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Is this chair something special?

8K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  JoeinGa 
#1 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
 

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#2 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
Just did a google search, Antique Rocking Chair, Antique Overstuffed Rocking Chair… Nothing unfortunately that looks like what you have above. Good luck.
 

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#3 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
Appears to me to be of british orgin with a gothic style. But to answer your question, Im finding that anything that allows one to sit down is something special. Looks like a worthy restoration job to me. JB
 

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#4 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
that has a lotta girth… I'll bet that thing weighs a ton… a real relic i'm sure
 

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#5 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
I'd guess its late Victorian - 1890 - 1900 ish.

I'd have it checked out by an expert before you restore it though.
 

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#6 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
Hi Don
I've found this web site helpful in the past.

http://www.squidoo.com/AGuidetoAntiqueCHAIRIdentification
 

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#7 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
I received an answer from an antiques dealer.

Antique Furniture/Answered Question
Expert: robert klein
Subject: Can you ID this chair?
Question:

Old paw foot rocker
An unusual rocker with "paw" feet on the front legs. I think it is in mahogany. No Maker's marks or numbers, tags, etc.
The two front feet are different in size, saying to me, handmade.
Don Butler
Waterford, PA 16441

Answer:
empire style, not period but style made in the 1910-20s. it is a manufactured piece and was part of a set at one time. These were made from birch, sweet gum, and/or tulip poplar and stained with a water based dye to a dark mahogany color.

even in the day, one person would have operated machinery that turned out 100 legs in a day or more. many times parts made by machine would then be dressed or refined by hand. i like machine assisted hand work as a descriptive phrase.

most are well built, strong, and not dainty.

Robert Klein
Roberts Antiques and Restoration
2500 North T Street
Pensacola, Fl 32505
850-432-3203

www.rubylane.com/shop/robertsantiques
 

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#8 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
Just this morning I realized I had fail to provide an "after" photo in this thread.

Brown Chair Wood Rectangle Armrest


Don
 

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#9 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
This turned great Don
 

Attachments

#10 ·
Is this chair something special?

I got this chair from a client who said it's been in his attic for as long as he can remember. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about what wood species it might be. The majority thought it might be mahogany.
Chair Rectangle Wood Comfort Armrest

So, now I wonder about the chair's origin and worth.
It has some indications of being handmade. There is no makers mark, no numbers or old tags. I believe it was heavily upholstered in a style we used to call overstuffed.
I'm pretty sure the seat was originally equipped with springs.

I'll have to partially disassemble the chair to deal with loose joinery. But nothing is broken.
The client wants it refinished and to have the upholstery restored.
I think it will be a spectacular item if we get all that done, but first I want to identify it and authenticate it.

I'd be grateful if any of you are familiar with the kind of chair. A rocker with the animal paws on the front legs is a new thing to me.

Don
Wow, what a transformation. Beautiful chair
 

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