Posted 7 years ago
groveland
(25 items)
....why not include a piece of furniture by a maker whose products are frequently confused with Hunzinger, the Merklin Brothers, also of NYC.
The Merklin Brothers made rather distinct and in my opinion, rather over the top furniture.
They were in business from about 1875 to about 1897
The forms produced including tables, pedestals, chairs, sofas, stools even, I believe, architectural screens.
They were particularly well know for their "spiral turned" furniture. The spiral turned elements could be solid or open, as on this table. The latter is not an easy thing to turn.
They also used brass paw feet clutching a WOODEN ball rather than a glass one. Cast brass decorative elements were also used.
This table was found at a local out door flea market very near its midmorning closing time (people are out there as early at 2-3 in the AM!). Amazing how few knew what it was.
No it's not marked nor labelled. But I was pretty sure I knew who made it as soon as it saw it. Since, I've done quite a bit of research on my table and I feel very confident it is a piece made by the Merklin Brothers.
Not only have I have found other examples that were virtually identical, but also some very similar. Furthermore, I have found other Merklin Brothers pieces that used many of the same elements as are present in this table. Those elements include the use of the same gadrooned edges on the tops and bottoms, the same open spiral turned columns, the feet, etc.
I've attached some images of Merklen Brothers furniture from their advertisements of the period.
I realize some may find my table, well, not to put too fine a point on it, ugly. I suppose it does look like something from the set of the old Addams Family TV show. Something upon which "Thing's" box might have sat. I, however, love the funky and unusual.
I mentioned that Merklen Brothers furniture is not infrequently misattributed to Hunzinger. Both used turned elements in their furniture. For example, see the stretchers on the Hunzinger rocker I posted a little while back. But the ones used by Hunzinger, as well as other decorative elements, were rather different.
Groveland.
I think hutches and cabinets were manufactured in Canada were also shipped to the States and had almost identical designs especially in oak furniture. Never seen a table like this in person, and the more Adams family the better. Always has been called barley twist here. Your table is simply beautiful !!~