Posted 6 years ago
Awilmot
(5 items)
Hi! I’m Ashley and somewhat new to collecting antiques for my home/hobby. I found this chair at an estate sale this weekend and love it for a fun project. I’m curious to know more about it however. The front legs don’t seem to match the rest of the chair!? Am I correct? Also, I think this was a cane bottom at one point. Would it be possible to have re done? Curious at to age of the chair (with exception of front legs if they aren’t original). Thank you in advance for any knowledge you can lend a beginner??
You pose an interesting question. Looking at picture #3 I would say the rear legs are not original. There is a raised button plug which is out of place with the rest of the chair and the bottoms of the rear legs show little to no wear while the opposite is true of the bottom of the front legs. Just my two bits.
Ah! Interesting. So, possibly that the the back of the chair isn’t the original part!? I’ve taken a few more pictures to see if that helps. Now that I look at it... the wood grain on the seat matches better with the front legs and not really with the back of the chair. Ha! How funny. Can you help me age either piece? I only paid about $2 for it so I’m truly excited either way! Thanks for your help!
I think it is all original. I have seen many similar examples where the front legs are turned and the back legs are not.
The chair is typical of the type of chair that was produced in large numbers in the 1890s- 1920 and sold by everyone, to include a large amount through mail order catalogs.
The cane seats aren't cheap to have them professional re- caned. Probably more costly than what the chair would be worth after the effort. I used to know some folks who did cane chairs, but they are no longer in business.
Of course you can try and do the work yourself or just create some sort of cushion or patch.
scott
Thanks so much y’all! I find just even knowing the time frame helpful. I had originally planned for this to be a planter chair for my garden but it’s so sturdy. I’m having a hard time bringing myself to put it outside. I agree that I probably won’t have it recaned but will try another type of seat for it. I have my great grandmother’s ladder back dinning chairs from the Brumby Company that were probably mail ordered through a catalog. They have the square leather lion seat still in them and are beautiful. So I’ll try to go with something creative like that. Y’all have been very helpful. Thanks so much!