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Own the Name: Exact-Match .com Domains for the Great Victorian Cabinetmakers
Herterbrothers.com. Rjhorner.com. Johnhenrybelter.com. Rare exact-match .com domains for the most documented American Victorian cabinetmakers — available now via secure escrow.
For the Record: Daniel Pabst, the Hand Behind the "Furness" Modern Gothic Cabinet
The Met's towering Modern Gothic cabinet is attributed to both Frank Furness and Daniel Pabst — designer and maker. Here's why the distinction between the two roles matters when you're cataloging one of these pieces.
"Based On The Quality of Work" And Other False Reasonings
There are a lot of methodologies that people use to identify a particular piece's maker, but few of them drive me more bonkers than "based on the quality of the work it surely was made by so and so". Relative to what? Ho
Neo-Grec Parlor Suite For Sale
I get a lot of offers to buy Victorian furniture and recently I've been passing on them personally and handing the opportunity on to you. Here is a Neo-Grec three-piece parlor suite that I have not run across before. It
Leon Marcotte-Attributed Credenza For Sale
After having been in a private collection for 36 years, you can now own a piece of the Cummins Diesel estate from Columbus, Indiana. Possibly made by Leon Marcotte of New York in the 1860s, this credenza has all the high
Unusual Brass Chair - ca. 1900
I don't think that I've ever seen a brass chair before aside from those depicted in books. You may also remember this very unusual glass chair that sold three years ago - I haven't seen one again since. It's more common
"Massachusetts Style" Cabinet
Some might be tempted to put a New York attribution on this Neo-Grec cabinet, including myself, but not so fast this time. This one was made in Manchester, Massachusetts by John Bigwood in 1875. We know this because he t
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
J.W. Davis, Cabinetmaker Extraordinnaire
JohnM posted some photographs in the forum of a 12' tall Renaissance Revival bedroom suite that must be seen to be believed. It lives out it's existence in the Brennan House (built 1868), originally the home of a wealthy
Spiral Furniture Often Not Hunzinger
I thought that this Rare Victorian blog had quashed the rampant Hunzinger mis-attributions out there with our global reach, pervasive presence in the antique community and from me being featured on the cover of Magazine
Why Antiques Get Mis-Attributed - Six Reasons
Unfortunately, identifying an antique's manufacturer is sometimes an art and not always a science. It is not often that a 19th Century item has a patent existing to help us easily identify the maker as does the "lollipop
What's It Worth?
Antique Value Having a blog that is well entrenched into the Google search results leads a lot of new site visitors here that send me photos of their items asking, "what is the value of this antique?" The problem is, it
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
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
Contents of Historic Conewago Manor Inn To Be Sold October 23rd
(ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.) – The contents of the Conewago Manor Inn – an historic structure dating back to an original 1742 grant from the William Penn family, founders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – will be sold
Mystery Cincinnati Furniture Manufacturer
A Rare Victorian reader contacted me about a chair that they have below with a badly damaged label, but a label nonetheless. It is clearly from a Cincinnati cabinetmaker (or retailer), but the question is: Which one? It
"Victorian" Genre A.D.D.
If you are a R.J. Horner Renaissance Revival fan, you should hop over to RJHorner.com and read the two latest Horner attribution-debunking posts: Another Horner is actually Robert Mitchell There Is No Horner Egg Moving o
Cabinetmaker Catalog Update
I just spent the past two days scanning two disintegrating Robert Mitchell catalogs into Adobe Acrobat format and have made them available for sale via immediate download. They represent a look into the ca. 1890-1910 fur
Allen & Brother Nightstand For Sale
Available for sale is this nightstand with original marble top and "A" key, attributed to the famous Philadelphia cabinetmaking shop of Allen & Brother. All four sides have decorative birdseye maple panels. These pan
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
Don't Forget Canadian Cabinetmakers
Book Review: "Jacques & Hay 19th Century Toronto Furniture Makers" by Ruth Cathcart Jacques & Hay is a name that pops up frequently in the Victorian-era furniture world within Canada. It reminds me of how the Jel
Online Sellers Needed
I'm working on a new venture that seeks to make the life of anyone selling anything online an easier one. I'm in the early stages of doing research and would love to speak to as many of you out there who do sell things o
Fine Inlaid Renaissance Parlor Suite With Diminutive Archairs
Bill M. sent me photos of a five-piece inlaid Renaissance Revival parlor suite with porcelain plaques to get some input on it's maker. He had run into this older post I did on the Herter Brothers attributions that come a
Hunzinger Parlor Suite Hits $17,925 at Neal’s Winter Estate Event
As evidenced by the Hunzinger Parlor Suite sale, the results of Neal Auction Company’s Winter Estate Auction held January 30 and 31 are impressive indeed. Fine Victorian suites and cabinets were sale highlights. Bearin
Philadelphia Sale in Louisiana
Neal Auction's latest sale is this weekend and it appears that the consignors with 19th Century furniture by famous Philadelphia makers will do better selling them in Louisiana than in Philadelphia area auctions. I can't
Did Henkels Produce Laminated Furniture?
