Date archive
2010
Posts originally published in 2010 from the RareVictorian collection.
J.W. Davis, Cabinetmaker Extraordinnaire
JohnM posted some photographs in the forum of a 12' tall Renaissance Revival bedroom suite that must be seen to be believed. It lives out it's existence in the Brennan House (built 1868), originally the home of a wealthy
Spiral Furniture Often Not Hunzinger
I thought that this Rare Victorian blog had quashed the rampant Hunzinger mis-attributions out there with our global reach, pervasive presence in the antique community and from me being featured on the cover of Magazine
Why Antiques Get Mis-Attributed - Six Reasons
Unfortunately, identifying an antique's manufacturer is sometimes an art and not always a science. It is not often that a 19th Century item has a patent existing to help us easily identify the maker as does the "lollipop
What's It Worth?
Antique Value Having a blog that is well entrenched into the Google search results leads a lot of new site visitors here that send me photos of their items asking, "what is the value of this antique?" The problem is, it
Elijah Galusha Settee Photos
As I always say, one cannot have too many Elijah Galusha reference photos lying around for that emergency Rococo furniture identification that always pops up. This set is from a Galusha settee at the Rensselaer County Hi
The Rare Victorian Store Launches
It's high time I selectively whittle my Victorian antique collection down as I have bought and bought and ran out of space to put it all in. Therefore, the Rare Victorian Antiques Store has been born! I will be adding mo
William Koelle, Philadelphia Maker's Label
One of my first late-19th century table purchases was a real beater, but I bought it because at the time I felt it was probably a table by Merklen Brothers. I thought that I'd get around to repairing and refinishing it a
Neal Auction Louisiana Purchase Sale, November 20th & 21st
Neal Auction is preparing for their annual Louisiana Purchase sale this weekend which includes a full representation of styles from the early 19th Century through the early 20th. One of the more interesting items is a Go
Armour-Stiner Octagon House
Be sure to stop by my other blog, Old House Tours, for the latest installment of the Armour-Stiner House in Irvington, NY. I've posted almost 50 images of the interior and exterior of this important property. Also, If an
"Jos. Stiner" Chair Lands At Armour-Stiner House
Continuing from where I left off with my Victorian cliff-hanger - I was about to unveil the name written under the upholstery of one of my Egyptian Revival chairs. I was pretty excited when John Hutchinson of Rose Valley
Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival Restoration
A few years ago, I purchased a three-piece Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival set. There was strong evidence to back up the attribution that I had made - the set was pictured in many of the reference books and labeled
Aesthetic Movement Spiderweb Chair
Here is a really unique Aesthetic Movement chair for sale incorporating a spiderweb, spider and butterfly caught in the web. The design of the back also includes a pair of what appear to be palm fronds, a wreath, a ribbo
Contents of Historic Conewago Manor Inn To Be Sold October 23rd
(ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.) – The contents of the Conewago Manor Inn – an historic structure dating back to an original 1742 grant from the William Penn family, founders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – will be sold
Fontaine's Unreserved Auction, September 25th
Saturday, Sept. 25, beginning at 10 a.m. It will be an unreserved estate auction (everything sells, regardless of price), featuring over 650 fresh to the market items offered in two sessions. Sold will be a fine Newport,
Frank Otremba Family History
From time to time I hear from descendants of the great 19th Century cabinetmakers and it is always fun to hear their family stories. This one is from the great-granddaughter of Frank N. Otremba, a highly-skilled Hawaiian
Mystery Cincinnati Furniture Manufacturer
A Rare Victorian reader contacted me about a chair that they have below with a badly damaged label, but a label nonetheless. It is clearly from a Cincinnati cabinetmaker (or retailer), but the question is: Which one? It
Shupe & Noble "Climax" Folding Bed
I was contacted by a Rare Victorian visitor about a Shupe & Noble bed that they would like to sell and I thought it would be good to share with everyone for two reasons: 1) the maker is known and is not one that I've
Emily Dickinson Gothic Revival Chair Mystery
I was contacted by someone who was curious if the Rare Victorian community could take a look at this newly found, rare photo of Emily Dickinson. It was previously believed that there was only one of her in existence, but
"Victorian" Genre A.D.D.
