Antique wood and upholstered chair with carved women's faces (pair)

[Valery]

I recently became the owner of two antique chairs.   They have clean lines, measure roughly the same size as a standard dining room chair and are stuffed with straw and covered with burlap and upholstery.  The upholstery is faded, but it was probably gold, green and tan.  One chair is in its original state and the other has been polished or stained and the upholstery removed.  At first I thought they were John Jelliff chairs, but I think I am sadly mistaken!   They have two small wheels on the front legs of the chairs ONLY.  Can anyone give me some history on this type of chair?  Or point me in the direction  of where I can find more info about them?  Many, many thanks for your time!

Photos:  http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3070732017/a=7841832_7841832/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Val

[KC]

Hey Val! Welcome!

Sorry, but when I pull up your photos it only shows one and wants me to join to see the rest.  Sorry, don't care to join....is there any other way to post them?

Sounds as if you are describing some depressions style furniture..but would have to see pics!

Look forward to seeing them!

[Valery]

Hi - thanks for your swift reply.  Sorry about that.  Try this link and if it says logon, simply click view this album as a guest.

http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/shareethumbnailshare/AlbumID=3070732017/albumcount=1/p=920271285638555232/l=6762938017/g=7841832/cobrandOid=1000/otsc=SYE/otsi=SAER/first_visit=true/pns/snapfish/share/p=920271285638555232/l=6762938017/g=7841832/cobrandOid=1000/otsc=SYE/otsi=SAER

[talesofthesevenseas]

What lovely chairs! The straw stuff is called excelsior, a commonly used stuffing. I would reupholster them, but would not refinish the second one, but would leave the original finish.

[KC]

Nice chairs!!!!!  D&b what's your take on them.

They are old and nice!  Synthetic stuffings came in appx 1920's with the use of horsehair and hay prior to it.....and this definitely goes along with that!

[Valery]

THANK YOU!  I really like them, too.  Any ideas what they might be worth?  A friend and I purchased them with the thought of fixing them and reselling, but the more I look at them the more I want to keep them!!!!!   

[D&b antiques]

sadly there not John Jelliff's. but they were made by. Solomon Karpen & Brothers. late 1880's as part of the jenny lind mania that was takeing place. the chair in good condition. $250.00 Dollars.

[Valery]

D&B, thank you so much!  I've been dying to learn some history about the chairs!   If we decide to reupholster the chairs and resell them, what is the best venue for doing so?  Local antique shop or show or web based auction?  Or do you think they are more valuable in their present state?  (One with no upholsery and one with the original.) 

Thank you so much to all who replied!

Val

[KC]

Just for grins, how much did you pay for them?

Thanks D&b.  I had no clue as to Solomon Karpen & Bros!

[Valery]

$50 each.   Obviously I'm not an expert, but just looking at them you can tell they are "something." 

[KC]

Very interesting history on this company.....
http://www.skarpenfurniture.com/karpen_bros__furniture__nine_brothers_from_prussia_to_american_style_1880_1952_31440.htm

Solomon Karpen and his brother Oscar opened S. Karpen and Bros. in 1880 in a basement not far from home making upholstered furniture. By 1894 all nine Karpen brothers worked for the firm. After the turn of the century Karpen made Mission chairs and sofas along with parlor suites and folding beds, becoming one of the largest makers of upholstered furniture in America. In the 1920s the company, in addition to upholstered goods, made solid wood furniture in a variety of styles and offered church and lodge furniture as well. The company survived until 1952 when it was sold to Schnadig Corporation which still uses the Karpen name on one of its lines of upholstered goods.