Featured chairs - anything special?

Handed down in the family (eastern USA), probably from first half of 1900's, two matching chairs. No visible labels or marks. Are these arts and craft, or something else. The front of the arms attachments seem unusual. Were re-upholstered decades ago, and that is now worn out. Trying to decide if we should keep or yard sale them.

 

Just so I understand... They've been in your family for over 100 years and you're thinking of selling them at a yard sale?

Debora

 

There is so much stuff (my wife's family), we can't take it all. Young people don't care much. I'm trying to make sure anything special is kept in family and it's information known so they aren't lost. If I can tell relatives (including my wife) something about a thing, I can get them interested in taking and keeping it. The default is estate sale. I'm on a rescue mission.

 

Generic turn of the century mass produced chairs. I see these all the time at $5-10 here in Fl.

 

Feel fine to let them go easily.

 

Just to give @Ghopper1924 a shout to check!!! They look like nice solid 'arrow back' arm chairs with no damage, that for the most part need re-upholstering!! And a bit of brightening up on the staining!!

 

Not arts and crafts. Late Victorian and probably part of a dining set. Doubt the backs originally had upholstery. Would also not be surprised to find that the seats were originally caned. Look like they would be comfortable but unfortunately not much value.

 

I'd call them transitional late Victorian/Arts and Crafts ca. 1910. The posters above are correct: not much value. However, they're DEFINITELY nicer than most chairs you could buy now, unless you have to have overstuffed leather or something. And the best thing is....you already own it.

But if you need to part with something, this would be a good candidate.

 

Ditto. "DEFINITELY nicer than most chairs you could buy now".

 

Can't tell for sure on wood type from images - walnut or oak ? I really put them a notch above the 'inexpensive turn of century'. Decent turning on front legs & arm supports ... a bevel on rear legs. Lastly, armchairs in a pair is nice.

 

The grain on the back slats looks like oak. If they were mine I'd stain them dark and reupholster with a dark fabric, or paint them a trendy color and reupholster with a matching fabric so the attractive lines of the chairs stand out--not the contrasting upholstery. They look fairly comfortable with the contoured back. With the right makeover i could picture them in a high-end home decor magazine.

 

They're oak. A darker golden would suit them very well (as in just wax them) but the top rail upholstery I think they could do without if possible.

 

I agree about removing the top rail upholstery, but it looks like it was tacked on so there could be a lot of little holes underneath that would be difficult to hide.