Category archive
eBay Antiques
Posts filed under eBay Antiques from the RareVictorian furniture archive.
No Reserve - Signed Alexander Roux Bed
You don't come across a signed, Rosewood Alexander Roux bed for $2k that often (current price with no reserve). It's not an overly grandiose bed in size or sophistication of design, but the carvings are exceptionally wel
Allen & Brother Desk on the Roadshow
One my favorite cabinetmakers, Allen & Brother from Philadelphia was profiled in the May 1996 edition of the Magazine Antiques and a desk very similar to this one appraised below on the roadshow is shown on page 723.
Alexander Roux Cabinet Hiding On Ebay
I've always liked perusing Ebay for Victorian Antique finds because you never know what will pop up at a reasonable price. I believe that I have run across an authentic Alexander Roux cabinet (auction completes on 1/4/11
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
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
"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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Kilian Brothers Table In Hiding
I'm always on the lookout for Victorian furniture of note that is "hiding" in obscurity, either behind a coat of paint or a unknowing seller description. Here was a recent one that showed up on Ebay, disguised long enoug
Herter Cabinet Spotted In 1964 Movie - My Fair Lady
Ulysses Dietz, curator at Newark Museum recently stopped by to give us a heads up on a Herter Brothers cabinet that a friend of his spotted in the 1964 Warner Brothers movie, My Fair Lady. I extracted a scene showing the
Rare Signed (and Antlered) Mitchell & Rammelsberg Hall Rack
Just in time for Christmas, you can get yourself a rare Mitchell & Rammelsberg hall tree with a carved Rudolph head to hang your hats on. I believe this is a rare find with a massive trophy elk rack attached to a car
Brass Egyptian Revival Rail
Speaking of Egyptian Revival brass, here's an inexpensive (at the moment) Egyptian Revival brass rail. I'm trying to imagine what it would originally been used for since it wouldn't appear that it would work for a draper
Egyptian Revival Furniture Mounts - Pottier & Stymus
I've put up a pair of Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival mounts on Ebay. They've been sitting on my desk, staring at me like some 19th century paperweights, so hopefully someone has a better use for them than I. If yo
Creepy Zoomorphic Furniture Carvings
I'm a big fan of the incorporation of animal imagery into furniture made in the 19th century. When done well, it can elevate the level of style for a piece above those without these elements. It also requires a good bit
John Henry Belter Cornucopia Sidechair
This Belter Cornucopia chair is seeing action from 8 bidders on Ebay at the moment with 2 days left to go. Currently bid to less than $1,000, these chairs can command $4,000-$6,000 at auction. This variation appears to b
Fine Pair Of Victorian Tables And Satin Glass To Be Sold 10/11
Nevin at Circa 19th Century Antiques has put up several Victorian-era lots on Ebay that will sell by this Sunday. I will draw your attention to three of them in particular: A fine Renaissance Revival parlor table with de
J & JW Meeks Duchesse At Harlowe-Powell Auction Gallery
When signed pieces of Victorian-era furniture show up for sale, I like to feature them so that we have a reference for the future when similar pieces show up that are not marked by their maker. Sandra at Harlowe-Powell t
Thomas Brooks Dresser With Putto
I almost incorrectly used the term "cherub" to describe this winged male child that is represented in the crest of this dresser, but I remembered that I had wanted to do a little digging on the difference between the wor
Comparing Herter Brothers Marks - When Is It Authentic?
Marked, signed, or labeled furniture in the Victorian era is the exception and not the norm. The higher-end furniture makers seemed to be as neglectful in this regard as any of the rest of the cabinetmakers. One of the m
Hunzinger "Woven Wire" Patent Seat
This is a George Hunzinger "Dining or Library Chair No. 44" from the Kimball's Book of Designs: Furniture and Drapery (Boston, 1876). I have a question into the seller of the chair on the right to see if the original wir
Alexander Roux Chairs With Original Label
According to the label above which accompanies a pair of chairs currently for sale, these chairs were produced by Alexander Roux between 1848 and 1867 due to the 479 Broadway address mentioned. The chairs are entirely eb
Another "If Only ..." Moment
Sometimes Rare Victorian regular Zeke sends me things that get my blood pressure pumping in a bad way and this is another example of one of those "If Only" moments. If only I'd been there. If only Zeke had bought it. If
Another J.W. Hamburger Prince Of Wales Set
Another 3-piece Renaissance Revival parlor set that I believe to be a "Prince of Wales" set by J.W. Hamburger has popped up on Ebay. This one is nicer than the others I have seen due to the inclusion of brass plaques, bu
"Jelliff" Crest For Sale
Just a quick note to give those that collect Victorian furniture parts a heads up that a "Jelliff" crest is for sale. I say "Jelliff" with tongue firmly planted in my cheek as I soon expect to put up my last post on the
Upholstery Choices Giving "Victorian" A Bad Rap
Victorian-Era Furniture has gained a bad rap over the past 100 years for it's "garishness" and I think that there is no potential end to that reputation, and thus, it's lack of mainstream appeal. I think there is one thi
George Hunzinger Lounge Chair
George Hunzinger furniture fans will probably be interested to see this chair design by him based on the 1869 brace patent. This is not a common form and I personally haven't seen one in the past. You can see the chair w
I'll Gladly Pay You Tuesday For A Hamburger Today
No sooner do I put up a post about J.W. Hamburger than woodwright points out the Great American Auction sale coming up tomorrow. I had previously reviewed the lots, but since I just did the post earlier this morning, one
John Jelliff Or J.W. Hamburger?
Compare this 1872 catalog image of a J.W. Hamburger sofa, model "King William Suit", to a 7-piece parlor suite currently for sale as a John Jelliff. The overall form is strikingly similar and a few decorative elements ar
George Hunzinger Sofa With "Opera Singer" Arms
George Hunzinger furniture hasn't graced the pages of Rare Victorian for a while, so I thought I'd alert Hunzinger fans to the sofa that is currently seeing very active bidding on Ebay. With 2 days to go, it has seen 20
Rare Victorian Antique Classifieds
There are some exciting new additions coming to Rare Victorian this week, so please be checking back over the coming days to see what is in store. I have been very busy behind the scenes and I still owe you a follow-up p
Modern Gothic or Eastlake/Aesthetic or Both?
Bob Courtney Auctions is selling this 3-piece bedroom set on Ebay at the moment and the sale will be ending today. The have listed it as an "Eastlake Aesthetic Movement" set and I've been mulling over this categorization
J & JW Meeks "Stanton Hall" Chair
Currently at $202.50 and originally described as a chair made by Belter, this Meeks Stanton Hall chair is seeing some early bidding due to the low starting price and no reserve. These chairs will hit $800 to $1500 at auc
W. W. Strong Ebonized, Aesthetic Movement Bedroom Suite
This Aesthetic Movement bedroom suite has popped up on Ebay and is labeled via stamp to be made by W. W. Strong Co. of Chicago, Illinois. The seller has some other provenance to share with us on the set: The set was purc
Fontaine's Exceptional Antique Auction, April 4th
Fontaine's has another one of their Exceptional Antique Auctions coming up this weekend and there are many great Victorian pieces to be aware of. Live bidding will be provided
Rare R.J. Horner Bedroom Suite Up At Auction
Just a quick note to mention the upcoming April 5th sale of an attributed R.J. Horner Bedroom suite. A tag does accompany the set. More details and photo tour at the R.J. Horner blog.
Herter Brothers Attributed Cabinet
I think that Herter Brothers fans would likely agree with me when I say that I don't think the Herter Brothers attribution on this cabinet currently for sale on Ebay is warranted. The use of hardware on this piece is in
"Shannon Phila" Locks = Daniel Pabst?
I ran into this dresser listing on Ebay which caught my eye due to the expertly done Aesthetic Movement carvings. What further caught my eye was a mention in the listing description of the presence of locks that bear the
Are You Tempering Your Antique Purchases In This Economic Downturn?
I had to resist signing a check and handing it over the the dealer who was displaying this birdseye Maple bedroom suite. I am in need of a bedroom set badly and my wife reminds me regularly about the bare mattress in one
Not A Belter Work/Sewing Table
I received a note from Joan Bogart about the table that was profiled in a few previous posts. It was documented in the book, "The Furniture of John Henry Belter and the Rococo Revival" on page 83. Joan feels that the tab
Don’t Believe All That You Read, Part III
I'd like to get back to the series of posts on issues with using furniture books, catalogs, and ads as proof-positive sources for furniture maker attributions (Trade Catalogs Can Be Misleading; Don’t Believe All That Y
John Henry Belter's Miscellanea
Those of you who visit this site regularly and/or are John Henry Belter furniture fans are very familiar with his over-the-top Rococo parlor furniture - tables, chairs, settees, meridiennes... But there are, of course, o
Don't Believe All That You Read
You need to retain a healthy dose of suspicion when you read anything in books related to 19th century furniture and the identification of their makers contained within. That caution also includes what you read on this s
Robert Mitchell High-Back Arm Chair #66-1337 A
I knew eventually that this chair would turn up and it finally has. This is the Robert Mitchell High-back Arm Chair from his ca. 1902 catalog, model #66-1337 A. The "A" designates the Mahogany version of the chair, which
Victorian Antique Lorillard Tobacco Cabinet
Not something that you'd hang above your Rococo or Aesthetic Movement sofa, but here's a great 1880s Victorian tobacco cabinet from the Lorilard Tobacco Company, which operated 100 years prior to this cabinet's creation
Bonham's Selling Warner Brothers' Studio Collection of Herter Brothers Furniture
In what one Hollywood blogger is referring to as a Warner Brothers garage sale, Bonham's is offering one of the most important Herter Brothers collections seen at sale in over 60 years. This sale represents over $1,000,0
“Hunzinger Chair” Mystery Part III
Sorry if this series of posts is hitting the press slowly, but that is intentional as I am getting new information real-time and I want to be sure that you get it as it rolls in. As we've been exploring in the past two p
Caille Eclipse Upright Antique Slot Machine
What I wouldn't give to have one of these antique slot machines sitting amongst my Victorian antiques in the parlor. I'm in the process of selling my ca. 1999 pool table whose removal will open a new swath of floor real
Mitchell & Rammelsberg Music/Map Rack
A quick mention that there is just a day left on a music/map rack on Ebay that bears the original Mitchell & Rammelsberg stencil. It's not often that you find these with their original maker names on them, let alone
New York Neo-Classical Ebonized Cabinet
If I wasn't in cash-conserving home-rebuild mode I'd possibly snap up this excellent 1860s Neo-classical (Neo-Grec) cabinet. One can never have too many of these space-hogging extravagances. They cost even more than the
Aesthetic Art Brass Plant Stands
During the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century, brass, lighting and silverplate manufacturers produced "Art Brass" furnishings as an extension of their existing business for middle-to-upper class families. They w
George Hunzinger Renaissance Revival Chair
This past weekend saw a pair of these George Hunzinger chairs go for $6,000 at auction and now there is a single chair currently seeing some bidding with six days left in the sale, above. It is currently bid up to $1,825
Update To Israel Fellows Post
I have updated the Israel Fellows post to reflect an important omission that I made when preparing the first posting. Thanks to a comment from Max Foote, I "reopened the investigation". I guess you could say we exhumed t
Kimbel & Cabus Attributed Bedroom Suite
The printed Neal Auction catalog and NealAuction.com website has some additional substantiation that does not accompany the Ebay listing for the attributed Kimbel & Cabus bedroom set in their upcoming sale. I thought
How About An Alexander Roux Under Your Christmas Tree?
