Treasured Golden Oak chair rocks
Q. I've searched the Internet and cannot find a rocking chair like the one in this picture. I'm hoping you can help me. My father was born in 1896 and said he was rocked in this chair when he was a baby, so it must be really old. Three generations of our family have been rocked in the chair. The arms and seat are all original, but some parts on the rockers and the lower stretchers have been replaced.
The name of the manufacturer does not seem to be on the chair. I'd sure like to know if you could determine where it was created and who made it. I love this little rocking chair, so, of course it's not for sale. But I thank you in advance for any information you can provide.
A. You have a Golden Oak rocking chair that was made in the late 1800s. The Golden Oak period of furniture lasted from the 1880s to the 1920s. Many pieces of furniture were sold through Sears, Montgomery Ward and the Larkin Co. catalogs. The designs on the crest rail and lower back are examples of pressed wood. They were produced by using a sharp steel die, which was pressed into the wood. Your cherub on the crest rail is less common than the usual late Victorian images of the north wind, mythological creatures and demons.
Your rocking chair should be insured for $150 to $300.
Q. I have enclosed the mark that is on the rims of the glass shades of an electric antique chandelier that belonged to my father. It was in an old home that was being torn down in the early 1960s. The owner wasn't interested in it, and when my dad admired it, he said, "Take it. It's yours." It's been stored in a big box in the cellar all these years. We found it after my dad passed away. Now we are curious about its history. It has five hanging iridescent glass shades that are bell-shaped and in excellent condition.
Any information you can provide will be appreciated.
A. Quezal Art Glass Co. made the glass shades on your chandelier. The glass firm was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1901 by Martin Bach and Thomas Johnson, both former Tiffany employees. Bach and Johnson were inspired by the quetzal, a Central American bird known for its spectacular colored feathers. They dropped the "t" in quetzal and named their company Quezal. The firm closed in 1925.
Depending on the condition, similar Quezal chandeliers can be seen selling in the range of $2,500 to $7,000.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.
© 2016, Creators Syndicate