Posted 10 years ago
Mitch1588
(1 item)
My aunt Grace told me that my Grandmother bought this rocking chair around 1935 from an old woman neighbor for $2.00. I am 57 years old and remember it in my grandmothers house when I was a very young. I inherited it from my Aunt Grace. My aunt passed away in 2011 at 82 years old and she told me that when she was a child she would play with glass alleys (marbles) rolling them around the circle groove of the seat. She gave me a bag of alleys from when she was a child. This chair had been stripped and revarnished. The chair was reglued. There was a nail put into the front 2 spindles to secure them to the seat. The chair is made of Tiger Oak. Contact me for more information. I want to know where it was made and who might have made it. My grandmother lived in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Pittston is in northeast Pa located between Scranton and Wilkesbarre Pa.
Please contact me if you have any information regarding this chair.
Measurements:
Overall height - 37" as it stands
Seat to top of arm height- 10 1/4"
Width of arms - 27"
Back to front length of arms - 17"
Height of seat from floor - 17"
Length of seat front to back -19"
Width of back rest - 15"
Length of back - 24 1/4"
Thank you
I don't think this was made in Pa. I sooner think either up state New York or Connecticut. I don't have room for my entire foot in my mouth yet so won't say much more just now except, I think this may have been a commemorative edition. The ship appears to be a square rigged cog with what is possibly a Spanish style icon/image on the sail. If everyone's memory was good then your grand mother very well could have bought it in 1935. I would expect it to have been made a decade or perhaps two earlier. I wonder if you could look under the arms for any makers marks? You could also take a peek at the bottom which is a doubtful location but possible. In that it has been refinished any mark will be difficult to see.
lovely.............
Although refinished, the bottom is mostly untouched. There are no manufacturer marks. There are some chalk marks such as what looks like 8 -11-05 or 03
The letters G Neas or Ners. It looks like chalk or scratched in the woon. It is not very neat or led gable but that is all I see. I really appreciate your input. I love the chair but I haven't ever found any information. You had some good insite on when it may have been made and the type of ship & sail. When you say commemorative edition, what are your thoughts ? Thank you so much for your time & knowledge.
I may be going in a totally wrong direction so understand that.
Years ago I collected items all related but from three different eras. 1893, 1926 & 1933.
All had the common denominator of the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair. Before you get excited, this chair is not that old. However another common denominator was the Colombian Expo and tribute to Christopher Columbus. The chair fits and I have seen others that were similar with both the ship and the seat (although this seat above is an extreme). Vendors from all over the world submitted their work and produced items to be sold as tourist commemorative s. Your chair would fit in with the 1926 - 28 expo that was in Philly.
Without an actual makers mark it is like looking for the needle in the hay stack. Sears dumped millions into getting the project going and profited accordingly by selling their goods. The lack of a mark under the arm makes it difficult and pretty much rules out up state NY.
I have no doubt this item can be found if enough time is spent researching it. This is not at all an item that would have been displayed, there are too many flaws. That is why I was leaning toward a commemorative item.
fhrjr2, thank you so much for taking the time to help me. The insight you shared with me has motivated me to dig deeper. I will continue to research this chair with my new found information. I think that I will seek out more info with reputable antique shops in Philadelphia. I'll let you know what I find. I have a son at Temple University and I think it's time for a visit. Thanks again.
Mitch1588
I wish I were able to comment with a play by play history of this amazing chair..sadly..I know nothing about it..I felt compelled to comment rather, on where you are from!! I'm originally from Old Forge. My mother's family grew up in "the Patch"...12 total siblings last name of Korpita....my father's family Franus..also are in area...Gorgol Funeral home, and south side florist are my families...any chance of these being familiar to you???
I have a rocker just like this one in the photo, with the ship carved in the back. My father used to wander thru antique shops here in Northern CA and must have purchased the chair back in the 60’s. Sorry, I don’t have any history on it, but just thought I’d share that it’s not a one-of-a-kind…which I think is the story my father liked to tell. As kids we also used to roll marbles around the carved circle seat of the chair.
I have an identical chair that has not been refinished. Did you ever learn more about yours?