Some text accompanying a recent auction ad caught my eye that had made reference to a laminated Rosewood parlor set that would be part of the upcoming sale. I had seen the pattern many times before (as any a long-time Vi
North Georgia Antique Auction Starring Pottier & Stymus
North Georgia Antique Auction is offering up some fine Victorian pieces in their upcoming January 9th auction. For me, this attributed Pottier & Stymus credenza with extensive ormolu bling is a standout. I've seen th
Decorative Inlay and Carving Featured at Kamelot Auction
By Susan Mellish PHILADELPHIA - Close to 800 lots of Philadelphia architectural antiques and Victoriana made up the November 21 event held by Kamelot Auctions as they offered up a smorgasbord of furniture, lighting, art
Additional Photos of Rago's "Tiffany Style" Chairs
I know that many were interested in the "Tiffany Chairs" in the recent Rago Arts and Auction sale from the 1880/1890 Aesthetic Movement period which sold for $390,400. An outright attribution has not been made, however,
Let's Put The Jenny Lind Theory To Rest
I'm thinking that maybe a 16th century sofa can end this Jenny Lind rumor for us, but let's review the ground we've covered on this topic for a moment. In this first post (yes, long ago), I announced a contest asking eve
Egyptian Revival Credenza a Winner At Fontaine’s November Auction
By Susan Mellish PITTSFIELD, MA – Finding an auction offering several items labeled “Horner” or “Belter” is a thrill. Finding an auction loaded with fabulous Victorian furniture including pieces by these makers
Thomas Brooks Sideboard Stencil Confirms Maker
I thought I'd give the Rare Victorian readers who don't appreciate Rococo Revival a little break from the Galusha deluge and whip up a post for Renaissance Revival fans. How often is it that you see the biggest, chunkies
Deluge Of Galusha Information Coming
I have good and bad news to share with you. First, the bad news is that I've been traveling and haven't had time to profile all the great auction items coming up for sale TOMORROW, November 21st. Kamelot Auction House in
Antique Attributions Murky Part II
I think an equally important problem with making attributions is that we, on the whole, have long forgotten many fine makers from the Victorian era, probably numbering in the thousands - America alone, let alone globally
Antique Attributions Murky Part I
A recent Rare Victorian site visitor, Jim, asked the following fair question and rather than get the discussion lost in the comment section of the post that triggered his question, I thought I'd address it in detail as a
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
Wareroom Pieces of Prudent Mallard Sell at New Orleans Auction Galleries
NEW ORLEANS – October 10 and 11 found New Orleans Auction Galleries, Inc. in full fall swing offering more than 1,200 important lots including some fabulous Victorian items. Of most interest was an elegant mid-19th cen
Rococo Revival Duchesse Top Victorian Lot
NEW ORLEANS – Quite a nice selection of elegant Victorian items were offered at the September 26 and 27 event held by New Orleans Auction, St. Charles Gallery, Inc.. Unfortunately, many of these special pieces did not
Grand View And Jenack Auctions Results
Grand View Antiques & Auctions presented a wonderful collection of more than 400 period and Victorian items from estates in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania at their September 12 sale held at the Nor
Auction Results - Neal Auction Fall Estates Sale
Fine Victorian furniture was in abundance at Neal Auction Company’s mid-September event. More than 1,000 lots of American furniture alone crossed the auction block. The top piece of Victorian furniture to sell raked in
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
A Real Galusha In Our Midst
It's not as frequent as Belter, Meeks, Horner, Hunzinger, and the other usual Victorian-era furniture makers, but it isn't unusual to see furniture somewhat liberally attributed to Elijah Galusha. Galusha was a cabinetma
New York Cabinetmakers Get Married
Neal Auction has another of their great sales coming up in September and I'll try to cover more of the items as it comes nearer, but I was tipped off to an anomaly in one of their featured lots, the etagere above. The bo
Victorian Sofa and Settee For Sale
Kathryn Bauer is offering the following antique Victorian furniture items for sale which you can view in the images to follow. A George Henkels-attributed Rosewood sofa with newer upholstery. Kathy has extra matching fab
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
Mystery Chair - Late Classical or Nouveau?
