Husfloen - Antique Trader Furniture Price Guide

Antique Trader
FURNITURE

PRICE GUIDE

3rd Edition

Edited by Kyle Husfloen

2008 Krause Publications

Published by

700 East State Street lola, Wl 54990-0001
715-445-2214 888-457-2873
www.krausebooks.com

Our toll-free number to place an order or obtain a free catalog is (800) 258-0929.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2007934359

ISBN-13: 978-0-89689-670-3
ISBN-10: 0-89689-670-6
eISBN: 978-1-44021-913-9

Designed by Wendy Wendt
Edited by Kyle Husfloen

Printed in China

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Price Listings:

INTRODUCTION

For the past decade Antique Trader Books has published a series of furniture price guides, and Im happy to introduce our all-new edition. As in the past, we feature a comprehensive guide to all styles of furniture from the 17th century through the 20th. A majority of the pieces listed here are American-made, but we also provide a good cross section of examples from England, France, Europe and the Orient. There is something here for everyone.

As always, we strive to provide the most accurate and detailed descriptions for each piece as well as provide a number of special features that make this not only a pricing guide but a good reference for anyone interested in furniture. We include here nearly 1,200 individual listings with nearly 1,150 of them illustrated with full-color photographs. Some of the special features we provide include a Furniture Dating Chart, an illustrated guide to American Furniture Terms, a Select Bibliography for books on furniture, an appendix listing a number of Auction Services and a well-illustrated section with Stylistic Guidelines to American and English Furniture.

In order to bring you the most comprehensive price guide, I was given great assistance from a number of auction houses who were kind enough to provide me with high-resolution digital images on CDs. These firms include:

Christies, New York, New York : (212) 636-2000; Web -www.christies.com

James Julia, Fairfield, Maine: (207) 453-7125; Web -www.jamesjulia.net

Neal Auctions, New Orleans, Louisiana: (504) 899-5329; Web - www.nealauctions.com

Skinner, Inc., Bolton, Massachusetts: (978) 779-6241; Web - www.skinnerinc.com

Garths, Delaware, Ohio: (740) 362-4771; Web -www.garths.com

Other illustrations were provided by the following auction houses: Alderfers, Hatfield, Pennsylvania; Bonhams & Butterfields, San Francisco, California; Brunk Auctions, Asheville, North Carolina; Charlton Hall Galleries, Columbia, South Carolina; New Orleans Auctions, New Orleans, Louisiana; David Rago Arts & Crafts, Lambertville, New Jersey; Sloans & Kenyon, Chevy Chase, Maryland; and Treadway Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio.

I sincerely hope that this new Antique Trader Furniture Price Guide will provide you with the most useful and comprehensive furniture price guide available. Our coverage all of the major types of American and European furniture should give collectors, dealers, auctioneers and students or American material culture an invaluable reference to add to their libraries. I always welcome letters from our readers, and I will do my best to reply if you have questions about this volume.
Happy collecting!

Kyle Husfloen, Editor

Please note: Though listings have been double-checked and every effort has been madeto insure accuracy, neither the editor norpublisher can assume responsibility for anylosses that might be incurred as a result ofconsulting this guide, or of errors, typographicalor otherwise.

ON THE COVER: Upper left - Victorian Novelty armchair composed of elk antlers, Germany, late 19th c., $690; lower left - Victorian Rococo style chest of drawers, ebonized and painted wood, Philadelphia, ca. 1845, $2,185; right -Federal country style step-back wall cupboard, New England, early 19th c., $4,994.

Antique Furniture in the
21st Century

By Kyle Husfloen, Editor

Furniture collecting has been a major part of the world of collecting for over 100 years. In recent years, as we enter the 21st century, it is interesting to note how this marketplace has evolved.

Whereas in past decades, 18th century and early 19th century furniture was the mainstay of the American furniture market, in recent years there has been a growing demand for furniture manufactured since the 1920s. Factory-made furniture from the 1920s and 1930s, often featuring Colonial Revival style, has seen a growing appreciation among collectors. It is well-made and features solid wood and fine veneers rather than the cheap compressed wood materials often used since the 1960s. Also much in demand in recent years is furniture in the Modernistic and Mid-Century taste, ranging from Art Deco through quality designer furniture of the 1950s through the 1970s.

These latest trends have offered even the less wheel-healed buyer the opportunity to purchase fine furniture at often reasonable prices. Buying antique and collectible furniture is no longer the domain of millionaires and museums.

Today more and more furniture is showing up on Internet sites and sometimes good buys can be made. However, it is important to deal with honest, well-informed sellers and have a good knowledge of what you want to purchase. Personally, I still prefer to purchase furniture at antiques shows, shops and auctions where I have the opportunity to carefully examine the piece in person to make sure it is as represented, with no hidden surprises such as major repairs or replacements.

As in the past, it makes sense to purchase the best pieces you can find, whatever the style or era of production. Condition is still very important if you want your example to continue to appreciate in value in the coming years. For 18th century and early 19th century pieces the original finish and hardware are especially important as it is with good furniture of the early 20th century Arts & Crafts era. These features are not quite as important for most manufactured furniture of the Victorian era and furniture from the 1920s and later. However, it is good to be aware that a good finish and original hardware will mean a stronger market when pieces are resold. Of course, whatever style of furniture you buy, you are better off with examples that have not had major repair or replacements. On really early furniture, repairs and replacements will definitely have an impact on the sale value, but they will also be a factor on newer designs from the 20th century.

As with all types of antiques and collectibles, there is often a regional preference for certain furniture types. Although the American market is much more homogenous than it was in past decades, there still tends to be a preference for 18th century and early 19th century furniture along the Eastern Seaboard, whereas Victorian designs tend to have a larger market in the Midwest and South. In the West, country furniture and western designs definitely have the edge except in major cities along the West Coast. Even more localized markets can be found. For example, around Palm Springs, California, only Mid-century Modern furniture and decorative accessories have much of a market while less than 100 miles away in the San Diego Los Angeles corridor a wider range of furniture is marketable.