$15 chair I'm about to paint...

got this at a consignment shop for $15 to use as a photo prop but I'm starting to think twice. It's pretty old and looks all hand made. Can anyone tell me anything about it?

 

Be still thy brush!! Wait til Brad gets here for definitive answer as to age and whatnot, but I wouldn't paint that critter. It's sister is sitting in front of my lady desk in the guest room -- minus the cane seat. (Little problem with one of my son's large feet Plywood replacement)

 

Yes, do wait for Brad!!! The chair seems to be in the Hitchcock style. Nowwww, I am bad on dating furniture from a picture. Brad is excellent at that. I will take a shot to see if I even come close to Brad's opinion.

I suspect it dates from the 1940s-1950s, but if refinished could date from the 1920s-30s when they were very popular??? Original Hitchcocks' date from the 1820s-1840s. The originals were signed on the back edge of the seat. Nowww many replicas from the 1940s onward are signed there also.

There are elements of the chair that cause me to hesitate like the lack of a rolled front to the seat and the lack of turning on the front legs or on the front stretcher. The design of the back is a bit different; however, there were many different designs used on the slats and top rail such as “turtle-back,” “cut-out back slat,” “the pillow back”, eagles, cornucopias, plain, button back, crested back, etc...

--- Susan

 

Another vote to wait before touching it with anything stronger than a duster. The thing I'm curious about is the painted? wood grain? in the 2 back slats - it is painted or worn down stain that revealed the grain of the wood?

 

It look like a design -

 

I agree, Messi. But it has such a three-dimensional look, not being able to pass a hand over it raised the question.

 

Personally, I think this is a common dining chair that doesn't realize more than $25 maybe $35 if you are lucky.

I would not call this a Hitchcock chair. Manufactured early 1900s.
Looks like it has already been refinished. As much as I hate painting wood, I don't think you are going to have ruined anything significant.
Paint it and enjoy it.
You can always strip it later and oil it.

Please, wait for Brad to weigh in

 

Personally , the wood as it is now is FAR more interesting than yet another painted chair . I agree its probably 1900ish .

 

I think this has good age to it. Probably late 19th century. While not quite Hitchcock, there are some similarities. I, also, am intrigued by the wood grain on the back. It does look like it could be painted faux wood grain. I think I also see a painted boarder on the bottom of the two back "rungs". If it is painted faux grain, this could be even earlier than suggested above. Also agree that this is more interesting than another painted chair. Even so, it is not terribly valuable but surely you can find a less interesting chair to paint.

 

Thanks guys! I am a photographer ( and avid thrift shopper) and I got it to paint pastel as a prop. The back is so pretty and the caning was in almost perfect shape I wanted to make sure it wasn't gold before I painted it. Now I have to think about it lol

 

Hmm, I found the grain distracting to the chair.
However, if it is what you like about the chair. Don't paint the back slats, but choose colors to enhance the grain. Paint the sides and rungs.

 

The back grain is definitely painted

 

Please don't paint it, it is beautiful and would be even more beautiful sanded back with some polish or beeswax! I am not very familiar with American Furniture (which I assume this is) but to me looks early 1900s in era and lovely. The painting of antiques in pastel colours not only a bit cliché now, it also makes it less popular or valuable amongst people interested in buying antiques as depending on the wood quality underneath, can be difficult to strip and return to its original state. I have seen a few antique rocking chairs from America recently in antique stores that have been painted, one was painted so thickly, beyond chipping and stripping it off without damaging it and plus the paint had filled in and distorted the decorative carvings..sad. Anyway, is it possible to use this as it is or get more contemporary chair to paint?

 

I would hold off on the paint....

 

I'd hold off on the sanding, too. It may have been recaned at some point, but that paint looks original. See that very fine pin stripe along the border and the side pieces? That's usually an older style. Is there a quality antique store near you that you can bring it to? Beware - if they offer to buy it from you, then you know you have a valuable piece.

 

As much as I like the original finish on this chair I he no place for it in my home as is so it was painted yellow.

 

Not the end of the world but depressing none the less.

 

Don't usually have a problem with painting generic brown furniture, but really a shame on a sweet piece like that chair - wish I hadn't seen the 'after' shot...

~Cheryl