Author Topic: Input please??  (Read 19302 times)

hemster922

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Input please??
« on: May 23, 2013, 11:54:35 am »
Hi All!
I've recently acquired many beautiful pieces, and some I can't seem to identify or place a value.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'd like to know what I'm dealing with before I start restoring..
This particular chair I've searched and searched and I come up empty.
I got it from a woman who's Mother passed away and it was meant for the dump [because of the shape its in I suppose]
Same woman gave me a damaged Empire sofa, and and old vaneered mirror.
I was more than happy to take them all!
Now I need to know what to do with them. :)



bigwull

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2013, 12:17:24 pm »
my lips are sealed..less i get myself into trouble.....again.. ...suffice to say..there has been a dramatic change in the weather,here, lots of snow, and only 4deg,.....
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,

hemster922

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2013, 01:25:55 pm »
Trouble?
..my middle name..  ;D

bigwull

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2013, 01:31:15 pm »
you,re in good company then... ;D
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,

bigwull

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2013, 01:43:48 pm »
Asking me what to do with this sorry looking example of a chair...is,nt a good idea....i,m really into woodburners... ;D...but,as there is,nt much wood on this chair..then i guess restoration is the only thing for it....first ?..is there only 1...ideally a pair would be better,...from all of the pics i,ve seen on photobucket,..i,d have to say,its mahogany,..circa, lat 1800,s early 1900,s,is that a repair or a broken spar on the left lower left,...the seat needs to be removed,and re-upholstered,the wood itself needs to be rubbed down...using 0000 grade steel wool,...then re-finished....what you have to ask yourself....is..is it worth it,...as it stands...No...after it has been worked on....Not Much....
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,

ghopper1924

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2013, 01:57:08 pm »
Once we got through Wullie's woodburning compulsion he had some useful things to say.

Agree that it's mahogany, probably ca. 1890. Also likely a part of a dining room set so there is undoubtedly 1 more, and probably several more. Agree also on Wull's restoration ideas; however, I would bet that the chair will look sensational post-restoration, despite its rather low monetary worth.
"I collect antiques because they're beautiful."

-Broderick Crawford

hemster922

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2013, 02:16:37 pm »
Yes Bigwull, there was a piece that had broken off and it came to me with this doiley tied around it holding it in place. I repaired it, came out nice.
I'm thinking of putting a nice Damask fabric on it, of course after I blow through the seat and remove/replace all the crap.
My husband is ready to burn it haha, but I want it at least looking good enough for the auction house.
I'll steel wool it in the next day or so. Repairing damage first.

And I wish I had a pair! In my experience they sell better in pairs..

mart

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2013, 02:42:39 pm »
Looks to be a French design,,probably Jacobean period or revival !! I would say its worth a little effort !! Chairs are not difficult to do !! Indeed a nice Damask but lose the fringe !!

bigwull

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2013, 02:50:21 pm »
Yes pairs sit nicely in a hall,...one usually ends up in the shed....from your writing I will assume that you are on my side of the pond...and not t,other where they can,t spell proper like....Its like learning a non foreign language...mind you, i suppose the same could be said about my use of the English language....as for Mart,s "a nice Damask"....if i did,nt know what it was ...I,d say it was a bottle of Plonk... ;D
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,

hemster922

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2013, 03:06:50 pm »
While I'm at it. Take a peek at these...I saw one chair on Liveauctioneers that resembled these 3 that I have and they called it an 'Early American Mahogany'.
I removed the caned seats because they crumbled when touched. Cleaned up quite nice.
Any idea on age?


mart

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2013, 06:44:05 pm »
Looks to be a French design,,probably Jacobean period or revival !! I would say its worth a little effort !! Chairs are not difficult to do !! Indeed a nice Damask but lose the fringe !!

Ooops !!  Didn`t have glasses on and shadow looked like fringe !! Ignore that last statement !!

The chair in front looks to have had sheet caning !!  Are they all the same,, is there a groove running around each or do some have the holes ?? Sheet cane is easy to replace,, individual hand caning is not particularly hard once you get the hang of it but it is tedious to do !!
When they say Early American,, that is all encompassing !!  They use that for lack of a better term !!  And some things just do not fit anywhere else !!  These two chairs are sort of a mixed up style !!
Two in front look like mahogany,, one behind looks like walnut !!  Likely all from 30`s or so !!
« Last Edit: May 23, 2013, 07:00:54 pm by mart »

hemster922

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2013, 07:58:31 pm »
Thanks Mart, the one in the back is made of a different wood...Walnut probably. I have 2 of them as well. Never seen anything like these before.
The caning was not done by sheet. There are holes around the perimeter.
Here's a closeup of before I removed it.


hemster922

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #12 on: May 23, 2013, 08:05:04 pm »
That table in the midst of these chairs has a label in the drawer that says 'Libry-Dine'. Another mystery to me, though I just found this 2 days ago sitting near a dumpster.

wendy177

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2013, 08:31:26 pm »
I love your chair (your first photo)  I would  repair it paint her a light cream, redo the cushion with a beautiful light faded  rose pattern material and she will be  Shabby chic sweet!!

hemster922

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Re: Input please??
« Reply #14 on: May 23, 2013, 08:45:19 pm »
I love that idea Wendy! I'll keep that in mind until I'm done fixing her up.. :)