Help with this sofa

[CaroTry]

Hello there 

I recently bought this lovely antique from a familly that didn't really want to sell it, but they had no room to keep it. So yeah I pretty much got it for cheap and I really love it. I was wondering though, about it's age and style, what kind of wood and how much would you estimate it ? (I would like to know if I really got it for cheap)

The big Lily is glued as for the other forms, they are curved into the sofa's wood. This is another Québec treasure that I found on a website from my area.

Thank you very much

[ghopper1924]

Hi CaroTry:

You certainly have a handsome piece of furniture; it was probably originally part of a multi piece parlor set. It looks to be very late Victorian, possibly post-Victorian, ca. 1900-1910 or so and made of oak. In the US midwest pieces like this are not bringing in the big money, maybe $100-$200 at a typical auction. If you're in Montreal the market may be better.  In any case you will not be traveling around the world on the sale proceeds, but you've got a treasure for your living room (or parlor, ha ha) nonetheless.

[KC]

Hi and welcome!

Agree with the Victorian era style furniture.  I would call this a settee (agree with ghopper1924 that it was most likely a part of a parlor set).  However, these days you will see it called a couch by a younger generation.

This style of ornamentation is more like you would see in an area with French influence (thus where you are).  Because of that it will sell much better than depression style furniture.  In my area it could sell for $700 - $1200 easy!

Take a look see at a similar one for sale (now I do believe they are wishful thinking on this pricing - but it would be good to follow the thread for the value).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/REDUCED-ANTIQUE-Settee-Couch-Sofa-Chair-Bench-CARVED-WOOD-FRENCH-GREEN-VELVET-/172370650701

[ghopper1924]

Good style match on the settee/couch KC, but that price is astronomical! And that's after it's been "reduced!"

If and when we ever sell out stuff, I'm moving to KC land. On Saturday, in Illinois, I saw a ca. 1860 love seat, recently reupholstered and in otherwise perfect condition for another 150 years, sell for $140. It was heartbreaking.

Anyway, we'll keep a good thought on the $700-$1000 value.

[mart]

That link is sure wishful thinking !!  I like this one better !! Because the applique is glued on that would say after 1900 !!  What did you pay for it ??  I think it would do better than $200. even in my small area !!  Things with a French influence tend to do well but not as well as that link is priced !!

[jacon4]

Yeah, on the east coast of USA, with a few exceptions, it's hard to give away late victorian oak, nevermind sell it. On a great day, $100-$200, it's just not in fashion these days. Naturally, as a collector, none of that matters, whats important is, do you like it. Fashions change in the decorating world and eventually victorian will be popular again, we just don't know when. That lily is probably a stylised version of a fleur de lis, a popular decoration through out furniture history, lis means lily, doesn't it?

[ghopper1924]

Yep, the flour de lis is a stylized lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. It is especially known from the former royal arms of France, in which it appears in gold on a blue field.

[CaroTry]

Thanks,

I don't want to sell it anyway, I really like it and I paid 75$ for it. So late or post Victorian, this was so hard to guess for me, thanks guys
As for the other settee on Ebay, that's a bit exagerated, 3,9k ? wow 

[jacon4]

I don't want to sell it anyway, I really like it and I paid 75$ for it

That was a fair price, you did well.

[KC]

CaroTry you did good!  I would have even bought it for that!

[mart]

That was a steal !!  Excellent !! 

[CaroTry]

Funny fact:

I wrote to the seller KC showed us whom had a similar settee. I asked him questions about the item and showed him mine. Although he never answered me, the day after, he ended the selling of his settee.

He relisted it again, and oh surprise, even though it is still expensive, he lowered the price again! And added a time limit. 

I wonder why he didn't answer me though, I was polite and wanted more infos about his item... Well too bad.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/REDUCED-ANTIQUE-Settee-Couch-Sofa-Chair-Bench-CARVED-WOOD-FRENCH-GREEN-VELVET-/172404067630?

[ghopper1924]

Good manners are in short supply these days.

The price is still outrageous.

[Raven31557]

Good manners are in short supply these days.

The price is still outrageous.

You ain't kidding.

and....

There's a sucker born ever minute!!

[CaroTry]

Well you both are right.

I am not going to try to communicate with him anymore as he probably don't even know what he's selling in this case. It's a shame though because it is written on the page:

"*~*~*~*Message with any ?'s "

At least I wrote to the guy who sold me the settee I have now and I was able to get the name of the family that owned it since the beginning. Now I can do my researches on a more relaxed note.