Not that it would fit under a tree, but go with me on this one. Drop some hints to your special other someone that you'd like a nice hunt sidebaord attributed to Alexander Roux or a few Belter chairs under the tree when
Gustave Herter Parlor Suite?
It's fun to see antiques put up for sale with low sale range estimates and see them hit prices 10-times what the auction house anticipated. Harlowe-Powell put a very conservative $2,500 top range price on this set which
For The Record: J. W. Hamburger Prince Of Wales Chair
In another installment of "For The Record" on Rare Victorian where I feature the work of low profile makers of the 19th Century, I'm pleased to present what I strongly believe is a Joseph W. Hamburger Prince of Wales cha
Daniel Pabst Free-For-All
There are seven - count 'em - seven "Pabst" pieces on Ebay right now and I wonder about how loosely the name is being bandied about for anything that resembles the style that he worked in. British architect Bruce Talbert
Global and U.S. Antique Popularity Trends
As a website owner, I use a lot of tools to assess traffic patterns on my sites, and while doing so recently, I decided that I could use one of them to roughly judge global and U.S. trends for the antiques industry. I wa
Pottier & Stymus Inlaid Ebonized Parlor Table
This parlor table is very similar to a table in the "Styles of American Furniture" book on page 67. There appears to be differences in the inlay wood choices resulting in a rosier (Rosewood) color to this table. The inci
Herter Brothers Ebonized Fall-Front Desk
Sloans & Kenyon out of Chevy Chase, MD will be putting the ebonized Herter Brothers desk to the right up for sale on November 16th. The back is stamped with the "Herter Bro's" moniker, so you can be assured that this
Lingerie Chest Signed Alexander Roux
I just noticed this signed Alexander Roux piece in today's Bob Courtney sale. It is always exciting to have a Roux piece bearing the original stencil of it's maker. The expected sale range reflects this importance ($15,0
10-Piece Belter Parlor Set at Bob Courtney November 8th
Bob Courtney Auctions has a sale coming up on on Saturday, November the 8th that will include the six brethren to the above four John Henry Belter side chairs. The complete set is being categorized as following Belter's
Centennial Benjamin Franklin Coat/Hat Rack
Many of the typical Victorian hat/coat racks that you find in antique shops these days are mass-produced, utilitarian pieces that are fairly unforgettable. This particular one features a projecting Benjamin Franklin as t
Victorian Architecture In ... Thailand
I'm currently on vacation in Phuket, Thailand but I stopped with my wife in Bangkok on the way and did a tour of the Royal Palace and clicked a few photos of Victorian-inspired architecture on the property - which I didn
Kilian Brothers Inlaid, Gilt-Incised, Ebonized Parlor Table
There's something about Kilian Brothers pieces that make them some of my favorites. Their heavy mix of ebonization, polychrome paint (in some cases), heavy use of gilt-incising and Neo-Grec styling is very appealing to m
Why Victorian Antique Furniture Gets A Bad Rap
Holy Moly. Now I know why people who aren't fans of Victorian antique furniture look at pieces from the period and condemn it's over-the-topness. Technically this piece is probably very late Victorian Renaissance Revival
Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival Two-Piece Parlor Set
Fotaine's has this two-piece Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival parlor set coming up for sale on October 18th. Of the P&S ER sets that were ever made, this is a more conservatively styled design without too much o
Charles Tisch Aesthetic Inlaid Sofa
Neal Auction will be selling the above Aesthetic sofa in the remaining day of the Louisiana Purchase sale today. It is being attributed to Charles Tisch who was a cabinetmaker in New York starting in 1870, categorized hi
Neal Auction Louisiana Purchase Sale, October 11th
Note to Neal Auction: free advertising on Rare Vic for infinity if this cabinet finds it's way to my front door. Don't worry, it's a covered porch. Like they would need to bribe me since I blog about their sales anyway.
Hunzinger-Palooza At Neal Auction
Neal Auction's upcoming sale will feature several pieces of George Hunzinger furniture, including the above sofa and a chair that would match it, were they to be upholstered in the same manner. I expect there to be a wid
Kimbel & Cabus Modern Gothic Armchair at Neal Auction
In my opinion, Neal Auction is being a bit conservative in their attribution on this chair. I'm always very appreciative of Neal's condition information and research that they provide with their listing and I feel they a
Pair of J & JW Meeks "Stanton Hall" Sidechairs
Although picking up a pair of Meeks Stanton Hall pattern chairs seems like it could never be a bad investment, that all depends on the price of the acquisition, and with this pair, the asking price of $4,400 is above whe
Yesterday's Fontaine Sale Encourages Me
I'm encouraged by some of the prices realized at the Fontaine sale yesterday. Here's a sampling of some of the healthy results: Meeks Hawkins sofa - $10,000 "Pottier & Stymus" Aesthetic Sideboard - $12,000 Meeks Rose
Rare Victorian "Special Finds" Changes
I've been offering an ancillary service here on Rare Victorian called "Special Finds". With it, I try to highlight pieces that may be lost in Ebay-land, either mis-priced, mis-identified, mis-categorized, or just plain l
Fontaine's Exceptional Antique Auction Sept. 27th
Plenty of high-end Victorian coming up in the Fontaine sale in a few days with all the usual suspects: Belter, Roux, Meeks, Jelliff, Baudouine, Pottier & Stymus, and Horner among others. The Meeks Hawkins pattern set
Allen and Brother Winged Griffin Desk
This desk is being attributed to the shop of Allen and Brother of Philadelphia and being dated to around 1875. I happen to have seen this desk in person - it sat in Adamstown, PA for a number of months and I drooled over
Are You Selling Yourself Short Selling On Ebay?
James Conrad and Steve Sika commented on a recent post about a pair of high-end Neo-Grec chairs that were being sold on Ebay (unsuccessfully) and I thought I'd move Steve's question into it's own post as it deserves some
Neo-Grec Herter Brothers or Pottier & Stymus Chairs
I don't run across fine Neo-Grec, ebonized, Rosewood chairs like these too often. Each chair has a bronze plaque in the back splat, one of a male figure and the other of a female. There is ample ormolu throughout the cha
Just Call Me Stubby
I love how the seller of this cut-down Rococo parlor table puts it in the listing: This WAS once a magnificent Victorian rosewood center table with turtle marble top. Somewhere down the line a long time ago, some rocket
September 13th Grand View Auction Victorian Furniture Overview
Grand View will have a little of everything Victorian in this upcoming sale on Saturday. The bed above will be up for sale and they are attributing it to Alexander Roux. I would be happy to pay within the expected range
Pottier & Stymus Neo-Grec Half-Tester Bedstead
Grand View has the Pottier & Stymus-attributed bedstead shown to the right in their upcoming September 13th sale. You don't get more straightforward Neo-Grec than this - a repeating Greek Key pattern surrounding the
Alexander Roux or George Henkels Rosewood Chair?
If you're in the Dallas area, the Dallas Auction Gallery is putting this laminated Rosewood chair up for bid and is attributing it to Alexander Roux. I haven't had anyone correct me on this yet as I count on you all to d
19th Century Victorian Furniture in ... Sweden
No this isn't the predecessor to Ikea, but it is an interesting look into furniture designs in areas of the world other than the France, Italy, U.S., and U.K. that we're used to. This is an original catalog of furniture
John Henry Belter "Lincoln" Pattern
I ran into a listing for a Belter "Lincoln" pattern sofa and not having heard of that pattern before, I had to do some research. It happens that Lincoln had several pieces of Belter furniture in the White House during hi
Fine Aesthetic Movement Side Chair
I'm a big fan of all styles and eras of Victorian furniture and my interests even leak into the immediately preceding and following eras. Not wanting this site to be all about Renaissance Revival and Rococo, I'm always o
Superb Renaissance Revival Bed Needs Some Work
This bedstead on Ebay will be sold by the time some of you read this but I thought I'd mention it due to the quality of the piece. It is a Renaissance Revival bed with 101" height and 75" length and not quite Queen width
Pair Matched Robert Mitchell Throne Chairs
If you remember the recent post on the Robert Mitchell chair that I own, here's a matching pair up for sale from Bradford's Antiques. These chairs are a fun addition to any hallway or parlor. Oftentimes, if you can find
James D. Julia Antique & Arts Sale
James D. Julia is having their 21st annual summer sale and there is much in there for Victorian furniture fanatics. I've created a sampling of items that visitors of this site would be interested in below. Hover your mou
Own a Piece of Herter Brothers - Vanderbilt History
If you are a Herter Brothers collector, here would be a special item to add to that collection. In 1879, Christian Herter began his "magnus opus, the William H. Vanderbilt residence on Fifth Avenue at Fifty-first Street.
