Old chair info for the sake of interest

Recently bought these chairs. No info was available. They look fairly old to me, but I'm no expert. I figure late 1800's or early 1900's. Cushion construction tells me this is old, more than anything else. To sit in them, they feel quite old, purely because of the cushions. Actual wood construction is amazingly solid feeling.

Looks like carved mahogany, very solid, very heavy. I purchased them in London Ontario, Canada, but no idea where they actually came from. I found a 1 cent euro stuffed between the cushions, which is fairly rare to randomly find around here, but I assume that's probably an indication of who's been using them, more than anything else. No brand markings anywhere that I can obviously see, which I find very unfortunate.

Was just wondering if anyone around here could look at a chair like this and provide more insights or info. I like when my old stuff has a bit of a story that I can research further and tell to others. I don't care about the price, I didn't pay a lot, and I know stuff like this generally has far less value than anyone would expect based on quality (these feel like at one point they would have been fairly expensive and considered pretty nice chairs). It has more value to me personally if I can attach a neat history/background/story to it, and so that's what I'm hoping to somehow do. But I have very little to go on.

Can take any additional pictures required to help figure out any sort of history/background.

Thanks

 

I'd call it a club chair.

 

I agree with that assessment.

I'm most interested in estimated age and any clues towards origin and manufacturer.

Seems like it's been recovered at least once, probably more. Old nail holes around the bottom covered by the covering on the bottom of the chair that is now stapled. Springs are very sacked out, which is why it feels old to sit in. Current fabric seems to be fairly well worn in some areas, indicating that it's been some time since it was last recovered.

Tacks are magnetic and fairly round. So I know it isn't likely any older than late 1800's. But there's also the chance that it's a fair bit newer than that and I'm just being thrown off by the fact that it's been used and is showing the wear of age.

The combination of carvings, mahogany, and the amount of wear, seems to tell me it is fairly old, but a 'reproduction' that's been heavily used could probably throw me off pretty easily.

Claw and ball feet in this style likely means north american (probably Canadian, since I am in Canada). Not as detailed as I'd maybe like, but still having details that new furniture tends to lack.

I'd like to recover these chairs and I'm trying to justify with myself that it's worth doing and making sure it's done well. Seems like I couldn't get a new chair like this very cheaply anyway, and I prefer old things with a story.

My house was built in 1891 and I'm proud of maintaining 'historical integrity' around my house. I feel like these add to the ambiance and that to duplicate that with anything new of similar quality I'd probably have to spend 20 times what these chairs cost me. They seem pretty unique, haven't seen anything else quite like them locally.

 

I'm not a furniture person, but the style looks like Eastlake to me. This would put it from 1870 to 1890 era. Wait for the more experienced furniture people to check in.

Without a tag or makers mark finding out who made it is probably a long shot.

 

@verybrad, could use your input!!!! That should get one person, anyway!!!!! They're neat looking, but I can't tell if old or repro!! Like the idea that they're club!!

 

Not Eastlake. Late Victorian. Might consider it to have some Empire (pillar and scroll) influence. Turn of the century Tub chair.

 

Welcome, @Neil Konzelman --

 

If you are thinking of recovering, it might be a good idea to re-tie the springs while you're at it, unless you really like the 'sacked out' feel.
Some years ago in Ontario, furniture dealers I know were having re-upholstery done in prison training workshops. Very small cost for labor, plus the cost of material, that may be an avenue to investigate, unless you are capable of work yourself.

 

Could it be Karpen? My parents had a table that had similar carvings from them. Think they were in Chicago.