Second-generation Hitchcock chairs are a great pair
Q. We have a pair of Hitchcock chairs, and I have enclosed a photo of one of them. They are old, in great condition and have the original finish. There are stencils on the back. Marked under the seats are the words "L. Hitchcock - Hitchcocksville, Conn. - Warranted - R." The N's are all written backwards and the R is inside a circle.
We would appreciate information about the age and approximate value of our chairs.
A. Lambert Hitchcock founded his hand-stenciled furniture factory in 1818 in Hitchcocksville, Connecticut. His chairs were so affordable and popular that they became mass-produced. Hitchcock was an amazing innovator, but he lacked business skills. The company went into receivership in 1832. Around 1946, John Kenney came across the abandoned factory while fishing in the nearby river. He bought the property and began producing chairs in the same location until 2006. In 2010, Rick Swenson and Gary Hath purchased the Hitchcock name and designs. Their factory is in Riverton (originally known as Hitchcocksville), and their plan is to produce furniture in keeping with the vision of Lambert Hitchcock.
The mark on your chairs with the reversed N's and the R in a circle shows that your chairs were made after 1946. Each chair would probably be worth $125 to $225.
Q. This mark is on the bottom of a porcelain pedestal compote that I have. It was given to me by my mother, who said it originally belonged to her great-grandmother. The compote is about 6 inches tall and is in perfect condition. It is decorated with pastel flowers and gold trim against a white background. The edges are reticulated.
We don't know anything about its maker, age or value. Anything you can tell us will be appreciated.
A. Carl Thieme Saxonian Porcelain Factory made your compote. The factory was founded in 1872 in Potschappel, Dresden, Germany. Thieme produced porcelain that was influenced by Meissen and Sevres porcelain designs. The scrolled letters in the mark you provided represent Saxonian Porcelain.
Your compote was made around 1914 and would probably be worth $175 to $225.
• 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.
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