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Identifying Antique Chairs

An antique chair in a room with expensive looking wallpaper.
Identifying the age and value of antique chairs can be difficult especially if there are no markings identifying the manufacturer. Careful research may yield helpful information. Professional appraisers are an option as well. This is a page about identifying antique chairs.
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40 Questions

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April 15, 2021

I recently inherited this chair andwWould like to know more about the history/ manufacturer since the sticker is halfway removed. Also, I would like to know what it's worth. Thanks! (:

An old dining room chair.
 
The underside of a chair's seat.
 
The seat of an antique chair.
 
A partially removed sticker on a chair.
 

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
April 16, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

The maker is most likely Hartwig & Kemper. Here is a PDF with some examples of chairs--for some reason, I had trouble scrolling through it, so hopefully you won't www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web...

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Here is some info about the company: antiquesqa.blogspot.com/.../leave-it-to-romans.html

If so, most chairs from this brand as a group would sell for more than a single chair.

Where I am, they sell at about $10-$20 each; however, if you found a person who was trying to replace a broken chair from their set, they may pay much more.

I always start selling prices high and take best offer--so start at $250 and see if there is interest and drop the price if asked or daily until it sells, knowing you may fetch as little as $10.

Post back how your sale goes!

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
April 18, 20210 found this helpful
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Looks like PGHgirl has the right brand name - Hartwig & Kemper - and they made chairs in the early 1900's.
I could not find a chair like yours but I was able to download the link that PGHgirl posted (you have to have Chrome) and the PDF has a Hartwig & Kemper catalog from 1904-1905 featuring their chairs and other items.

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There are similar chairs in the catalog but most have more detailed backs and most have cane seats.

You can try to download the link here:
This is a 'copy and paste link:
file:///C:/Users/CHRIST~1/AppData/Local/Temp/HartwigandKemperChairsTablesSettees_10506675.pdf

or here:
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web...

Your chair originally had a cane bottom but apparently was broken and has been replaced with a fabric cover. This may lower the value.
Single straight/dining chairs of almost any brand are usually difficult to sell and generally lower value.
Chairs are difficult to ship so usually these are advertised as 'local pick up only' which means the area you live in will be the biggest determining factor as to the value of your chair.
I would say the value (in my area) would be around $15-$20 but your area could be better or even lower.

You can always list it on a local site like Craigslist, USA4Sale, Facebook Marketplace with a higher price and see if you have any offers. No offers? lower the price.

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Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 440 Answers
April 24, 20211 found this helpful
Best Answer

This is Antique Oak Dining Chair by Hartwig & Kemper, Baltimore, MD. Pghgirl40 is absolutely right. You can see another part of maker's mark here: www.ebay.com/.../124078090645

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Hartwig & Kemper was a well-known furniture manufacturing company in Baltimore and had numerous warehouses in the city and stocked a wide variety of furniture, especially chairs and tables, usually made of golden oak.

By the way, your chair is updated, because it originally had Cane Seat.
On the Internet, you can find a lot of chairs by company, but due to the fact that the label has come off, the owners do not identify them, but write that these are chairs from 1900-1950: www.antiques.com/.../Antique-Solid-Wood-Hand-Carved-Cane..., www.ebay.com/.../254156509455
The price is about 200$.

 
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February 12, 2021

I bought this chair at an auction about 10 years ago because I liked it. However, I have no idea how old it might be or even what style it is.

I would appreciate any help with those questions. Thank you.

An armchair with ornate fabric.
 
An armchair with ornate fabric.
 
An armchair with ornate fabric.
 
An armchair with ornate fabric.
 
An armchair with ornate fabric.
 

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Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 320 Answers
February 12, 20210 found this helpful
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I believe this is a Victorian era "gothic" Jacobean-style armchair, which could be worth $500 or more. (The newer upholstery fabric is in stark contrast to the style. Originally this would have been solid, in perhaps a jewel-tone.) I love the puppies on the armrests!

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Lions were frequently featured, but I think dogs are more suitable for the country-house or club where this chair might have felt at home.

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
February 12, 20210 found this helpful
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I don't think the carvings are lions. They look like King Cavalier Spaniels (dogs). Does the upholstery come off? It looks like a very modern addition.

