Antique American Furniture, Timeless Charm
By | November 29, 2011
Antique American furniture still remains an attractive buy for most homes. In this seemingly modern society, it is quite interesting to take note that most people still love things that have existed for centuries. For starters, the industry of antique furniture shops has flourished since the 1980s. This is perhaps because each piece of furniture in an antique shop has a story, and participating in the Provenance keeps that the story alive. This is true to the point that no matter how modern the times are, antique pieces of furniture, like beds, tables, and most commonly – antique chairs, are more preferred by homeowners. Additionally, there are shops that specialize in producing furniture pieces with that touch of vintage to offer cheaper prices to the average person than antique American furniture could offer. But, for everyone who is hell bent on owning genuine antiques, being well equipped about the usual styles that are available in the best shops will most definitely help.
The most common antique chairs are 3 piece sofa sets, which are priced at more or less eighteen hundred dollars. Most of the time, the wood is made of something dark like maple or walnut and can be available even in its original finish. What is interesting is the intricate details as its feet are carved with the Queen Anne accent and is upholstered with felt cushions in order to send the aura of royalty that is commonly associated with the past.
Secondly, people are hooked up with vintage American dining sets with chairs that can accommodate ten to twelve people. Most of these sets were created in circa 1920s. Different sets speak of the grandeur of the American dream and the exquisite carvings and inlay speak for itself. Dining sets are generally more expensive with the price range at around twenty thousand dollars. This set is strategic for people who want to host intimate parties such as dinners inside the house.
Thirdly, single room chairs for comfort are hotshots in the market. Additionally, the presence of vintage rocking chairs adds aesthetic value to any bedroom. Most of these chairs are dark mahogany wood with clawed and ball feet. If feeling adventurous, different single chairs can make up for a great set. It speaks of modernity in using ancient pieces especially at a relatively cheap price of six hundred fifty dollars per piece.
Finally, different pieces for certain parts of the house or office are available. One can use vintage chairs inside the office, in the library, and even as a feature in the garden or patio. The first tip, then, that anybody should know, is to find out which shops are more sought of compared to others. For this to happen, a prospective shop should be credible enough to be affiliated with conglomeration of antique collection organizations such as the Five Pillar Club, the Antiques Dealers’ Association of America, or the American Furniture & Decorative Arts of Skinner, Inc.
Most shops are manned by antique collectors, so everyone will be very happy to know that each piece has been carefully selected and taken cared of by the sellers. Morris Antiques in Arkansas, Noonmark Antiques, Don Olson, and Olde Hope Antiques, among others, are considered to be the pillars of the industry. Shops as established as them have been around for decades and have consistently been building networks of dealers, sellers, and auctioneers of rare pieces of collectibles.
If a buyer is a neophyte in the world of antique American furniture, however, there are a lot of things that one should learn. The first is that it is better to invest in few quality pieces than
to spread money to buy dozens of substandard ones. The focus of antique furniture is its rarity, so even a single quality piece of chair can outshine a conference room full of mediocre ones. Secondly, going to an auction can cost less than buying it from a shop. Most people will be surprised to know that they can get big discounts from gifted artisans who deal directly with the buyer and without the army of middlemen that pad the price of the furniture. The world of antique collection is a rather challenging one, but a person does not need to be as old as the furniture to master it.
Topics: American Furniture | Comments Off
The Leather Wingback Chair
By | May 29, 2011
The leather wingback chair has been a design staple for centuries. Whether you are looking for comfort, beauty, practicality or price, the wing chair has been at the forefront of fashion for a long time, and can often still be found in libraries as well as in homes all around the world. Wherever there is a need for a comfortable place to sit, the wing chair has been there, and probably will be there again. History, current design, and prices are good things to know about when considering a wingback chair.
Wing chairs were first seen in the eighteenth century, or the 1700′s. The strikingly original design, with wings covering the arms from the front of the seat to the backrest and up the back, is thought to have originated in England. However, America presented their version at about the same time, so it could well have begun in the States. In fact, Rhode Island soon presented a version that was just their own, and remains named the “Rhode Island Wing Chair”. These chairs were designed to suit both men and women. They were one of the very first chairs that were designed to be used with cushions, offering an unprecedented amount of comfort. The wings, as well, offered a unique function. They were protection from the chill drafts that were usually present in old homes. They also functioned to keep ladies’ delicate skin protected from direct exposure to the fires that were used to heat the homes.