This Sofa Is Flipping Us The "Bird" (Pattern)
When speaking of John Henry Belter and J & JW Meeks furniture, there are several "patterns" that were typically made by the makers as original designs or commissions for wealthy clients and subsequently produced agai
J. H. Belter or Meeks Rococo Sofa at James D. Julia
The sofa depicted above is coming up during James D. Julia's "Spectacular Maine Auction" on August 26th. I'll be profiling more of the delectable Victorian pieces in future posts as we near the sale, but let's talk about
Special Finds Updated 8/18/08
Special Finds was updated with Jelliff furniture for sale that matches those with provenance in the Newark Museum. Learn about Special Finds here or if you are a subscriber, go here.
Nearly Identical Pair Of Rococo Bedsteads
If you've ever wanted a pair of Rococo style Victorian beds, QUEEN size no less, then this is your chance. There are minor differences in the carvings, but you can see that they appear to have come from the same shop, po
Unusual Tin-Clad Victorian Armchair
No this isn't a high-end piece of Victoriana. This chair is "Rare" for another reason - that is not silver paint. This Victorian-era chair is clad completely in Tin and appears to have been done so originally. I've never
1870s Renaissance Revival Center Table
Here's an excellent marble top Ren Revival table that has been listed by yours truly. The recent Merklen restoration put me in a position of having one too many tables and I'm reluctantly selling this one. These days you
Philadelphia Art Museum Attributes Sofa To Thomas Brooks
I spent the weekend in antique mode (what else is new?) with Saturday spent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Sunday spent perusing the antique stores of Adamstown, PA. The difference is that I did it all with some v
Unusual Marble Top Rococo Table
I thought I'd share this somewhat unusual Rococo marble-top center table that I recently had the opportunity to purchase, which I didn't, due to the price being too high for today's market. The overall form is a round ce
Special Finds Updated - 7/31/08
Special Finds was updated with a sub-$1,000 set. Learn about Special Finds here or if you are a subscriber, go here.
Another George Henkels Conundrum
I was watching this chair during the Neal Auction sale and was very interested in the notation that was added to the catalog and the lot detail on the Neal website that didn't make it into the Ebay text. I have provided
Meeks Pieces At Jackson Auction Today
I'm on the road again so Rare Victorian access is somewhat limited but I caught a window of time to mention that there are a few Meeks-attributed items going up for sale during a Jackson's Auction sale happening today. T
Video - Final Episode: Refinishing A Merklen Brothers “Shabby” Table
Well, the table is finished and it looks fantastic. In this final episode, John Hutchinson of Rose Valley Restorations in West Chester, PA explains the process that he, Kyle, and Bill followed to bring the table to this
I Feel A Bit Queasy
Somebody make me feel better about missing this cabinet for $1,500. I was asleep at the wheel on that one. As I stated in the earlier post, I would be watching the price on this as a temperature guage for the health of t
Neal Auction to Sell Another 1857 House of Representatives Chair
If you followed the drama of Kathie's chair identification here on Rare Victorian (Part I, II, III, and related posts IV, and V), you might be interested to know that Neal Auction is selling another of these original 185
J & JW Meeks Laminated Rosewood Marble Top Table
Ferrell Auction Co. is selling the above pierce-carved, signed, J & JW Meeks Rococo parlor table. We can date the table to 1836-1855 due to the 14 Vesey St. address included in the stamp. There is a wide range of pri
Brunk Auctions New York Renaissance Revival Cabinet
Brunk Auctions will be putting up the above credenza on July 12th with an expected range $3,000-$6,000. These cabinets are a staple in the Victorian furniture auctions, yet to me they do very little more than provide a s
Gorham Leaded Glass Table Lamp - ca. 1903
I enjoy surrounding my antique furniture with antique lighting and if you are a collector lamps as well, you may be interested in this Gorham leaded glass table lamp. Gorham is not a name you hear often due to the scarci
John Jellif Furniture Prices Dropping or Anomaly?
I will be checking the results of the above attributed John Jelliff 4-piece parlor set after the July 12th Neal Auction sale is over. The 8-piece set that recently sold at Cowan's drew a disappointing $2,600. Maybe there
Rococo: The Continuing Curve, 1730-2008
Quick note to mention that Sunday will be the last day for the Exhibition at the National Design Museum titled, Rococo: The Continuing Curve, 1730-2008. Sure to be some John Henry Belter pieces among others. Has anyone s
The Lengths I Won't Go To...
Guess who is the new owner of one of the chairs in the recent Henkels attribution drama. The lengths I won't go to to make sure Rare Victorian readers get the best information ... In reality, I have been wanting to own o
A Couple of Updates
Vickypicker may have found a smoking gun to refute my assertion that the chair was made by George Henkels. I think I'll make definitive statements more often as it draws people out with their information. Please see the
Kathie's Bembe and Kimbel Stencil
Above is an image of Kathie's Bembe and Kimbel signature. The wood is indeed dry and the markings are worn, but it seems to be of the 928 Broadway variation. Hard to say from just this image, but that is my guess. Below
Special Finds Updated
I ran across a higher-end Aesthetic ebonized armchair with inlay and gilding in beautiful condition at a reasonable price for what it is. Subscribers can log in here to review the information. If you are unfamiliar with
Rosewood "Collectors Cabinet" Label
Grand View Antiques & Auction is selling a cabinet on June 21st that they are describing as a Rosewood Collectors Cabinet and are saying that it is a New York piece. Maybe an eagle-eye Rare Victorian reader can inter
Survey: Please Help Me Make Rare Victorian The Best It Can Be
Please help me continue to fine-tune Rare Victorian to the needs of it's visitors! I really care about what you think about the site and want to hear what you have to say about it - criticisms, suggestions, and praise! P
It's A Good Time For Rare Victorian Billiard Tables
John (AKA Woodwright) has sent me a message that I thought would fit well as a post on Rare Victorian. Little did he know that he had became the first guest-poster on RV ;-) John is a relatively recent addition to the co
Special Finds Has Been Updated
I ran into a mis-identified table, currently at $9.99 but there is a reserve. If you have subscribed, you can log in here to see it, and if you have not, you can read more about "Special Finds" here.
Mitchell & Rammelsberg Ladies Workstand ~ 1863
I would get slapped if I brought this piece home today in 2008 and said, "honey, I bought you a workstand". Not that I would attempt to - but it's interesting to observe how times have changed in 150 years. This is a sta
A New Rare Victorian Feature - "Special Finds"
I've started a new feature service on Rare Victorian called Special Finds. It is a subscription-based service that provides members access to some of the discoveries I find when looking for Victorian furniture on the web
Heywood-Wakefield Round Stand #6381
For those of you who are Victorian wicker fans, here is a labeled Heywood-Wakefield table/stand being sold at no reserve. This table is in the catalog reprint from 1898-1899 and is their model #6381, "Round Stand". It is
Galusha-Attributed Sofa Update
I received a note back from Stacy Pomeroy Draper, Curator of the Rensselaer County Historical Society which has some Galusha pieces in their collection. Thanks to Gordie for the thought to contact her. I asked her to wei
Why I Do The Research That I Do
The stand above is a good example of why I read and research Victorian Furniture to the extent that I do. When I first started collecting Victorian Furniture it was only so that I could put furniture in my home (built in
Is This Really a Galusha?
My knowledge of Elijah Galusha furniture is not where I'd like it to be but I don't think there is much out there to help the Galusha researcher to remedy that situation. The above sofa is being sold by Jenack Auctions a
Merklen Chair Weekend Puzzler Winner
Thanks to all who responded this weekend on the puzzler that I posted on Friday. Above you will find another version of the chair that was pictured and here you will find another version as well. The big differences betw
19th Century Mahogany Gothic Cheval Mirror
I don't run across many Cheval mirrors that I would like to own save for a few nice Renaissance Revival and Merklen-style spiral-carved varieties, but this one with Gothic details caught my eye. This one is large - 7' x
Start Your John Henry Belter Collection
A Belter sofa for $1.00? That is what it is currently bid up to with no reserve price. This Belter furniture pattern is sometimes referred to as "Simple" or "Scroll" due to the smooth simplicity of the carvings. We often
John Henry Belter Also Worked In Oak
This Oak armchair's side chair equivalent is featured in the John Henry Belter book in figure 23. This book is not directly attributing it to Belter in the caption but it seems to lay out the foundation by which this att
Egyptian Revival Mirror - Or, Is It Actually Grecian Revival?
Well, congratulations Rare Victorian readers. In a few days we've basically wiped out the Internet's supply of Victorian Detail books from several sellers. Those of you who nabbed one, you won't be disappointed. I'm hopi
Folk Victorian Dresser?
