Featured Curious about age, etc. for this painted older chair, cane seat

I don't tend to buy chairs as I only do online sales, but this was only $3.95 at the thrift (just out) and I tried as I might, I just could not leave it there. The cane seat is split on one edge, some scuff marks, but chair sits evenly. Will be a project for someone. What did I buy? Keywords? Age?


Sorry did not clean dust prior to photographing. Did someone move the leg at one point?? Both sides have this plug.

 

It's a 19th century "fancy" chair that is grain painted with a stencil on the crest rail.
VERY NICE for 3.95 I'd say, even though you'll need to re- cane seat.

 

The formal style is called "NeoClassical" but most refer to these chairs as fancy. Baltimore is noted as an early center of this style of chair and offers some exceptional examples.

 

@James Conrad
Not a Hitchcock chair?
The front, legs and spacers look like it should be.
Seats were usually rush, however they did do some caned.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...79476E8D618D&first=1&scenario=ImageBasicHover

 

Could be but, that crest rail is awfully thick for Hitchcock I would think and they are usually stamped?

 

These "fancy" chairs were made by the 10s of millions all during the 19th century, from the Federal period 1800, on up until the 20th century so a LONG TIME! for any style to stay popular.
I mention Baltimore because they are rather famous for early Federal era hand made fancy chairs but almost every city in America made these chairs at one time or another.

 

Nice hand-caned chair. The turnings and other details make me think 1860-80. You got a bargain!

 

No, it is where the back posts are drilled thru the seat and if you notice there are wedges driven into post bottom to make them tight.

 

Ah, of course! Thank you.

Appreciate all the replies! I guessed it was old, but that was about all. It has kind of a pleasing overall appearance, and had to rescue it.

 

Lucille B By any chance do you have an "Industries for the Blind" where you live?

We have an Industries for the Blind in my city and the "blind" people there do beautiful work when re-caneing / repairing caned chairs.

 

I'll have to check. Thanks, Yourturn!

 

the eagle is Napoleon 3 normally. looking to the other side it would be from the original midget.
the cane is "viennese".

 

Not in this case, the Bald Eagle is the national symbol of USA

"From the eagle's perspective, it holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon (referring to the 13 original states), and an olive branch in its right talon, together symbolizing that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war."

 

Yes, I think that's close, those "cookie" turnings on front legs were popular then and, that bald eagle on the crest rail was probably meant to appeal to the "Union" side of things in this time frame.
Or perhaps centennial, 1876.

 

As James C. has said, you have a nineteenth century "fancy chair", and a real bargain! They were super popular in the 1820s and '30s, and even after they went out of fashion, I suspect people tucked them away in attics because they were too pretty to part with. Notice the faux wood graining (rosewood effect, I think) that sets off the gold decoration so well. As James C. says, it has that elegant Baltimore look. Nice find!

 

I rarely covet but, for your chair, I'm making an exception.

Debora

 

I caned a chair once after watching youtube videos. Takes awhile but if you don't mind fiddly tasks, not too bad. I'm not planning to do another though.

 

LOL @ not planning to do another!

 

Nice find! Congratulations.