The leather wingback chair originated in England in the middle eighteen hundreds, called the library chair due to its common placement in the libraries of manor houses, it was not the first wing chair to be found, just the first one to be upholstered in leather. Leather was a sign of wealth, so owning a wing chair upholstered in leather was a status symbol. Easy to produce, while still appearing elegant, the leather chairs soon became popular pieces of furniture.
Though the wingback chair has undergone some cosmetic changes, the fundamental design remains the same. Due to the current popularity of comfortable functionality, heavily padded versions abound. The leather wingback chair, however, remains more lightly padded. The biggest difference between the original chairs and current productions is the use of vinyl instead of leather in some.
Prices vary depending upon what style and color are purchased, as well as being dictated by where the item is bought. They can be found for as little as three hundred dollars, while the dark leather, exclusive chairs can cost up to five thousand dollars. There is such a wide range in prices that there is going to be a price for everyone.
Leather wingback chairs have a long and storied history. They are beautiful, functional, and can be affordable. Though they are the classic choice for a man’s study or a library, there are lighter versions that would be just as appropriate for a solarium or a woman’s bedroom. No matter what room of the house is being furnished, there is a leather wingback chair that would be beautiful in it.
Topics: Everyday Chairs | Comments Off
Hepplewhite Furniture and the Man Behind the Name
By | May 2, 2011
Hepplewhite furniture is a name that is synonymous with beautiful, classically styled furniture and is referenced by most schools of design. Even today, cabinetmakers and designers look to Hepplewhite for inspiration. His furniture is referred to as neoclassic with graceful fine lines. Sheraton, Chippendale, Adam, Queen Anne and Hepplewhite were the five most well known English furniture crafters in the 18th century.
George Hepplewhite himself was a cabinet-maker and created popular elegant designs from 1775 to 1800. His name is known by most modern furniture designers. The shield-shaped chair back is one of his most famous designs and is still used today. It features a wide expansive back, which is more comfortable than other chairs that were made during this time. Most chairs from this period feature a splat design. This is the piece that runs down the middle of the chair back. Chippendale was known for the different types of splats that he used in his chairs.
Hepplewhite furniture was quite expensive in its day and was favored by the upper classes. Interestingly there are not any Hepplewhite pieces that are known to exist today. Some say that one of his pieces was commissioned by the Prince of Wales and it is indeed referenced in his guidebook, but there is no proof of this in the royal records. There is not much known about George Hepplewhite personally, but most modern furniture designer’s praise his work or at least his designs.
Hepplewhite’s designs were very distinctive and were the basis for his famous furniture design book, The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide. His designs did not become well known until after his death in 1786. In fact many years passed before he was became recognized for his work. There are some who doubt that George Hepplewhite was even a real person. His death certificate is the only real proof and there has never been a birth certificate discovered. There are sources that claim his wife Alice, who published the book and ran the business after his death, was the actual designer and she used the name George as a pen name. Alice published two additional editions after the original, the second edition in 1789 and the third in 1794.
The book features 300 of his designs and was the guidebook for this period of furniture. In fact, cabinet and furniture makers copied his work well into the 19th and 20th centuries and some still use it for reference today. Many of Hepplewhite’s pieces that are featured in the book were meant to be inlaid with other types of wood such as mahogany or satinwood. His upholstery was very grand and featured exquisitely rich colors such as gold, burgundy and royal blue. Hepplewhite bookcases and wardrobes were sometimes highlighted with elegant etchings in the frosted glass panels. Some of his smaller pieces such as knife boxes, tea caddies and fire screens are sought after by collectors as they are almost impossible to find.
Today the guidebooks are extremely rare with only five copies known to exist worldwide. First published in 1788 there has not been one offered for sale in the private arena since 1988. Because the books were used by cabinet makers for work purposes most of those that do exist are well-worn. This is probably the reason that so few survived. If you happen to run across a copy of The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide snap it up as the first edition is worth almost $80,000.
Topics: Hepplewhite | Comments Off
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