Without digging out every book in my library, I have not run into any materials that help me identify and date this particular piece. The seller is describing this as Folk Victorian but none of my books document this sty
George J. Henkels Medallion Back Rococo Sofa
Just a quick note to point out that a familiar George Henkels-attributed sofa form popped up for sale on Ebay. There is a little mystery surrounding this particular sofa design. The book that I recently purchased, Victor
All Furniture Was Not Made In America
Sometimes I think that there is a rush to judge too quickly that antiques that we run across have been made in America. This bookcase is certainly a very nice one, but I think the tile inserts led the seller to believe i
Herter Brothers or R. J. Horner Satyr and Griffin Chair
I took a breather from Rare Victorian this weekend to attend to important priorities - gambling in Las Vegas. I'm sitting in the Las Vegas airport on the wireless with hours to spare before takeoff so I thought I'd perus
Antique Victorian Brunswick & Balke Billiard Table
For Victorian antique billiard table fans, this table made by Brunswick & Balke in 1878 is coming up at auction by Bob Courtney Auctions on May 17th. This is the best looking table I have ever laid my eyes upon and i
How To Fake a Herter Brothers Piece
It's rare that these old furniture pieces made by our favorite cabinetmakers are marked so as to let their origin be known. It requires a learned eye to spot the details and to discern that a piece was made by one maker
John Henry Belter "Tuthill King" Pattern Recamier
I don't know about you, but there are so many bunches of grapes on this Recamier (or is it a meridienne?) that it makes me feel like I'm in a vineyard. This is an early John Henry Belter Recamier as evidenced by the appl
Rosewood Mitchell & Rammelsberg Etagere
You'd think I was on the Neal Auction payroll by the amount of furniture I've been profiling by them (I'm not), but as usual, their upcoming sale has a lot that Rare Victorian readers would be interested in owning, budge
Neo-Grec Pedestal Trifecta
If you remember the Dargate sale of one of these pedestals in March, you may remember that it went for $2,500. I'm surprised the seller hasn't broken this trio up to maximize the revenue, but thankfully we have a set her
Neo-Grec Ebonized and Inlaid Music Cabinet
For those of you who were wondering where the music stand went that I last profiled - it disappeared from Ebay and the auction house's website just prior to the sale and I don't know what happened. If you were all set to
Computer Testing Of Fabric Colors Before You Reupholster
To respond to Woodright's comments on a recent post I tested out my theory that computer software for simulation of room colors could be applied to testing colors on furniture before upholstering. I used a tool I purchas
19th Century Oriental Ebonized Gong Stand
I'm sitting here looking at Oak Creek in Talbot County, MD, having just watched 8 swans fly overhead. In a matter of weeks the famous Maryland Blue Crabs will be running and this area is famous for them in abundance and
Sometimes You Need To Imagine The End Result
I love it when labels are still intact on antique furniture and in this case, thanks to the Flomaton sale, Rare Victorian readers can now firmly identify this parlor set as being by Karpen Brothers Furniture when they en
I Was Kidding ...
Just a quick post to make sure everyone knew I was kidding on this post about the Quervelle-attributed sofa. I tried to lather it on thick so that it was hopefully obvious that I loved the sofa and was trying to farcical
Egyptian Revival Parcel-Ebonized Rosewood Chair
You know I've been reading too many auction listings when fancy-schmancy decorative arts nomenclature like "parcel", meaning partial, ends up in my blog post title. I can't believe it popped into my head. Anyhow, in case
Canada and UK "What's Hot" Added
In deference to Rare Victorian visitors from the UK and Canada which represent 2% and 4% of the traffic to this site, respectively, I have added country-specific links to the "Shop For Antiques" page. Don't worry, I'm pa
Unattractive and Undesirable Sofa at Neal Auction
Pay no mind to this Grecian (scroll back) sofa in the next Neal Auction coming up in the May 3rd and 4th sale. The carved Cornucopias, incised crestrail, and seat rail gadrooning speak nothing of Anthony Quervelle and hi
Pair of John Henry Belter Rosalie Meridiennes ... or are they Recamiers?
Kaminski Auctions of Beverly, MA is selling these twin John Henry Belter Meridiennes/Recamiers on the 26th of April. Condition seems to be fine on these two, which appear to be in the "Rosalie with grapes" pattern, thoug
1869 Patent Hunzinger Side Chair With Original Upholstery
I'ts nice to have the drudgery of the blog move done and get back to passing on some of the furniture that I'm running across. If I don't have to deal with another Nameserver for the rest of my life, it will be too soon.
My "Roadshow Find"
I didn't think that I'd ever have one of those home run finds where you paid a couple bucks at a garage sale and found that it was worth many times more than what you paid for it, but it happened on my birthday last week
Alexander Roux Attributed Cabinet Reaches $33,400 at Freeman's Auction
This Alexander Roux attributed cabinet went for $27,000 ($33,400 with buyers premium) which was significantly outside of the range that Freeman's had expected ...
8 Foot Modern Gothic Dresser
The darkened pictures on this listing belie the quality of this very large Modern Gothic dresser. I doctored up this picture (lightened it) so as to give you a better grasp of the quality of this piece. Clicking on the i
Renaissance Revival Cabinet at Kamelot Auctions
Kamelot Auctions in Philadelphia will be selling this inlaid credenza on April 12th, but I imagine that their turnout will not be as strong this time around as they have timed their sale simultaneously with opening day o
Historic House Tour Weekend
I apologize for the lack of posts recently and will also apologize for possible continuation of that malady. My house was on the local historic home tour this past weekend and we have been gearing up for that for some ti
Alexander Roux "A Rose" Pattern Sofa and Chair
St. Charles Gallery is selling two pieces of attributed Alexander Roux furniture that they describe as being in the form of the "A Rose" pattern. This is my first exposure to this purported pattern. I am unable to find a
Victorian Canterbury
Here's a nice inlaid and gold-incised Canterbury (music stand) coming up for sale via Ebay Live Auctions. This form is a more tapered shape whereas I personally own one that is more of a squared-off shape. Since most of
Forum Post Contest Winner
Well, another Rare Victorian contest comes to a close and we have our winner. Thanks to everyone who contributed there, contest or not. We had approximately 300 new posts during the time period and no one was posting flu
R. J. Horner Original Catalog ca. 1888
Those of you who enjoyed seeing the Ornamental Wood Company catalog may be interested in reading about the R.J. Horner catalog I just acquired over on the Horner blog.
Tips for Buying Antiques Online
Not everyone has dipped their toes into the murky pool of buying antiques online. I wrote the following list of tips in the forum and thought I'd clean it up and post it on the main blog for a wider audience. Hopefully,
Matching Mortar Mixes For Historic Masonry Work
Ever see historic masonry patched up with white, modern mortar? Not a pretty sight.This is off-topic, but may be of help to others as it was for me. As an owner of an older home, I was having problems finding mortar that
Victorian Antique Corner Shelf
As far as Victorian antique shelves go, I'm not sure if anyone saw this shelf go up for sale on Ebay, but I think this is up there with some of the better ones. With a 32" height it is also one of the taller shelves that
"What's Hot" in 19th Century Furniture
Every once in awhile I'll run the "What's Hot" Ebay search from the "Shop for Antiques" page to see what people are buying in the 19th century space and I just ran it this morning. Judging by what is there, it seems that
George Hunzinger Side Chair Patent March 30, 1869
I have put up a signed Hunzinger chair for sale on Ebay today and the sale will be running until Sunday March 30th. I have not run across this particular chair of his in pictures or otherwise. I'm particularly fond of th
Cottone Auctions - Winter 2008 Art and Antique Auction
Cottone Autions is having an auction this weekend and there are a few pieces of Victorian furniture going up for sale. Cottone is located in Geneseo, NY about 36 miles outside of Rochester. With a name like Geneseo, I ha
Special Mention - Emeriol's Hunzinger Blog
If you are a Hunzinger fan as I am, you need to be aware of Emeriol's Hunzinger blog. He has been a strong supporter of Rare Victorian over the past year and I wanted to return the favor. He regularly posts as I do about
Rare Victorian Featured on the Antique Trader Blog
As many of you are familiar, Antique Trader is a weekly magazine covering the Antiques and Collectibles marketplace and that they make much of the same content available on their website as well. You may or may not be aw
Victorian Splendor Cover Bed
Well, I missed something, and that is why your participation is key here. There's a lot of knowledge out there that we all could benefit from if everyone commented on blog postings and wrote in the forum (or just sent me
Cowan's Results and the NYC Pier Show
Ok Rare Victorianites, I think we were all asleep yesterday since the Hunzinger chair above went for $325 at Cowan's, which might be a recent record low for a chair of the style. Even if you shipped it to New Mexico, you
Victorian Furniture at Cowan's Auction This Weekend
There are a few items of Victorian furniture going up for sale during the Cowan's auction this weekend, including this pair of Meeks Stanton Hall armchairs. There's a second pair of Meeks side chairs that are also up for
The Pier Antiques Show in NYC, March 15-16
I'm heading to the NYC area for a concert tonight and since I'll be in the vicinity, I'm going to stay overnight and visit the annual Pier Antiques Show on Saturday. According to their promotional information, the show i
Renaissance Revival Bedroom Sets
Two fine three-piece Renaissance Revival bedroom sets are up at auction this week and one of them is seeing heavy bidding. With 6 days to go, the bedroom set above has 13 bids taking it up to $8,101. A newspaper stuffed
John Jelliff Items Slipping Through the Cracks
If you remember this post talking about common misspellings of furniture makers' names; well, if you're on the lookout for John Jelliff items, that blog post is playing itself out right now. There are 8 items listed with
Victorian Table For The Equestrian
Here's a great early Victorian (1830-1840) table for hanging up your horse-riding boots after a ride in the countryside or for storing any other high-top style boots. The table appears to be in excellent condition; proba
Neo-Grec Pedestal at Dargate
Things seem a bit calm and quiet in the Victorian Furniture world right now. Maybe it is due to the recently flurry of good auctions and people are catching their breath. Could just be me feeling guilty after a recent an
Possible Hunzinger Table - and Cheap!
