Question about my chair shaped like a hand?

[stones1973]

Hello all, I was just wondering if anyone could tell me something about my chair. It looks like it is made from several pieces of wood joined together then maybe carved to look like a giant hand. the chair weighs  about 90 lbs. its about 41 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 24 inches deep. I bought it in an estate sale around 10 years ago. the only marks i see on the chair is the words "made in Spain" branded on the bottom of the base. I have spent many hours browsing around the web but all i seem to find are the plastic reproduction hand chairs. thanks

[KC]

Looks like it would be from the 60's!

Remember seeing a few of these (I was a kid then tho!!!!!!!!)
Pedro Friedeberg Hand & Foot Chair from the 1960s 

[aj_houser]

I am going to guess 60's or 70's.  Pedro Freideberg created a Hand and Foot chair in 1937 that in todays market is worth a small fortune.  In doing some research they became popular again in the early 2000's.  I can not find one just like what you have but a simple google search for wooden hand chairs found several for sale.  most in the range of $100-$300 dollars.  ANd they seemed to primarily be made in Indonesia.  Do you know what type of wood your chair is?  From the pictures it almost appears to be pine, which would lead me to rule out spain as the country of origin.  If it is pine the odds are it is mid to late 20th century American.  But you have a heck of a piece.  Would be a neat conversation piece for my bakery that's for sure.

[KC]

Here's 2 more and they are referred to as Buddah chairs!  Pair of hand-carved “Buddah’s Hands” chairs, c.1960’s.40 ˝” h x 15 ˝” w x 23″ d. $2,400
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://center44.com/content/images/275x275/Dean_Hands.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blog.center44.com/2009/08/05/the-shout-out-center44s-inventory-update-8309.html&usg=__inXJ-XWF8xDE7lrCpgcwZ5axXKo=&h=273&w=275&sz=16&hl=en&start=124&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=jJGwZiOWhh-YfM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspanish%2Bcarved%2BHand%2Bchair%26start%3D108%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1
  

[luxetveritas]

Here's one quite similar to yours, although for some reason it appears to have been painted gold- sold for $7500

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/4510988

[luxetveritas]

I'm afraid yours is most likely not a Friedeberg though "PEDRO FRIEDBERG" would probably be inscribed in the bottom and he didn't manufacture chairs in Spain to my knowledge.

[stones1973]

wow, let me start off by saying thanks for all the quick replies. I belong to a few other forums and its not often that i get such quick and useful responses. I'm sure it's not a PEDRO FRIEDBERG (wish it was), he signs his work and it looks like the base of his chairs are hallow. My base is solid. I saw one just like my chair on ebay about a year or two ago selling for $1500 but im sure that doesn't mean much. It was listed as a Pedro Friedberg style chair but no more info was giving. I'm not sure what type of wood it is. If it doesnt have leaves or needles growing on it i have no clue. I have a slight memory of an advertisement from the late 70's   or early 80's (i was very young) of 2 older men sitting in hand shaped chairs. I think they were advertising a vermont furniture store. Thanks again if i come up with any thing new i'll share.     

[luxetveritas]

You're most certainly welcome, I think most members here are big fans of antiques (obviously) and enjoy sharing their knowledge with the rest of us

Welcome to the forum!

[pseudoname]

your chair was sold by Thomasville Furniture in the mid 1970`s. Wholesale was just under $1000. It was indeed a copy of  PEDRO FRIEDEBERG`s chairs. Don`t expect any help from Thomasville with info though- they had no interest in cooperating with me when I wanted info about mine. BTW, on the bottom ot the seat, front side. in a stamped oval about 3" WIDE, it`s numbered, and there is more info too, but on mine it`s illegible, but there is printing on top and bottom within that oval stamp. The wood on mine is supposed to be mahogany- it`s ridiculously heavy.

[Pilar]

I am happy to have found this post, as I own an impressive set of a large table and 4 chairs of the same style. We bought them in Spain in 1982, the man in the antique shop said they were about 50 years old, but now I don't think he new or did not tell us the truth.

Mine are dark brown, the table is two big open hands holding a 2 mts glass. I have not seen anywhere  a set like mine or the chairs in the dark brown lacquered color. If any body has seen something similar I will love to know, as I am considering to sale them I will appreciate a price guide.

I don't know how to place a photo on this post. Thank you for the information.

[KC]

Hi Pilar!  Could you please post a picture of your set?  Have seen the chairs over the years, but not a table set!

[mart]

Posting a pic is very easy here !! First,, make sure the pic is not too big,,when you reply to a post look below for "additional options" and click on that, then look below the browse line and it will tell you what size is recommended,,slightly larger is OK but if too big it takes forever to load !! All you have to do is to browse for the pic you want, click to open it, then if posting more than one click "more attachments" and repeat !!  You have to repeat the same thing for each pic by clicking "more attachments",,when done just click to post !! Give them plenty of time to load !!