If you are a R.J. Horner Renaissance Revival fan, you should hop over to RJHorner.com and read the two latest Horner attribution-debunking posts: Another Horner is actually Robert Mitchell There Is No Horner Egg Moving o
Cabinetmaker Catalog Update
I just spent the past two days scanning two disintegrating Robert Mitchell catalogs into Adobe Acrobat format and have made them available for sale via immediate download. They represent a look into the ca. 1890-1910 fur
Allen & Brother Nightstand For Sale
Available for sale is this nightstand with original marble top and "A" key, attributed to the famous Philadelphia cabinetmaking shop of Allen & Brother. All four sides have decorative birdseye maple panels. These pan
George Schastey, Cabinetmaker
The name George Schastey has popped up in relation to the unidentified museum cabinet from the prior post. I think it's important to raise his profile and become a little more familiar with this important cabinetmaker an
Could It Be Herter Brothers?
I received an email from a Rare Victorian visitor recently of a find in an as-yet-unnamed museum. He provided pictures of a cabinet that the museum staff was not sure of what they had. This RV visitor took some pics and
John Henry Belter Desk
The great, great, great-grandson of John Henry Belter contacted me seeing if I could help locate a John Henry Belter desk available for sale: "My father, aunts and uncle have many pieces of his furniture in their houses
J & JW Meeks Hawkins Pattern Parlor Sets For Sale
Offered for sale are two J & JW Meeks Hawkins Pattern parlor sets. Each has a settee, arm and sidechair, or they can be combined into a single six-piece suite. One of the settees requires reupholstering. I can put in
Aesthetic Brass Beds - Not A Common Sight
Aesthetic brass beds don't pop up often to my recollection, nor to "aesthete", who alerted us to the bed in the forum. This one is being offered on Ebay at an asking price of $4,300 and considering how infrequently you r
Springmeyer Brothers Renaissance Revival Dresser
Springmeyer Brothers - Partners to John Henry Belter Ever see a piece of furniture in the Renaissance Revival style with J. H. Belter's name on it? I hadn't until I saw this piece coming up for sale at Martin Auction Co.
J.P. Morgan Herter Brothers Cabinet Coming To Auction
A Herter Brothers cabinet commissioned by J. Pierpont Morgan in the early 1880s is coming up for sale during a May 8th and 9th auction at Stair Antique Auctioneers and Appraisers in Hudson, NY. The painted and gilt cabin
Tom Thumb Settee/Sofa Lands At Ringling
Tom Thumb and his wife, Lavinia Warren's personal sofa made by John Henry Belter was mentioned here on Rare Victorian once before. I think this is the final story on the sofa - it has landed at the Ringling Museum - a gi
Ebonized Wall Cabinet
This antique wall cabinet is in the same shop about 15 feet away from the Kimbel & Cabus cabinet profiled in the prior post, so I thought that I would pass on the fact that it is also available for sale. These cabine
Kimbel & Cabus Cabinet #244
If you are a Kimbel & Cabus collector, you may be interested to know of a cabinet that is available in Narberth, PA. I was given a tip by a Rare Victorian visitor that "Antiques at 236" has some interesting items in
Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition Promotional Hand-Fan
I picked up this Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition promotional hand fan at an antique store earlier this week. Although it has Japanese themes, it makes no mention of being directly associated with that portion of the e
Don't Forget Canadian Cabinetmakers
Book Review: "Jacques & Hay 19th Century Toronto Furniture Makers" by Ruth Cathcart Jacques & Hay is a name that pops up frequently in the Victorian-era furniture world within Canada. It reminds me of how the Jel
John Henry Belter Cornucopia Pattern On Ebay
John Henry Belter Cornucopia pattern up for sale on Ebay? Yes, it happened. Say what you will about Ebay and eschew it at your own buying risk. A John Henry Belter Cornucopia armchair popped up several days ago, seemingl
Leveraging Newfound Galusha Reference Images
For those of you interested in the Rococo Revival furniture of Elijah Galusha, you may remember from this post that I had isolated a pattern that I had seen on several pieces at the Renssalaer Historical Society in Troy,
Online Sellers Needed
I'm working on a new venture that seeks to make the life of anyone selling anything online an easier one. I'm in the early stages of doing research and would love to speak to as many of you out there who do sell things o
Herter Brothers Secretary Lands At Newark Museum
The above Aesthetic Movement secretary made by Herter Brothers is in the process of being acquired by the Newark Museum. That news is fresh off the presses as the decision was just sealed yesterday after a formal present
Rare Elijah Galusha Bedroom Furniture Photos
Elijah Galusha Bedroom furniture photos are not exactly commonplace and up until I visited the Rensselaer Historical Society in Troy, NY, I had never seen any, period. The following rare photographs are from a labeled dr
Missing Zeke
It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that Rare Victorian regular and email friend of mine, Zeke Feldhaus, has passed away. I had not heard from Zeke nor seen him around Rare Victorian for a while but I didn't
Rare Victorian 3.0!