Considering the recent flurry of Hunzinger mania at the auctions as you remember from this post, and the fact that a "Hunzinger" shaving mirror went for $3,700 this past weekend. I thought I'd reward the Rare Victorian r
Grand View and Flomaton Auctions Today
This Renaissance Revival bed will be one of many Victorian Furniture items to go on the block at Grand View Auctions today. Click on the bed to see the full gamut of furniture pieces that they will be selling. Speaking o
The William P. and Emma C. Bancroft Bed
Recently, during one of my wife's painting weekends (she is making sure all the white walls in our home's upper floors adopt a real hue), we moved one of the beds away from the wall and I noticed this label on the back o
Hunzinger Heyday
I have this picture in my head of Wall Street traders' flailing arms with tickets in hand and yelling, "Buy, Buy, Buy Hunzinger!" That is about what it feels like with a recent series of Hunzinger purchases that have tra
Four-Piece Aesthetic/Eastlake Bedroom Set
I've put up for sale a 4-piece bedroom set accented with Birdseye Maple panels. Although it is a nice set, it doesn't fit the way I would like in the bedroom that I intended to use it in. I nabbed this set due to the Map
Forum Post Contest Update
An update on the leaders in the Forum new posts contest: Peakangus and 1881victorian are neck-and-neck, but it is still anyone's to win. If you haven't stopped by the forum and are a Victorian antique lover, this is your
Kilian Brothers Inlaid Parlor Table at Neal Auction
I happened to be perusing an old article from May '99 in The Magazine Antiques and noticed that this table at Neal Auction, attributed to Berkey & Gay, is actually in a photo from an 1870 catalog photograph. This tab
Proof That Credenza Depot Stores Existed
I'm retiring from trying to figure out what cabinet maker made a particular credenza as it is just a mind-bending exercise to do. Cabinet makers didn't need to make furniture from scratch; they could import components fr
Neal Auction Company's Winter Estates Auction February 23rd & 24th
Neal Auction Company's Winter Estates auction is coming up this weekend and will include a nice selection of high-end Victorian Furniture including the Herter Brothers' attributed sofa above. It reminds me more of a Gust
Pricing Your Antiques For Sale
My antique Victorian pricing research over the years has been a mishmash of looking at pricing on Ebay auctions for sale (current and closed) and Googling keywords appropriate to the piece I'm looking to sell. I might go
Innovative Horn Chairs by Wenzel Friedrich
This piece may not look Victorian, but you can't get more authentically Victorian than selling a piece to Queen Victoria herself! Wenzel Friedrich was a German immigrant residing in San Antonio Texas from 1853. He produc
Fontaine's "Exceptional Antique Auction" - February 23rd
For those of you who are avid VictorianForum.com visitors, you are already aware of this, that the Fontaine's auction is approaching and now the listings have hit Ebay. I've created a custom search that isolates just the
Completely Restored Regina Music Box From 1909
An anonymous commenter got the mystery device's name correct - this is a Regina, technically a ReginaPhone 240 Music Box and it plays 15 1/2 inch Regina discs. I've wanted one of these for a while but they are so highly
What Mystery Device Produces This Music?
The highly distorted image above is disguising the device that produces the beautiful sound that you will hear when you play the audio below. If you have a guess as to what type of device it is, post your guess into the
Modern Day Merklen Maker
Tom Webster is a wood turner from Indianapolis, Indiana and he sent me these photos of a Merklen-inspired table that he created from Curly Oak. I'm very impressed by the reproduction of the triple-spiral legs that Merkle
Eastlake Settee with Gothic Details
My Eastlake Search turned up the usual flood of newly listed furniture with Charles Locke Eastlake influences, but this one was interesting due to the Gothic elements that were pierce-carved into the seatback design. The
How Original Do You Want It?
Here's a great Eastlake table that looks like it just came off the showroom in 1875 and I think it looks quite wonderful. The question is whether you want it to look gorgeous or like it should look 130 years later? My gu
fuelmyblog and USA Today Promotion
With thanks to Blogger and Podcaster Magazine, fuelmyblog is providing bloggers in their community the chance to get their blog promoted on USA Today's Blogger/Podcaster Guide located on the USA Today front page. USA Tod
Baccarat Style Glass Throne Chair
I wrote about collection diversity in my previous post about wicker chairs and here is certainly an item that will stand out in your collection. This chair is made of cut glass and is being sold by Doyle on February 13th
Thomas Godey Renaissance Revival Cabinet
Doyle New York is listing this unlabeled cabinet as being done in the manner of Herter Brothers, but I think that there is a chance that it was made in Baltimore by Thomas Godey. It reminds me of a labeled Godey cabinet
1890s Victorian Wicker Chair in Excellent Natural Condition
I'm also a fan of Victorian wicker and own a nice Heywood-Wakefield chair in natural finish and two huge "peacock" painted wicker chairs that I keep out on the front porch. I like having variety in my antique collection
Another Early John Henry Belter Chair?
Charles, AKA "Peakangus" in the forum, sent me these photos of a Rococo chair that he owns that is possibly a Belter piece. A few characteristics that when combined point to it being by JH Belter: Hollow brass casters La
What Victorian Furniture is Everyone Else Bidding On?
Sometimes digging through Ebay for Victorian Antiques can be like hunting for a needle in a haystack unless you have some trusty searches set up. I've added a "What's Hot" search on the left side of the page to provide q
Determining When Antique Furniture Isn't Old
I ran into these photos on Craigslist yesterday as I was looking for a Victorian bed. Craigslist listings may provide some good deals but their minuscule photos do not provide any means of checking the condition of the i
1890s Cast Iron Victorian Roof Cresting
I have 120 feet of Cast Iron Roof Cresting that I am selling on Ebay across 3 lots. Cresting was generally used on Second Empire Victorians and unfortunately, many homes that have sported this feature have had them remov
Rare Hunzinger High-Back Lollipop Chair
I'm a big fan of George Hunzinger's work and when I ran across this unusual Lollipop chair by him I had to bring it home. I have never seen this chair in any of the auctions, Ebay or otherwise, nor in the Barry Harwood H
What Are Your Favorite Antique Stores?
A recent purchase of mine is the music cabinet pictured above and below. It is one of several finds that I've made at Stoudt's Antique Mall in Adamstown, PA. You gotta love an antique mall with 700 dealers and a brewery/
Somebody Got a Deal at $2,000
Just noticed that this Aesthetic cabinet that I was monitoring went for $2,000. I had actually opened the bidding window (it was live) to wait for the lot to come up but something distracted me and I never made it back.
Alexander Roux or Pottier & Stymus?
If you're new to Rare Victorian or you just missed the first-ever post, I'll mention again that this blog was initially created as a real-time journey as I educate myself in the niche of rare Victorian furniture. This bl
Early John Henry Belter Applied Crest Chair
This chair sold yesterday and I kinda wish I had bid on it. Those of you who have been in the Victorian Furniture world for longer than I may have run across this form before, but I have not. I believe that the seller co
Best Place to Invest a Bonus - Victorian Furniture
I thought I'd pass on this article about where to spend your bonus - if you happen to be a banker. Although it's written in the UK and most of the Rare Victorian readers are in the US (and aren't bankers), I thought most
Common Misspellings of Victorian Cabinetmakers' Names
Is the name of the maker of the sofa above correctly spelled as Charles Boudoine, Badouine, Baudoine, Baudouin, or Boudouine? None of the above. The correct spelling is "Baudouine" (see image of his stamp below). I have
These Chairs Bother Me
It's like that annoying itch that you can't seem to get rid of. I've seen these chairs a hundred times and it seems that 1 out of 5 auction sales with decent Victorian items has at least one of them. They're on page 94 i
Questionable Antique Descriptions
I thought that I'd share a personal experience of an example of the problem with online antique descriptions. This scenario happens to involve a dealer, but I won't isolate dealers as the only individuals capable of misl
Road Trip!
I'm heading to Ohio for business meetings (for my day job) on Monday and Tuesday and I've decided to head there early for the weekend. I'm a University of Dayton grad and lived in Ohio for 7 years so I have friends to vi
Hemingway Home Antique Furnishings
During my recent trip to Key West I toured the home of Ernest Hemingway, which was built in 1851 by Asa Tift. Tift was a salvage wrecker, meaning that he made a living recovering the crew, ships, and cargo when approachi
Alexander Roux Pietra Dure Table
Also commonly seen as Pietra Dura, Pietra Dure is the technique of using precision cut, highly polished rocks to create a painting in stone. I've never seen this technique used by the "big names" in Victorian furniture b
"In the Manner of" George Hunzinger
You will occasionally run across the phrase "In the manner of" within a furniture listing to denote a case where the seller is leaning (oftentimes strongly) against attributing a piece to a particular maker. Elements of
Back From Key West
I'm back from Key West and I had an eventful week including a good share of Victorian sightseeing while I was there. It's good to be back and I'm ready to get back into the Rare Victorian and digging into the minutiae of
70-Foot Christmas Trees and a Key West Christmas
We have not yet had a chance to host a family Christmas at "Pennyscroft" since the family rotation has taken us to Florida each of the past two Christmases that we've had since buying the home. Chrismas can be quite gran
Manly Man's Guide to Buying Victorian Antiques
It's funny to watch the faces of friends and coworkers as they take a tour of our house for the first time. When they learn that it was me and not my wife that selected all of the Victorian antiques that we own, you can
My Favorite Victorian Antique
I'm sure everyone has a favorite piece in their antique collection and picking out just one to be "the favorite" is like picking your favorite child, but for me it's a relatively easy choice... and I don't have children.
Modern Gothic Secretary/Dresser
This Modern Gothic dresser/secretary has a central drawer that pulls out and the front panel drops to expose a desk surface. The design elements of this piece are primarily Eastlake due to the shallow incisings, grooved
Giveaway Winner!
Congratulations are in order for Jason Flatt (you may have seen him as "1881Victorian" in the forum) who was the winner of the Century of Revivals giveaway. Thanks go out to all of you who registered to participate and I
Did George J. Henkels Make This Chair?