Here's an intriguing mystery chair for you which is in the middle of disagreement on it's age. This isn't a casual situation where a curious chair owner would like to know, but a case where the chair is being offered to
Victorian Folding Chair Identification
Photo courtesy of Liveauctioneers Victorian-era Folding chairs did have a higher-end and occasionally you will see that reflected in the auction prices for them today. The chair above was (I believe incorrectly) attribut
Victorian Furniture Makers' Careers Span Periods
Many Victorian furniture cabinetmakers' careers crossed wide swaths of the Victorian period and thus, adapted to the changes in tastes across those careers. When we think of John Jellif, we think of the Renaissance Reviv
Associating Herter Brothers With Decorative Inlay
Peter sent me this photo of a Renaissance Revial parlor set that he has from a "wealthy relative" and was asking if I knew who the cabinetmaker may have been that constructed it. He was wondering if it was made by Herter
Klauder And Deginter, Philadelphia Furniture Makers
Flomaton Antique Auction has suspended it's monthly auctions indefinitely, but that hasn't stopped Nevin Heller from bringing quality antiques to the world. I was perusing his antique site, "Circa 19th Century" (a busine
Neal Auction Summer Estates Auction
Neal Auction's next sale is coming up this weekend and it has it's share of worthy lots which I have provided a sampling of below. I have been so busy recently that I haven't had a chance to review the paper catalog that
Auction Results Round-Up June 20th Edition
In what will hopefully become a regular feature on Rare Victorian, I've invited Sue Mellish, who has been an antiques and collectibles writer for Antique Week in the past, to wrap up some of the recent Victorian auction
Herter Brothers-Attributed Cabinet May Be Allen & Brother
I bid on a cabinet this week after I learned of a "Herter Brothers" cabinet coming up at a local auction. I immediately thought Allen & Brother when I saw the cabinet photos. I coincidentally ran into the "Gems of th
Michaan's Fine Art, Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction Friday, June 12, 2009
The June 12 event to be presented by Michaan’s Auctions of Alameda, CA, is sure to be a crowd pleaser. More than 260 lots of fine art, furniture and decorative art will cross the auction block this day. One of the nota
Victorian Furniture Highlighted in Cowan’s June 6, 2009 Fine and Decorative Art Auction
Cowan’s is preparing for a solid auction of Fine and Decorative Art on June 6th, where they are emphasizing 19th-century furniture and other decorative arts. Along with elaborate newel post electroliers, a Tiffany lamp
Carlo Bugatti - A Century Ahead Of His Time
Carlo Bugatti's Art Nouveau furniture designs look more like they were designed for Batman's home than for the homes of the turn of the 19th century when they were made (the firescreen above was is circa 1900). Paul Tuck
Stevens Estate Auction May 2nd, 2009
Stevens Auction will be having a sale this weekend which will include antique Victorian Furniture from a variety of makers and periods and the convenient thing about the sale is that you don't need to bring a truck or tr
Thoughts On Furniture Attributions & CDWA
You've often heard me rant about furniture attributions being applied to furniture in a flippant manner - "heavily carved + Rosewood" = Belter or Meeks. R. J. Horner is probably the most abused name next to George Hunzin
Neal Auction - Spring Estates Auction - April 18th, 19th 2009
Neal Auction is preparing for another great sale this weekend, their Spring Estates Sale on Saturday April 18th and 19th. The Victorian Furniture headliner for me in this sale is the Herter Brothers-attributed credenza s
Consensus: Not Stanford White Design - Aesthetic Parlor Set
There was a lot of good discussion on the Parlor Set in the last post that, by family history, had been designed by or is in some way associated with Stanford White. Cheryl (AKA misslillybart) found a photo that seems to
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.