I would like to see the bones of the chair to figure out if it is an Edwardian era (19011910) chair or a modern reproduction.

What kind of springs does it have? How is it stuffed? Can you tell if it is joined by screws or dowels and if screws can you share a photo of the heads?

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It is unusual as most dogs on chairs are hounds. I would love to learn more and maybe offer more assistance.

Post back with more photos if you can!

Thanks!

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
February 14, 20210 found this helpful
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The bones of this chair are very cool. It looks like dowel construction so that may place it as a 19th century piece. The more I look at it, I am wondering if it is not a Foo Dog throne style chair that has had a total make over--may have originally had an ornate carved wooden back. If this is the case, if there are not the original bones, it may have lost its value vs. if it was a totally original piece. Don't panic--even totally original Foo Dog chairs don't always have high values--the one below sold for $150. Values are regional and vary with so many factors that you could see ranges from $10 to $1000 and all would be appropriate depending on exactly what you had and where you were located.

Here is the sample chair that sold (don't see year) for $150 aarauctions.com/.../Search.do?auctionId=1707&itemId=14211

You don't mention where you are located. Do you have a quality auction house in your town?

When I come across pieces in my travels that are like this and I am just not sure because they have been redone, it is helpful to go to a place where they can see the chair, hear the chair, feel it and smell it (things like rough wood, creaking when you sit on it and bad smells like cigarette or mildew can instantly devalue an otherwise valuable piece).

They can help you get the big picture what we really can't see from photos (and these are GREAT photos by the way!! Very helpful and allowed me to think better on what I was seeing).

The other reason I suggested taking it to a place like this is they can help you value it for your town. Even if it is not a totally original piece, it is still going to have some value just because it is cool and different. They can help you figure that out for value for where you are located.

All furniture sales are regional so it may fetch a tidy sum in a big city where there are eclectic buyers, and nothing in college town where if it is not Ikea they don't want it.

Post back what you learn!! It is a very cool piece! I can see why you fell in love it it! Thanks for sharing and all the additional photos!

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August 1, 2022

Hi, I have this beautiful corner chair that I purchased awhile ago but I am having a hard time trying to find any information on it. I would love to be able to have some history, information and value of this piece. I think it might have been a commode chair. I keep searching the internet for something similar but can't find anything. An antique corner chair.

 

We would love to pass this down to one of our children and give them the information. If anyone can help with any information I would greatly appreciate it. I'm pretty sure this piece is from either NY or Boston area. Thank you so much.

The carved back of a wooden chair.
 
A carved foot of a wooden chair.
 
A close up of the carved wooden chair.
 
A close up of the carved wooden frame.
 
The underside of an antique chair.
 
The underside of an antique chair.
 
The underside of an antique chair.
 
The underside of an antique chair.
 
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August 30, 2022

I received 4 chairs and one table I would like to know more about the history/age and manufacturer. Also, I would like to know how much these pieces worth. Many thanks!

A wooden dining table.
 
Two wooden dining chairs with arms.
 
Two wooden dining chairs.
 

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December 20, 2020

Does anyone know anything about these chairs? Any information is much appreciated! My dad has owned them for a long time and now has to decide what to do with them. I wish I knew their story.

Ive researched as far as I can get and all I found is that they are probably wainscot style. Thanks!

A set of wooden chairs with leather seats and backs.
 
A close up of the carved back of a chair.
 
A close up of the feet of an antique chair.
 
A set of wooden chairs with leather seats and backs.
 
The leather seats of two chairs.
 
Markings on the bottom of a chair.
 
Markings on the bottom of a chair.
 

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
December 20, 20201 found this helpful
Best Answer

These have a 1950s Spanish revival style vibe to them, but sadly I have very little knowledge about in the genre as you don't see many like them in the Pittsburgh reselling world that I live in. I know they can be very valuable if that is indeed what you have, so I do encourage you to find someone where you are and take a chair and have them give it a look see.

I really don't see anything that leads me to believe they are Wainscot style...so I am curious as to what you saw. Wainstcot style (to me) is usually bulky, solid back (not leather), much more ornate carving--the backs and seats, and they often have a severe (to me) shape to them. Don't look like a chair I could relax in.

Your chairs have a bit of whimsy in them with the decorative heel rest and elegant yet simple carving, but again, Wainscot style is not something we see a lot of in my resale world--so I could be totally off.