I am unsure as to whether this chair was produced by George Henkels as the seller prescribes. I have profiled this identical form of chair from another seller previously and now that I have seen a few of them, I'd like t
Hunzinger Rocker with Duplex Spring up for Bid
Just a quick note to point out that a Hunzinger rocker with the duplex spring popped up for sale in the San Francisco area (they're saying no shipping). It appears to be in good condition and has nice spiral turned frame
Pabst Poker/Tavern Table
Sometimes my auction searches by keyword bring up some interesting items such as this Pabst table ... Pabst Blue Ribbon table that is - yes, the beer company. My search is intended to identify antique Daniel Pabst items
J & JW Meeks "Duchesse" Dressing Table
I learn something new every day as I glean the Internet for memorable furniture. This form of dressing table can apparently be referred to as a "Duchesse" due to the curved back form. My initial research on the term Duch
Anthony Quervelle Sideboard
Technically this American Classical sideboard that is attributed to Anthony Quervelle is pre-Victorian, probably 1825-1835, but that is close enough for me to profile this beautiful piece in the Rare Victorian.Anthony Qu
Hidden Merklen Brothers Chair
This Merklen chair (my attribution) is buried under a "Gothic Revival" description with no mention of either Hunzinger or Merklen and is posted with an expected range of $250-$350. Considering the last nice Merklen chair
Stellar John Jelliff Pieces at Neal Auction
For Jelliff fans out there, it doesn't get much better than what is coming up for sale during the December 1st and 2nd Neal Auction sale. Two tables and a parlor set that have been attributed to Jelliff will go up for bi
Please Take this Quick Survey
I am considering developing an antique pricing research tool that will sift through historic auction data based on your search parameters (e.g. "Horner griffin partner's desk"). The tool would report back a few years wor
New "Auction Watch" Board
I've added a new board to VictorianForum.com: "Auction Watch"Please use this board to post about and read about good upcoming auctions with quality Victorian Furniture lots. Please read the board instructions before post
Meeks Stanton Hall Parlor Set
Coming up for sale is another historically unified parlor set being split into separate lots. This time it is a "Stanton Hall" parlor set from J & JW Meeks. I won't revisit the topic of splitting these historic sets
Herter Brothers Bookcase Find
You may remember Ralph and Pamela Krainik from the previous post on their monumental clock. They recently let me know that they purchased a Victorian bookcase and were able to identify it as a Herter Brothers piece due t
Taking Decorative Risks
This three-piece set of parlor furniture will certainly jump out at you when you enter the room. I still can't decide if I like it or not and I think the problem I'm having is due to the upholstery. I think if this were
Moorish Fretwork and Spindle Lattice-Work Identification
Paul Tucker has placed a request for identification help on the Rare Victorian community board here to get some ideas on who has produced these two pieces. The first is a Moorish fretwork umbrella stand marked as made by
Charles Rohlfs Chair - Sold $198,000
If you remember this chair from my previous post, I thought I'd update you on the recent sale results - $198,000. It took four minutes to sell and handily exceeded the pre-auction estimate of $30,000-$50,000. It's in exc
Rare Victorian Attire Available!
Ok, this might go down as the worlds worst attempt at humor but the idea hit me and I created a shirt for myself to wear to antique shows, auctions, etc. I've opened up a shop on CafeExpress so that that fans of Rare Vic
Alexander Roux Armchairs at Kamelot
One of my local auction houses, Kamelot Auctions is putting up for bid this pair of matching armchairs with unmatching upholstery. I believe that they are accurate with their tentative "Roux?" attribution. You can find t
Exceptional Merklen Chair Sold - $3,250
This incredible Merklen chair, for which you can see an identical twin represented in the print copy of Paul Tucker's article in "The Magazine Antiques", sold today for $3,250. It was incorrectly marked as a Hunzinger wi
Allen and Brother Music Cabinet
Up for sale from Kamelot Auctions in Philadelphia is this fine Allen and Brother (attributed) music cabinet. This piece has a central bronze plaque of a Nouveau-styled woman supported by garland and stylized animal legs
George Hunzinger Marble Top Table
Although unmarked, I am attributing this table to George Hunzinger. This is a great example of his table designs which you can view in the Barry Harwood book on Hunzinger, pages 80-82. This one has ebonized touches on th
Move Your Antiques to Hawkridge Farm for $24 Million
With 150 acres and an annual maple syrup output of 25 gallons per acre - that's a lot of pancakes.This home is up for sale in the Toronto, Canada vicinity and is a 24,000 square foot Victorian-styled mansion owned by the
Splitting of Sets - Does it Bother You Too?
Does it bother anyone other than me that auction houses (and dealers) take parlor sets that have been together for 150 years and split them up to maximize the total sale? This particular set is a John Henry Belter "Fount
All-Original Signed Herter Brothers Walnut Bookcase
This is the first Herter Brothers bookcase that I have run across since I've been collecting over the past few years and this one is stamped "Herter Bros." to confirm it's origin. If I had a spare $10k to buy furniture t
Montgomery House - Three Story Victorian for $349,900
Obviously the housing market must be different in Claysville, PA than here in the Philadelphia suburbs. I ran across this house in a newspaper article stating that it was for sale for $349,900. It has been extensively re
Daniel Pabst "Baby Doe" Tabor Bedroom Set
This bedroom set is dripping in intriguing provenance and replete with the highs and lows of an opera story - literally. This is a well-documented two-piece bedroom attributed to Daniel Pabst. It was originally owned by
George C. Flint Spiral Turned 1890s Rocker
Rockers aren't exactly sexy so I don't generally post about them but this one is important for historical reference. There are too few labeled Victorian pieces out there to give us an historic record of who made what. Th
Century of Revivals Giveaway
Don't forget if you haven't already done so - make yourself eligible for the Century of Revivals giveaway. You won't find this rare book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. I believe only Lise Bohm has copies of this 1983 pub
Mustaches of the Nineteenth Century
For those that can appreciate a some humor with a 19th century slant, I thought I'd introduce you to a blog that I ran into today that explores the world of 19th Century mustaches one albumin print at a time from the Uni
Matched Pair of Meeks Parlor Tables
For the collector for whom one J & JW Meeks table wouldn't be enough, here's a chance to purchase a matched pair of marble-topped Rococo parlor tables by Meeks.You have plenty of time to save up for them as they will
Kilian Brothers Aesthetic Movement Pedestal
This Walnut pedestal, which I will attribute to Kilian Brothers due to the multi-colored incising paint and similarity in form to other Kilian pedestals, is up for bidding until October 21st. Measurements are 40" high, t
Allen and Brother Cabinet (not Herter Brothers)
For some reason the Allen and Brother pieces are coming out of the woodwork after not seeing any for months. Lewis & Maese Auction Company is bringing this cabinet up for sale on October 24th and have it marked as a
Besarel Mirror Brings $156,000
Including buyers premium, the aforementioned Besarel mirror fetched $156,000 ($130k hammer price) when it closed yesterday. During the same auction, the Allen and Brother pieces I have posted about brought mixed results.
Speedlinks for Friday, October 12, 2007
Going forward I'll occasionally do a post titled "Speedlinks" which is a common blogging concept of providing 3-5 short links in one post vs. the usual single-topic post. Here's todays:If you're into marquetry, this Empi
Winged Griffin Allen and Brother Sofa
Since seeing Allen and Brother items for sale is rare, I thought I'd mention this sofa (attributed to Allen & Bro.) that will be auctioned off in the same sale as the Allen and Brother credenza that I previously post
Kagutou.com
If you love antiques of all types as I do, stop by my brother's Japanese Antique Furniture blog, kagutou.com. I guess it runs in the family. He was a cabinet maker for many years and specialized in producing Japanese fur
High-Style, Mass-Produced Furniture
Who made this chair? The answer follows... I often blog about the highest-end Victorian furniture from the period, but there is a class of furniture a notch below which was still high-style but mass-produced for the midd
7-Piece J & JW Meeks "Stanton Hall"
I love how Neal Auction Company goes to great lengths to provide helpful condition reports on their online auction items and in this case it is a 3-pager, which is unusual, but it is largely due to the fact that this lot
Now Open! The Rare Victorian Community Forum
I've just opened up a forum for the Rare Victorian visitors to interact with one another. I encourage everyone to sign up and participate. I've kicked off the forum by uploading pictures of my house in the "Victorian Hou
Allen and Brother Credenza
Somedays I wonder if the top 5 favorite Victorian cabinet makers list that my subconscious maintains without my permission (I try not to play favorites) would be topped by Allen and Brother. This credenza surely stands n
Daniel Pabst Bedroom Set?
I recently purchased a double twin bedroom set at auction, drawn to it by the extensive use of maple in the construction and the Aesthetic carvings. The carvings and incisings are very crisp and there is a lot of birdsey
Bembe & Kimbel U.S. Representatives Chair Reprise
Does this chair look familiar? I did a post (see for more history) on these Bembe & Kimbel U.S. House of Representatives chairs back in May and here's another one coming up for sale. These chairs were used in the Hou
Monumental Mirror by Valentino Panciera Besarel - 1863
You should stop by the listing to see the detail pictures for this monumental (6' x 9') carved wooden mirror by Valentino Panciera Besarel (1829-1902), an Italian sculptor. The carvings are incredible as is the expected
Aesthetic Floral Carved and Inlaid Cabinet attr. Herter Brothers
Coming up for sale at the Fontaine's sale mentioned in an earlier post is this ebonized Herter Brothers (attr.) carved and gilded, floral inlaid cabinet. The top gallery has a hand-painted hunt scene. Condition is good e
Charles Rohlfs Chair
If you'll excuse the interruption in the flow of Victorian Furniture for this minor sidestep into Arts and Crafts, I thought I'd mention this great chair coming up for sale by Charles Rohlfs.Charles started his career as
JHB Chairs
A recent email from a site visitor had me thinking about the fact that most of the famous cabinet makers of their time were at one time not so famous. They had to have an apprentice period in their earlier years and they
3-Piece Thomas Brooks Bedroom Set
Fontaine's Auction Gallery is gearing up for a big sale on the 29th and this bedroom set, attributed to Thomas Brooks, will be up for bids. The set is comprised of 100+" tall burled bed and vanity as well as a nightstand
Credenzas Gone Wild
I don't know about you, but I'm used to seeing Renaissance Revival credenzas with 3 sections, sometimes with two heights to the tops (the center being higher) and possibly a rear gallery or crest. This particular credenz
Monumental Neo-Grec Clock
I've received some pictures of a clock recently acquired by Ralph & Pamela Krainik of the House of Seven Gables in Baraboo, WI. Their website is worth a visit to tour their beautiful 17-room 1860 Gothic Revival home.
John Jelliff "Elbow" Armchairs
I ran across these unattributed chairs at an upcoming auction with an unusual design element that I recognized - arms that float on protruding elbows. According to the Newark Museum's "Century of Revivals" publication, t
Alexander Roux Sideboard Sold - $178,250
Update: Well, the Alexander Roux labeled sideboard went for $178,250 including the buyers premium (hammer price $155k). Hopefully it's headed for a museum and not hidden away somewhere.