The Wild Side Of John Henry Belter
I hadn't been paying attention. It took a couple years into my Victorian furniture "mindshift" for me to notice that some of the attributed John Henry Belter chairs had lions carved into the arms. I had probably seen hun
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
Emerson & Son Spiral Table
I recently purchased an Emerson & Son furniture catalog from 1893 which I will make available on the catalog page in future. What caught my eye in the catalog was the image seen below. As I said to Paul Tucker in an
Victorian Furniture At Grand View Antiques & Auction
There is a fair amount of Victorian furniture in today's Grand View sale and the lot that popped out from the rest for me was #129 - the Pottier & Stymus-attributed, mirrored credenza, above. There are some other fam
M. & H. Schrenkeisen Sofa With Carved Bust Arms
I thought I'd post a catalog reference image for M. & H. Schrenkeisen to help set the record (kinda) straight on this sofa. I say "kinda" since one can never believe everything one reads, but this is photographic pro
"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
George Henkels Bedroom Suite Analysis
This bed from the Neal Auction February 2008 sale is part of a 3-piece bedroom suite that I recently ran into in the hands of a dealer. I believe they are one and the same set and probably one and the same as the one "Ha
Gerald Lawhorn Collection At Hal Hunt Auctions
Major collectors of the best in American Rococo probably have already directed their attention to the February 21st Hal Hunt Auction of the Gerald Lawhorn collection. Lawhorn founded the Griffin, GA PetroSouth chain of g
Strange Things Happen
On February 2nd I published a post about a John Henry Belter work table and explain that by blogging about it I was imprinting it's form in my brain. February 7th I spot what I think is a larger version of the same table
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
New Orleans Auction - St. Charles Gallery "Spectacular Winter Sale"
I was pressed for time this week, otherwise I would have given you more advanced warning of this sale which is happening today and tomorrow in New Orleans. The above-pictured Belter-attributed table will be part of the s
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
Victorian Transitional Sidechair - Gothic Revival Meets Rococo Revival
Sometimes in the Victorian era of furniture making, you can see the confluence of two styles in one piece simultaneously as you can see with this sidechair to the right. Both Gothic Revival (spires, arches, crockets) and
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
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
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
For The Record: Israel Fellows
I'd like to start a new feature on Rare Victorian, which I hope will last beyond this one post, called "For The Record". The aim is to profile some less prolific, less visible, or "lost" cabinetmakers from the Victorian
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Victorian Is Dead In Alexandria, VA
I spent a good part of the weekend in Alexandria, VA this weekend with some long-time friends for a certain milestone birthday bash, and on the way to their house my wife and I did some antiquing there near King Street.
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
Possible Alexander Roux Rosewood Sofa
I had a late night delivery of my most recent purchase a few nights ago. No, it wasn't an Alexander Roux sofa ca. 1853 as is shown above. Picture six heavily-laden cardboard boxes being shuffled into the basement under c
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
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
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
Allen & Brother or Herter Brothers Bedroom Suite
I was contacted by the recent buyer of the above bedstead, which is part of a two-piece suite. There is no question it is a very desirable set and I'd be happy to have it in one of my bedrooms. It is constructed of solid
Herter Brothers Eye Candy
I thought I'd share two photos of Herter Brothers pieces from my recent Philadelphia Museum of Art trip. You'll have to excuse the photography as it was with a camera that was foreign to me and since the Herters' pieces
Thomas Brooks Attribution Response From Philadelphia Museum of Art
I heard from Jennifer Zwilling at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Thomas Brooks attribution basis for this sofa I recently posted about. I thank Jennifer for taking the time to respond and to do so with the amount
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
"Hand-Made" Victorian Furniture Does Not Mean 100% Hand-Made
I thought I'd share this excerpt from a 1980 dissertation by Page Talbot, "THE PHILADELPHIA FURNITURE INDUSTRY 1850 TO 1880". This dissertation was written to partially fulfill her requirements to achieve the degree of D
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
Joslin Hall Rare Books - Furniture & Cabinetmakers
For those of you who collect books on antique furniture and cabinetmaking, you may want to call Joslin Hall Rare Books and have them send you this catalog, number 313. It just arrived in the mail yesterday and it has 41
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
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
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
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
Attributing R.J. Horner Hall Chairs
I have a labeled Horner Hall or Throne chair (sometimes referred to as Savranola or "X"-Chair) and I have three other unlabeled chairs that share similar traits, so I'll document how I would come to the conclusion that t
Side Chair Manufactured by George Henkels?
