I am looking to age a piece of furniture

Because I never tire of showing my ignorance...
"Old Man in the Wind Rocker?"
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=posmVcKS&id=80AABD9CFB902A09EA195E1E5BCFE960AFB4B78B&pbcid=1C37D28DD1BA07E12FEC8152648218E6&psimid=0&pimgurl=https://www.antiquers.com/attachments/30302-jpeg.96408/&ppageurl=https://www.antiquers.com/threads/i-am-looking-to-age-a-piece-of-furniture.21976/&iss=VSI&selectedIndex=22&count=35&adlt=strict

 

The carving is interesting. I'd either strip it the rest of the way and refinish or just paint the poor thing. The things on the arms look like gryphons rather than dragons, at least from here. Actually, what they really look like are @daveydempsey 's Dogues. (LOL) For those who've seen the pictures at least.

 

Ruby! Maximus!

 

Nice old Victorian North wind rocker and agree with the 1890-1910 date. Not a lot of value without upholstery but certainly a project worth restoring if you do it yourself. Unfortunately, to have it done would probably exceed value. It has been partially stripped. I would strip it the rest of the way and use a dark mahogany stain to try and get it back close to original. It is likely birch and had a dark red aniline dye to mimic mahogany. Certainly American.

 

LOL, yeah! i have seen this before where late victorians put carved face of a dog on furniture, guesses in respect/honor of their pet doggy? They were sick to death of the carved "Jenny Lind" thing? Who knows? late victorians were weird but, they did have some cool furniture along the way. Not real sure this doggy thing has much interest these days though.

 

I think it's a really interesting chair and I would have fun making it look nice.
If it were mine I would finish stripping it, give it a good rub down with a fine sand paper then stain and varnish it.
I would cover the seat with nice old fabric or something that looks the part.

 

Does anyone think it's worth anything? I paid $100 for it

 

Well, it was worth $100 to you so yes, it is worth something. As others have said, even restored it does not have a lot of value. If a collector and you plan on keeping, that's OK but if you plan on selling it, well, that may not work out for you.

 

Your chair is what is known as a "project". Which is fine for collectors whose goal is primarily to have interesting things to live with. Sellers/dealers on the other hand tend to not invest in "projects", to much trouble usually to flip at a profit.

 

I am goin with Poisonivy on this one, he/she has this exactly right.

 

Thank you .....
(She )

 

It is nicer than most so, if paying $100.00 for one, you picked a good one. On the other hand, I have seen a lot of very nice carved Victorian chairs go for next to nothing because they need upholstery.

 

Once it has the upholstery and the chair is finished, what do you think it could go for? I think I might just keep it. I was just wondering

 

We'll have to see how good a refinisher/upholsterer you are.
As Brad said, if you have to pay to have it done, it may cost you more than it is worth.

 

Really depends on your market. Here in my semi-rural Midwest location, I doubt you could get even $300.00 for it in top condition with excellent upholstery. As noted, this could cost $300.00 or more to have a professional upholster this.

 

I use my phone for all my pics. Go into your photos or gallery and click on the picture that you want to edit. Opens up options to share, edit, delete, info on size, etc. Make sure you save it. If you go into the gallery it will save a copy and keep the original in your photos.

 

That dye, paint or bole is difficult to remove. It could even be milk or casein paint, which, can be removed but, it's a real PIA. Test an area first with paint or varnish stripper. If it doesn't work, it's most likely milk/casein based.

Milk or casein can't be removed with normal paint stripper. They sell a product to do it, however, you can make your own out of Arm & Hammer washing soda with either flour or pickling lime. The flour and pickling lime are used to make it into a paste so it will stick to the surface. You have to keep it moist because it will dry out. It may take several tries to get it all off it's milk or casein.

 

Judy, just DLD a simple "resizing" app for images for the phone!!!

 

Personally, I would do what VeryBrad and PoisonIvy both said.....finish stripping it, then stain and varnish it. Then upholster it in something period looking!!! It WILL then be AWESOME and a chair you REALLY want to keep!!!!!