Gothic Revival Armchair
Coming up for auction within striking distance of my SUV is this Gothic Revival armchair ca. 1860. This chair is profiled in "The Big Book of Antique Furniture" by Lindquist (which I find to be a valuable reference for t
New York Renaissance Revival Center Table
Coming up for auction from GoAntiques Live is this Rosewood ebonized, inlaid, gilt-incised, and bronze-mounted center table (that's a lot of bling). I believe this is the same table that Lise Bohm is selling for $17,500
A Bevy of Belters
A bunch of John Henry Belter's simpler designs are coming up for auction from Flomaton and Thomaston. I've provided a quick pick list below. There are a few scroll pattern chairs and sofa, a pair of "Rosalie" chairs, and
Alexander Roux Sideboard Reminder
As mentioned in a previous post, don't forget this important and labeled Alexander Roux sideboard is coming up for auction on the 30th...
Merklen Parlor Table
Sometimes we get presented an opportunity to trade up on our furniture collection and this weekend I had that opportunity. "Trade Up" is the phase when "Add" is no longer a possibility due to space. While perusing one of
1880s/1890s Onyx and Metal Parlor Table
I am selling one of the pieces from my house as I just can't find "the right place" for it amongst the rest of my collection. It is rather sizable as far as parlor tables go (34"h x 24.5"w x 30.5"d) as most tables of the
John Henry Belter "Rosalie with Grapes" Sofa
Up for auction is a John Henry Belter Rosalie with grapes pattern sofa, offered by Depew Auction Gallery from Atlanta, GA. You can see an identical sofa in the Belter book by Schwartz, et al. on page 60. I can't see any
George Hunzinger Candle Stand
Unfortunately I was too late on purchasing a nice table from Antiquarian Traders, pictured above. It had previously been sold by the time that I inquired and had not yet been removed from one of the many sites that they
Alexander Roux Labeled Hunt Sideboard
Coming up at auction on August 30th will be a fantastic labeled Alexander Roux Hunt Sideboard. I would say that this one is at least on par with the one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A Roux sideboard achieved a hamm
George Hunzinger Patent 1866 Folding Chair
Up at auction is a George Hunzinger stamped chair, patented in 1866. This chair design is depicted on page 51 of "The Furniture of George Hunzinger, Invention and Innovation in Nineteenth-Century America" by Barry Harwoo
Inlaid Renaissance Revival Credenza
Coming up for sale is a Renaissance Revival credenza done in the style that Alexander Roux, Pottier & Stymus, Herter Brothers and the other New York makers would have produced. This piece has gold incising, inlay pan
Kilian Brothers Aesthetic Pedestal
Usually I profile a piece before it actually sells, but in this case I'm doing so after the sale. Here's an Aesthetic pedestal that sold for $2,100 this past weekend on Ebay. A few noteworthy elements of this piece point
John Jelliff Carved Bust Arms Analysis
There is a sidechair for sale on Ebay that is not attributed to any particular maker, but by zooming in on the arms one can see a carved Jenny Lind bust that normally would point to the chair being made by John Jelliff.
R.J Horner? No, Stickley-Brandt
Here's a parlor set that will be sold at auction by Steven's Auction Company during their July 27th/28th sale that is marked down as a Horner set. I have seen this same set attributed to Horner and Karpen in the past but
J & JW Meeks Side Chairs - Stanton Hall
Up for auction is a pair of J & JW Meeks side chairs made in the Stanton Hall pattern with coral damask upholstery. Expected sale range is $1,200 to $1,500 with starting price of $600. Here's a pair of the same chair
Leon Marcotte Credenza
Sometimes you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone and I have just learned that lesson very recently. I recently purchased the above pictured credenza at a small auction house in the country that usually doesn't hav
Charles Boudoine (not Belter) Armchair
Up for Auction is a very nice Rococo Rosewood armchair I will attribute to Charles Boudoine, and I believe incorrectly marked as John Henry Belter for it's auction. In looking at the listing, the "earlobe" carving on the
Hunzinger Lollipop Settee
Here's' the George Hunzinger Lollipop Settee from the "The Furniture of George Hunzinger Invention and Innovation in Nineteenth Century America" by Barry R. Harwood on page 131. Thanks go out to Joan Bogart who provided
George Hunzinger Settees
I am posting this pic of a settee by George Hunzinger for Ellen who passed by the Rare Victorian Blog this week and asked if Hunzinger did a settee in-line with the lollipop chair designs. Thanks very much to Joan Bogart
Stamped George Hunzinger Aesthetic Chair
Up for sale is the George Hunzinger chair profiled on the back and inside of the book, "The Furniture of George Hunzinger - Invention and Innovation in Nineteenth Century America" by Dr. Barry R. Harwood (you can almost
Jelliff Aficianados, Lend Me Your Thoughts
I picked up this chair at auction that at initial glance reminds me of the overall form that a John Jelliff armchair would have. There's a natural tendency to assume that what you now own is made by the famous maker that
Galusha Rococo Revival Side Chair
If you're a fan of John Henry Belter, Alexander Roux and J & JW Meeks pieces and haven't heard of Galusha, you should add that name to your shopping list. While his pieces weren't quite as over-the-top carved as Belt
The Problem With Antique Attributions
I recently ran into this table whose title read "Fine Thomas Brooks Marbletop Table" and in the item description, "Thomas Brooks undeniable stylings", so I looked closer. I can't tell you definitively if this is a Thomas
Herter Brothers Table Update
I received additional condition information and pictures for the Herter Brothers (attributed) table profiled earlier here. Here's the condition report:Several breaks and repairs to edge molding. Repairs to handles of urn
George Hunzinger Signed Side Chair
Ebonized chair made by Hunzinger which was patented by him in 1869. This particular incarnation is ebonized with gold incising, though I have this chair in the natural walnut finish at my home. I wouldn't buy this chair
J. & J.W. Meeks "Hartford" Sofa
Neal Auction House is auctioning off this Meeks "Hartford" sofa on June 9th. There is a nice pair of matching Hartford armchairs that are also being sold in the prior lot and can be seen here. They do a great job of writ
Rosewood Center Table - Possibly Herter Brothers
Does anyone besides me have an affliction for collecting Victorian parlor/center tables? I think it happens to the best of us for a variety of reasons:Most furniture is huge (sofas, cabinets, dressers, beds....) and requ
Kimbel & Cabus & Bembe, Oh My!
Sticking with the Kimbel and Cabus (and Bembe and Kimbel) theme as of late, here's an interesting plantation desk form - one with a deep desk surface that when closed provides a tall mirrored front. With a desk of that d
House of Representatives Chair Update
Thanks to William Flatt for the comment on our earlier post regarding the House of Representatives chair. He had pointed out a sale for an identical chair (95% or so identical - note the differences in the carvings on th
Signed Mitchell & Rammelsberg Rosewood Etagere
I've been getting some new traffic to the blog recently, so if you are new, the premise is simple. Each blog entry profiles rare Victorian furniture that I run across in my own personal search for furniture. I figured th
Antiquarian Traders
Rather than highlight a particular item, I'll just point you to a link that will provide you a long list of high-end Victorian furniture that Antiquarian Traders has for sale. This link is one that you can bookmark and c
3-Piece John Jelliff Parlor Set
If you can get past the aging tufted upholstery here's a nice 3-piece John Jelliff (attributed) parlor set. The female figure on the carved arms gives this away as most likely from Jelliff. Many times Jelliff sofas are d
Five John Henry Belter "Henry Clay" pattern chairs
Here's a great opportunity to grab five matching Belter chairs at once for that huge parlor that you have to fill. Only a few more days left on this sale (May 5th ending) so bid soon if you are interested. You can see th
Neo-Grec Four-Piece Parlor Set - Jelliff Style
Up for auction is a Four-piece Neo-Grec Parlor Set made in the manner of John Jelliff. The carved arms provide the hint that this is possibly from Jelliff. Bidding ends on May 10th and pricing starts at $1,750 with expec
Belter Bonanza
If you are a fan of Belter furniture, there are 12 excellent lots for sale right now which are not being caught by my link on this page to Belter pieces for sale. They are listed as "JH Belter" vs. my usual search for "J
Three-piece Herter Renaissance Revival Parlor Set
Another week of business travel kept me away from the Victorian furniture for a while so I've done a little digging this morning. Here's a Herter Brothers (attributed) parlor set (sofa and 2 arm chairs) being sold by Woo
Pottier & Stymus Center Table
Up for sale is a center table attributed to Pottier & Stymus by Heritage Auction Galleries. Circa 1870, this table includes Rosewood, ebonized and giltwood elements with marquetry inlay. The chalice in the stretcher
Meeks "Hartford" Sofa
Sorry the blog has been quiet since the 9th but I've been buried in business meetings this week and I finally have a few moments to look for some great Victorian furniture.This particular sale featuring this Meeks sofa i
Rosewood Parlor Table attr. Meeks
Not sure if this is truly a Meeks table as the seller attributes it to. I could not find any table in my reference books that have a similar stretcher basket of nuts and leaves nor have the mini-urns. If I were to buy a
Alexander Roux Chairs with Interesting Provenance
Here's a pair of chairs attributed to Alexander Roux with some exceptional carving and prominent crests. The most interesting aspect of the chairs is their provenance. I've included a bit of the text below, but I would r
John Henry Belter "Rosalie" Parlor Chairs
Here's a beautiful Rosalie-related set of Belter chairs, including the arm chair and 3 side chairs. It appears that this is a Rosalie variation "with grapes". All have reasonably nice matching fabric. It's hard to see if
Ebonized Aesthetic Pedestal
Up for bidding is an excellent c. 1870s Aesthetic Pedestal from an unidentified maker. It has many attributes of a very fine piece: burl walnut panels, detailed inlay work, and gold incising. I wouldn't be surprised if i
7-piece John Henry Belter Rosalie with Grapes Parlor Set
It's not often that you see a 7-piece set of Belter furniture come up for sale together. This is Belter's Rosalie with Grapes pattern, circa 1850, consisting of a sofa, gentleman's arm chair, meridienne and four side cha
John Jelliff Sofa with Carved Bust Armrests
Up for sale is a John Jelliff sofa with armrests adorned with carved female profiles. This sofa has a floating central back area to the typical Renaissance three part back. Bidding starts at $4,750 and can be seen here.