Post back what you learn!! Thanks for sharing!

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August 11, 2020

We have 6 of these chairs and would like to identify style and approximate age. There are no markings on any of them.

Identifying Antique Chairs? - armless wood chair with round seat
 
Identifying Antique Chairs?
 

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
August 12, 20200 found this helpful
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Almost definitely mass produced (manufactured) chairs. I see these all the time and most of the time they are in repurposed furniture posts. Here are two examples--and both look almost identical to yours:

sharonswannabecottage.blogspot.com/.../chair-makeovers.html

smashingrubbish.blogspot.com/.../succulent-chair.html

My best guess is they are early 1900s (or reproductions of that style)--maybe as old as the 1930s. I would need to see the construction--are they nailed, screwed, dowels, etc.

I see them called school house chairs, lathe back chairs, and restaurant/diner style chairs.

This one looks in pretty nice shape. I can't tell the wood--maybe tiger eye oak? Someone will need to see them in person to tell the wood--sometimes if they have staining (either wood stains like in the finish or stains or grain from age it is hard to tell what the wood is from a photo).

You may never be able to know the maker and selling them will be getting the right words into the ad and the right location to sell them to the right person--which is most likely going to be an in person venue--either flea market if you are adventurous or a resale/antique shop where someone can see, feel, touch and smell them.

Furniture values are very regional and supply and demand based.

Do you have open antique dealers that can help you price them for your town and your market? In some places these are a dime a dozen (which is where I see them turned into plant holders quite often--and flipped for good money too--so if you are artsy this may be an option for you) and in other places they are sought after by people trying to finish a period style room or even be used as props for a play or movie.

Selling chairs is always a challenge because there are so many factors. They have to be able to hold a person (we weigh more than our ancestors and old chairs were not designed to hold our new normal in weights), they have to not wobble, have no smells, be in good condition, fit the table at the right height, and more.

Hopefully you and find a good reseller to help you sell them for your market. Thanks for sharing!!

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
August 16, 20200 found this helpful
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I'm not sure anyone can truly state the age without having a lot of knowledge in this field and seeing the chairs in person, but age for items like this is usually determined by past provenance so what do you know about the history of your chairs?
You could try posting your chairs on this site and see if anyone can help you.

instappraisal.com/

In the past when 'shopping' I have seen similar chairs and most of the time people just refer to them as 'old' chairs as I'm sure there were thousands (maybe millions?) made during the period 1900-1940's but seem to have lost their value over time as the style just doesn't seem to work with most home decor in today's world.

Yard sale and flea market prices have always been $10 or less per chair ($40-$50 for 6) and some people will be buying to repurpose as not too many are into this 'color' for their homes.
I do occasionally see a repurposed single chair listed for sale on eBay or Etsy (probably on other sites also) but have not noticed any sold prices so no account of value there either.
Repurposed one or two chairs may sell but only if they are liked in your area as chairs can be very expensive to ship (freight usually).

Most of the time I see this style (and open spindle back models) called cafe or ice cream parlor chairs. Repurposed chairs may be called dining or side chairs and may be featured with a small table.

There are modern versions of this style that may be made of metals/wrought iron and sold as patio furniture.

If you're thinking about selling your chairs, you may have good luck with posting them for sale on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, letgo, offerup, etc and list them as pickup only.
You could list them in groups of two but state that six are available. Starting price is up to you, maybe high $50-60 for 2 and see how it goes.
Age or brand may not matter as most are listed as vintage or mid-century.
Unless of course, you find that your chairs are 'special' and therefore more valuable.

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August 30, 2022

Unsure if this is an original or reproduction. It is very beautiful wood. Any ideas or information?

Time period, country of production, etc. Thank you!

A wooden chair upholstered in red.
 
The wooden chair with the upholstery removed.
 
The wooden chair with the upholstery removed.
 
A wooden chair upholstered in red.
 
Close up of the decorative carved back.
 
The back view of the chair.
 
The wooden chair with springs in the seat.
 
Side view of wooden chair.
 
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March 21, 2022

Is this chair an antique? I have no info about it and theres nothing stamped on it.

A convertible wooden chair.
 
A wooden chair in a flat position.
 

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