigwull, not if it is American White Oak.

Now one time I experienced a "darkening" of the wood with a piece of Red Oak .... but I don't remember what I was doing. I think I was starting to apply a coat of "50-50" shellac and alcohol to seal the grain of the wood.

[bigwull]

I would,nt even risk it on American white oak..its all to do with the tannin in the oak....i,ve seen white oak turn...and once it does...then its just another candidate for the woodburner.... ..

[mart]

Wouldn`t worry !!  They are not oak from what I can see !!  Would still like to see underside !!  That refinishing job pretty much took half off whatever value they may have !!

[bigwull]

Who said they were Oak??

[ghopper1924]

At least half the value, and if they're from the 1940s that was probably not alot to begin with, unfortunately.

The original wood is probably mahogany or walnut.

[mart]

I think mahogany !!  Some of the older styles of varnish had a stain added and they turn that bright red color !!

[bigwull]

Ronseal made a coloured varnish,...and one of them was a rich red cedar finish...which was ok with one coat, but as more coats were applied, the wood just got redder,...but whatever it is on these chairs is going to take a lot of rubbing to dull it sufficiently...in order for a more natural colour to be applied....but i am of a mind that any value that these ever had...has evaporated....which is a shame....