John Henry Belter Slipper Chair
Up for bidding is a Rosewood pierced slipper chair by John Henry Belter. Chairs of identical overall form with variations in the carved detail can be seen in both "The Furniture of John Henry Belter and the Rococo Reviva
1886 George Hunzinger Chair
Here's a great George Hunzinger signed chair made of Walnut measuring 32" by 19". Bidding starts at $1,500 with shipping at $109. This auction ends on April 2nd and can be seen here.
Meeks Stanton Hall Sofa
Up for sale is a Meeks Stanton Hall Pattern rosewood sofa. There isn't much condition information but I can see nicks and scratches in the legs, arms and skirt. Bidding starts at $4,125 and expected range is $12,500 to $
Ferdinando Aesthetic Ivory Inlaid Table
Here is a very complex and detailed table with ivory, silver, copper, and mother of pearl inlays. The cherub scene in the middle of the table can't be missed. The table is surrounded rather than supported by four caryati
John Henry Belter Rosalie Pattern Sofa
I have never seen this from Belter before - a solid laminated back to the sofa - all rosewood. The pattern is Rosalie (no grapes) Circa 1850. Dimensions 39"h x 82"l x 32"d. Bidding starts at $3,000 and expected range is
Signed Mitchell & Rammelsberg Renaissance Revival Bedroom Set
Here is a two-piece signed Mitchell & Rammelsberg Renaissance Revival bedroom set with gothic design elements. This set is of monumental dimensions with each piece measuring over 9 1/4 feet tall. Bidding ends the 24t
Pair of John Henry Belter Rosalie Armchairs
I'm not partial to the yellow fabric but here's a nice pair of Belter Rosalie pattern armchairs with floral and fruit carved frames and molded cabriole arms and legs. Bidding will start at $2,000 with expected range to b
Oak Gothic Toby/Tobey China Cabinet
Here's a great Gothic Revival china cabinet/closet attributed to Charles Toby/Tobey, a Chicago furniture maker that survived the panic of 1857, the three-year depression that followed, and the 1871 Chicago fire. I have s
Herter Brothers Clock ca. 1875
I guess this is clock month. I did a posting on a gargantuan R.J. Horner grandfather clock here that closed at $29,000 and now here is a rare Herter Brothers clock. There is no mistaking that this is a Herter due to the
Signed Herter Brothers Aesthetic Dresser
A couple pieces of furniture from Herter Brothers are coming up for auction: a Maple Victorian Sideboard and the above pictured Aesthetic Dresser. Both are signed "Herter Bros."The dresser is from the last quarter 19th c
John Henry Belter Armchair Needs a Home
Excuse the humor in the title but since I usually post about extravagant high-end furniture in phenomenal condition, I thought I'd profile a famous-maker piece in need of some TLC. In this case we have a laminated Belter
Meeks Rosewood Center Table
It's been a bit quiet on the online auction front with respect to high-caliber pieces up for sale. I've been scouring for some to blog about and I'm finding a bunch of false, wishful, attributions. Here's a Rosewood Cent
R. J. Horner Blog Launched
If you're a fan of everything R.J. Horner, be sure to check out my new R.J. Horner-only blog launched at rjhorner.com Since there was so much interest in his items, I broke it out separately so that Horner fans who don't
John Henry Belter Child's Chair
So what does the consummate Belter collector acquire when they thought they had everything covered? Why, a child's chair of course! This laminated rosewood chair has an amazing 28 1/2" height and a diminutive 11" seat he
R.J. Horner Winged Griffin 12 Foot Dining Table
As usual, Bradford's Antiques has yet another great piece of R. J. Horner furniture for sale. This time it's a 12 foot dining table with four 20" leaves which are skirted and carved to match the carvings on the table top
Modern Gothic Kimbel & Cabus Desk c.1870
My (Victorian Era) antique collection includes a mishmash of Rococo, Renaissance, Aesthetic, Elizabethan and Neo-Grec pieces, but I'm conspicuously missing Gothic. I'm a big fan of Gothic design, but I haven't run across
John Henry Belter "Fountain Elms" Pattern Side Chair
Here is a beautiful rosewood John Henry Belter "Fountain Elms" pattern side chair up for auction for the next few days. I would have blogged about this chair earlier but the pictures on the listing are very dark and don'
c1850 John Jelliff Lady's Writing Desk
I think we're all used to seeing pieces done by John Jelliff in the forms of sofas and chairs, most with the trademark carved arms with figures of animals and humans. Here is a lady's writing desk attributed to Jelliff a
Herter Brothers Inlaid Aesthetic Movement Table
Several visitors have come to the site looking for Herter pieces so I am profiling this parlor table attributed to Herter Brothers by the seller, Bradfords Antiques. I will leave the description to Bradfords below, but w
Néo-grec Cabinet with Wedgewood Plaques
Up for bidding is a 1870's Renaissance Revival cabinet with wedgewood plaques. According to the seller, the cabinet is mahogany with pine on the back with bronze ormolu mounts, brass trimming, gilt incising, and an inlay
Hunzinger Duplex Spring Lollipop Chair
This "Lollipop Chair" is probably the most recognizable George Hunzinger creation. The patented duplex spring on this chair is unique to Hunzinger's work and aids the weekend antique store shopper in identifying his rock
Alexander Roux and Joseph Cabus Collaboration
Alexander Roux and Joseph Cabus had a brief (1852) collaboration on furniture in the form of A. Roux & Co. before Joseph began working with Anthony Kimbel (ie. Kimbel & Cabus). This labeled piece from Roux/Cabus
Mahogany NeoClassical Center Table w/ Caryatid Figures
Up for sale is a c. 1890 center table probably made in N.Y. and possibly by Herter Brothers. The legs are terminated by four ebonized and gilded caryatids. The curved stretcher ends in a gilded urn. You can buy-it-now fo
R.J. Horner Oak Griffin Desk
I've had several recent posts dealing with R.J. Horner items and this is primarily due to two things: one, a significant number of visitors to my site/blog are looking for R.J. Horner items, and two, there have been a ra
R. J. Horner Style Quartersawn Oak Griffin Sideboard
If you are a fan of R. J. Horner, you will love this Quartersawn, heavily carved sideboard. Although it is not being attributed to R.J. Horner, the quality, style and carvings are very representative of his work. If you
R. J. Horner Oak 12 Piece Dining Set
Up for sale is an R.J. Horner 12 pc. Oak Dining Room Set with a 60" round split pedestal banquet table with leaves and full carved winged griffins. There is a matching sideboard, triple bow glass china and 8 dining chair
John Henry Belter Henry Clay Reference Set Sale Results
In January we profiled the upcoming sale of 7 pieces from the reference set for John Henry Belter's "Henry Clay" pattern here . The sale completed today with hammer prices far exceeding the expected ranges in all cases.
Victorian Bone Marquetry Rosewood Side Cabinet
This rosewood bone marquetry etagere sold today via Weschler's Live Auction and I was the unexpected lucky bidder. It went for $950 with an additional $213.75 for the buyers premium. I was not in the market for another e
Museum Quality Antiques Auction
Antiquarian Traders has a 1343 lot auction scheduled for February 8th and it will include some of the most famous names in furniture making from the Victorian era. 28 items up for bid by R.J. Horner or Horner Brothers, 1
R.J. Horner Griffin Sofa
Up for sale is a R.J. Horner Carved Griffin Sofa with griffins that are an impressive 21" tall. The griffins also have the tell-tale rat tail (say that 3 times fast!) that was common on R.J. Horner pieces. The dimensions
Belter Parlor Furniture - Reference Set for the "Henry Clay" Pattern
Up for auction from St. Charles Galleries, Inc. are 7 pieces of John Henry Belter's "Henry Clay" pattern parlor furniture. The exciting part of this sale is that these pieces are being deaccessioned from "Ashland," The E
1880's Victorian Billiard Chandelier
As someone that collects Victorian Furniture for a Victorian home, modern or even "restoration" reproduction lighting ends up looking out of place so I have installed and display many pieces of period lighting. Here is o
Pottier and Stymus Labeled Walnut Bedstead
Up for auction on February 3rd from the New Orlean's-based Neal Auction Company is an impressive Renaissance Bedstead attributed to Pottier and Stymus. I have blogged about several of the other items in this particular a
Belter and Meeks Chairs
Up for auction are two Belter Rosewood Slipper Chairs similar to the one found on p. 56 of "The Furniture of John Henry Belter and the Rococo Revival" by Schwartz, Stanek, and True. Bidding starts at $3,000 and expected
Alexander Roux, Pottier & Stymus Tables
Up for auction from the Neal Auction Company is a Walnut Center Table attributed to Alexander Roux. What is interesting are the Jelliff-like Minerva busts and the wolf masques that adorn the legs and skirt. Starting pric
Belter "Scroll" Pattern Laminated Rosewood Sofa
Up for auction is a Belter "Scroll" pattern sofa, ca. 1850-1860. Examples of matching chair can be seen in "The Furniture of John Henry Belter and the Rococo Revival" book by Schwartz, Stanek, and True, p. 50.Belter furn
Rosewood Rococo Sofa, But Not Belter
Pictured to the left is a very nice Rococo sofa made in the 1850-1860 time period. Since this particular sofa is solid rosewood, it is of a quality level that is above much of the furniture of the time, but it is not a B
Henkels Open Pierced Chairs
A pair of George Henkels (attr.) pierced chairs has come up for auction with a starting bid of $1,500 each. The lister describes them as such:"The top crest is lovely with 3 carved roses and 8 other flowers and leaves. O
Meeks Stanton Hall Sofa - $7,500
Another Meeks Stanton Hall sofa is available for sale here. This one seems to be fairly priced at $7,500 and the pictures show no noticeable cracks, splits or repairs.
Merklin Table
Although the lister named the photograph "hunz.jpg", a reference to George Hunzinger, I believe they got it right when they listed it as a Merklen. Both Hunzinger and Merklin favored the twisted legs and the brass ball a
Welcome!
I'm going to attempt to cover the world of Rare Victorian furniture listings on the Internet. As a big fan of furniture by famous makers such as John Henry Belter, Herter Brothers, RJ Horner, J & JW Meeks and others,