John Sikorski: Chair is more than 100 years old
Q: I found this chair in 1975 in a barn in Michigan, and I am wondering if you could tell me how old it is and how much it may be worth. Thank you so much. — E.B., Internet
A: The chair you have was made in America. It was already 100 years old when you found it in the barn in 1975, so add in 45-plus years. The style is Renaissance Revival that became popular after the Civil War. The chair is a demi-arm type and was typically found as part of a parlor set. There were many furniture manufacturers that produced this style of furniture, especially in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I wish you had included a photo of the bottom of the seat. I think the chair originally had a cane seat, and when the caning needed to be replaced, for whatever reason, it had a round board cut and tacked on the top of the seat instead of the more expensive job of caning. This can be confirmed by looking at the bottom of the seat frame. If you observe uniform holes in the frame, it was originally caned. Potential dollar value is below $50.
Q: This large set of various sizes and shapes of stemware belonged to my mother. I have tried unsuccessfully to find out where they were made and their value. This is just one of the two shelves they are on. Can you please help me? Thank you so much. — C.P., Internet
A: The stemware has a good-quality decorative look. I do not recognize what company may have produced them. I suggest you contact Replacements Ltd in Greensboro, North Carolina. They might be able to identify the pattern and thus the maker. The phone number is 1-800-replace. Good luck, and let us know what you discover.
Q: I have had stashed away for some 70 odd years a Volume 1, No. 1 copy of Coronet magazine. It is a hardbound advance copy hand-signed by the publisher, dated Oct. 14, 1936. It is in perfect condition, having not seen the light of day from a safe deposit box all these decades. I have no concept of its value or desirability. Can you point me in the right direction? Thank you. — V.T., Internet
A: What an excellent job of caretaking for your Coronet magazine. If there were collector interest in the magazine, the condition would be a big plus. However, there is currently no specific collector interest in Coronet magazines. As I gaze into my crystal ball, the outlook for increased interest is thin. If there is no one in the family who is interested in having it, then a donation to the library would be nice.
— John Sikorski, with more than 35 years of experience, is an Ocala-based antiques advisor, consultant and broker. Send your questions to Sikorski's Attic, c/o The Ocala Star-Banner, 2121 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala, FL 34471-7752, or email absantique@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: John Sikorski: Chair is more than 100 years old