It always gives me great pleasure to nail down a maker of a piece of furniture that we often see being sold as "attributed to" and be able to turn that into a definite "made by". No further need to attribute this chair t
Robert Mitchell Furniture Co. Roman Arm Chair - 1904
I purchased a chair a year or so ago at a local auction to go along with my Horner hall chairs. I had previously seen this chair attributed to R.J. Horner and, considering the griffin carvings, I never thought twice abou
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
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
N.J. Auction Saturday June 7th
Just a quick note to the N.J. area readers that there is an estate auction tomorrow on Saturday in Vineland. It's hard to assess all the Victorian being offered from the pictures, but the above chair, frequently attribut
Heavily Carved Dining Suite at Steven's Auction
Taking a quick glance at this set, many Victorian antique collectors familiar with the turn-of-the-century gods of Renaissance carved furniture (Horner, Flint, etc.) would assume that this piece was by R.J. Horner. Fortu
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
Bob Courtney Auction Underway
Bob Courtney's Spring 2008 sale is underway and has many pieces up for sale that Rare Victorian readers would be itching to own. The cabinet to the right is part of the sale and is attributed to one of my favorite cabine
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
Chair Mystery Solved - Charles Klein
If you remember this post here, you would recall that I lose sleep over Victorian furniture attributions. Not really, but close. I just hate to see the same pieces over and over again show up in auctions and on Ebay, fir
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
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
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
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 ...
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
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
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
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
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
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
Indestructible Belter Furniture
Some of you have probably read something about John Henry Belter's secretive lamination process which comprised 7-9 layers of wood, usually Rosewood. Belter steamed and soaked the thinly (< 1.6mm) sawed layers of wood
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Dietz Rebuttal - Jelliff or Schrenkeisen?
Michael O'Docharty reminded me of the letter that Ulysses Grant Dietz wrote to The Magazine Antiques in response to the 1999 Anna Tobin D'Ambrosio article that I mention in this prior post. Dietz is curator of Decorative
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
The First Ever Rare Victorian Giveaway!
For the first time at RareVictorian.com you can get something for free! I find myself in possession of two copies of the Newark Museum Bulletin, "Century of Revivals: Nineteenth-Century American Furniture in the Newark M
Pottier & Stymus or Herter Brothers Desk?
Stevens Auction is getting set for an auction on November 3rd that includes many items that Rare Victorian followers would be interested in considering. I ran across this desk (lot 1302) attributed to Pottier and Stymus
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Carvings Update
I ran into yet another carving style for the Jelliff arms after I submitted the post yesterday, so I am adding it here. A Jelliff-attributed sofa just went for sale with the above arms including something I've never seen
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
Another Furniture Maker Attribution Rant
You've seen my previous posts on the problems with attributions. I wanted to share one more related theme that I tend to encounter too often when I write to antique sellers about the pieces that they are selling.If I'm l
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
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
Gustave Herter Rosewood Chair
For those of you who like to buy pristine furniture with an impeccable finish which is ready to be placed in your home, this blog entry is not for you (nor was the last one for that matter). I'm fascinated by rare Victor
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
Pottier & Stymus Aesthetic Pedestal
Up for auction is a fine pedestal being attributed to Pottier & Stymus by the seller. Auction runs until February 1st and is starting at $1,125 (reserve is not met). Auction can be seen here.Seller's Description:All
3 Piece Bedroom Attr. Horner
I'm not certain that the seller's attribution of this mahogany 3-piece bedroom set to R.J. Horner is correct, but it is proving to be a hot auction. The 10th bid currently stands at $5,100 and the auction runs until Janu
Rosewood Etagere Attr. Meeks
Upcoming auction for a Rosewood pierced and laminated etagere attributed to J & J Meeks offered by Fontaine's Auction Gallery. A very similar etagere is shown attributed to Meeks on p. 144 of American Furniture of th
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