Now that Rare Victorian has started it's fourth (holy cow) year of existence, I thought it was befitting to do a revamp of the site design. So, voila! It has been moved to a new, faster server and the overall page design
Fine Inlaid Renaissance Parlor Suite With Diminutive Archairs
Bill M. sent me photos of a five-piece inlaid Renaissance Revival parlor suite with porcelain plaques to get some input on it's maker. He had run into this older post I did on the Herter Brothers attributions that come a
For Sale: Brunswick & Balke "Monarch" Billiard Table
The Brunswick & Balke Monarch was manufactured for 26 years, between 1868 and 1894, with this model probably dating in the 1870s/1880s. With a highly decorative design incorporating four black and gold lions and heav
Hunzinger Parlor Suite Hits $17,925 at Neal’s Winter Estate Event
As evidenced by the Hunzinger Parlor Suite sale, the results of Neal Auction Company’s Winter Estate Auction held January 30 and 31 are impressive indeed. Fine Victorian suites and cabinets were sale highlights. Bearin
Enhanced iPhone Support
If you're an iPhone user and need your Rare Victorian fix while out and about, you should pop over to RareVictorian.com. I've installed enhanced support for iPhone and navigation is now quick and easy.
Galusha Mahogany Secretary
To continue to fill out my online collection of Elijah Galusha furniture photographs, this secretary is another known Elijah Galusha piece in residence at the Rensselaer Historical Society in Troy, NY. I'm assuming 1835-
Macro Antiques: John Henry Belter Rosalie
I though it would be interesting to see an angle of decorative arts that we don't always see: the extreme close-up. I've pulled out my new macro lenses and have taken some close-ups of pieces that I own and will be shari
Philadelphia Sale in Louisiana
Neal Auction's latest sale is this weekend and it appears that the consignors with 19th Century furniture by famous Philadelphia makers will do better selling them in Louisiana than in Philadelphia area auctions. I can't
Aesthetic Recamier At The Armory
Herter Brothers or Associated Artists? That was the question that was floating about at the Armory this past weekend. Joan Bogart had opinions from others on the maker associated with her recamier but no one had a rock s
Overheard At An Antique Show
I was perusing the Armory show on 67th Street yesterday and while I was dashing through at lightspeed scanning the dearth of Victoriana, I had to stop to hear the rest of this conversation between two random show-goers:
Book Review: Winterthur Portfolio 10
Published in 1975 by the University Press of Virginia for The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, this book holds some valuable reference material for Victorian furniture fans. I personally purchased it for the mult
Antiques at the Armory, January 22-23-24
I am going to take a day off from the day job and head to NYC for this year's Antiques at the Armory show on Friday the 22nd. I'm going to pop by to meet Joan Bogart who will be exhibiting at the show. It has been long o
Pottier & Stymus Bedroom Furniture Receipt
Here's another interesting find from the files of the Rensselaer County Historical Society in Troy, NY. This is an 1861 receipt to Richard P. Hart, Jr. for bedroom furniture provided by the firm of Pottier & Stymus,
For Sale - Late Renaissance Revival Mahogany Console/Library Table
Offered for sale is this late 19th–Century Renaissance Revival Marble-Topped Carved Mahogany Console/Library Table, rectangular” black-veined marble top, over frieze with carved foliate decoration, supported on 3-D h
Did Henkels Produce Laminated Furniture?
Some text accompanying a recent auction ad caught my eye that had made reference to a laminated Rosewood parlor set that would be part of the upcoming sale. I had seen the pattern many times before (as any a long-time Vi
North Georgia Antique Auction Starring Pottier & Stymus
North Georgia Antique Auction is offering up some fine Victorian pieces in their upcoming January 9th auction. For me, this attributed Pottier & Stymus credenza with extensive ormolu bling is a standout. I've seen th
Decorative Inlay and Carving Featured at Kamelot Auction
By Susan Mellish PHILADELPHIA - Close to 800 lots of Philadelphia architectural antiques and Victoriana made up the November 21 event held by Kamelot Auctions as they offered up a smorgasbord of furniture, lighting, art