chair

According to my mom, this chair has been past down for many generations. Now, I can only repeat what my mom tells me. So, please do not kill the messenger if its not that old. The dimensions are about 18 1/2" length along the front frame of the seat, 17 1/4" tall from the ground to the top of the seat, 34 1/2" from the ground to the tip of the top of the back support of the chair, 15 1/2" wide at back of the chair, 16 1/8" along the side frame of the seat. My mom's Aunt had it repainted and reupolstered during its life. So, I do not think there was paint on the wood and the fabric is not orignal either. The wood along the perimeter of the bottom of the seat has holes in it like maybe a worm infestation bored into a type of wood during that time period. Please help with identifying the company and the name of this chair pattern. Sitting in the chair is hard and has a crunch feel to it. Thank you. Rob

 

Just my guess -painted American Aesthetic style side chair - 1920's.

 

This is an Eastlake chair ca. 1890. Without a tag or stamp it's impossible to tell who made it, as there were dozens if not hundreds of furniture manufacturers across the country at that time, and very few of them labeled their work.

You're right, the painting is not original to the chair. I'd say this is a walnut side chair from the 1890s, so you are correct: It has in fact been passed down through the generations. It was probably part of a parlor set that would have included a sofa, arm chairs, and other side chairs. The holes you mentioned may just be from past reupholstering projects and are probably nothing to worry about. The holes at the bottom of the two front feet would have had castors originally.

Although I've seen a few signs that the Brown Furniture Depression may be just starting to lift, the bad news is that it hasn't yet, and with the alterations your chair has endured it doesn't have much value; in my part of the U.S. definitely less than $50.00 at auction.

Since this is a family piece, then perhaps you would like to restore it without worrying about the cost/value relationship? If so, you'll need to strip the paint and restore the walnut finish, reupholster the chair (looks like it needs it anyway) with something more period-appropriate, and re-install the wheels under the front feet. Money and time are involved, of course, but the result could be most satisfying.

 

Lovely to still have in family. It would benefit from a little tlc and results would be pleasing.

Debora

 

I see an issue with reinstalling the casters considering the current 'set' of the chair. I think the rear legs were cut to compensate for the removal of the castors and allow the proper plane angle of the chair relative to the floor. Also, I suspect round metal sliders were affixed to the bottom of the rear legs for ease of movement.

 

I don't see any evidence of metal sliders affixed to the bottom of the rear legs. It was very common to have side chairs with casters on the front legs only, although not as common as having them on all four legs. Regardless, it never seemed to create issues.

Anyway, it's up to the O.P. to restore them. If the idea is to restore the chair as closely as possible to its original appearance, then restore them. If not, then not.

 

Disagree.

auction-2015-04-04-lot-74.html

 

If the castors are removed, the chair will slope forward, yes?