Posted 6 years ago
Fortunato
(1 item)
I purchased this from a retiree from a train company. Was told it came off of a caboose. Everything about it says it's from pre 1900. It is certainly cast yet has no maker mark.
Cast iron bench from a Caboose | ||
| Unsolved mystery items20910 of 96466 |  |  |
Unable to see the bottoms of the legs. Can you tell us how many bolt down holes there are please? Other than a makers mark is there a mold or foundry number? The number would be on the back or under side where it is out of sight.
If it were so old, her skirt is very inappropriate for the period. Highly revealing.
SpiritBear - You make an excellent point assuming this came from an American rail line. I question the origin. These were used on both rail lines and steam ship lines. Some of the earliest had characters and animals on the legs going back to the mid 1800's but I would question it being from an American origin.
There are no bolt down holes at all. Nor is there any makers marks fou foundry marks or anything. There are no grinds as was common in latter cast iron, but there are about six file marks. As far as the little girls dress, i couldn't hope to say anything more then I would assume (and we know the value of an ignorant assumption) it's short to show movement such as dancing to the piper. The boys clothes fit an older time.
I can't ask the prior owner to give anymore detail then what I got because it was a brief meeting in the late 90's.
The size is 18inch at the top of the side panels, 12 inch deep where the seat would be and 24inch across.
Truly an unusual piece.
Not to mention how cool the it has the pied piper theme.
Fortunato - I asked my questions for a reason. As I stated above I would question this having an American origin. I haven't ridden a train in decades but when I did, it was mostly in Europe. While I never saw a seat like this in use, I did see similar ones in museums and on display. There were several lines that had them but Furness Rail lines comes to mind. They had both a rail line and a steam ship line that ran short trips for commuters. I think this might have been a bench rather than a seat in a caboose. It is indeed an unusual piece and difficult for old eyes to see. That being said if I were to research it I would research it as being mid to late 1800's and go with the theme and different countries of origin.
Thanks fhrjr2.
I even questioned the caboose thing because the lack of space on the back of a caboose. But the petite size would fit a very old style caboose. It could be from another country. The previous owner (the wife) had no hint of an accent but that doesn't mean he didn't.
I have found some imperfections (possibly a makers mark) under the support for the back. Trying to figure how to get a good image of it to both post here and use in reference for others.
Been doing a ton of googling for victorian makers, foundries and similar furnishings as well as gates and any variety of products as they seem to have some common features. Have even searched makers marks according to eras earlier then 1850..
I ran across your item and wanted to tell you I know this piece well. I have the identical bench. You have the chair bench which I have never seen- very rare. It is Art Deco in style. I have two of the benches (lower part without back). It was made in the 1920s by American company VERONA. They were an iron company that made household utilitarian pieces mostly being benches, side tables, stands, fish bowl stands, and smoking stands. I have many Verona, AS -Art Specialty Co., W. H. Howell, Seville benches and iron tables. Some of my Art Deco fishbowl stands are on display in the lobby of the Philcade Building circa 1929 in Tulsa. (The Tulsa Art Deco Museum). Hope this helps. Love your chair bench.