Kovels Antiques & Collecting: Victorian Furniture
By Terry and Kim Kovel
Victorian furniture
Victorian furniture has a reputation for being impractical and out of style. After all, it's all heavy, dark wood pieces covered in dust-collecting carvings and shabby old upholstery, right? Think again! The Victorian era, which lasted from the mid-19th century to about 1900, covers many different design periods and saw plenty of technological advances and innovative styles.
Cabinetmaker George Hunzinger patented this chair in 1869. It was just one of the many patents he filed during his furniture-making career. PHOTO CREDIT: Kovels.com
Designers patented many new styles of furniture, especially chairs. George Hunzinger, a cabinetmaker who emigrated from Germany to New York in 1855, was one of the most inventive furniture designers of the time. He held patents for multiple designs, methods and materials.
This Hunzinger chair, which sold for $406 at Conestoga Auction Company, is marked with its patent date of March 30, 1869. It is made of beech wood carved to resemble bamboo. Hunzinger was inspired by machinery for the look of his furniture as well as construction methods. Like many of his designs, this chair looks like it could be made from pipes. X-frames are another characteristic Hunzinger element; some of his chairs could fold, and some just looked like it.
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Q: My son was in a book club in the late 1950s, early 1960s. They had the first editions of Dr. Seuss books. The books are in good condition because I just read them to him and they were not played with. Are they worth anything?
A: Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote more than 60 children's books under the name Dr. Seuss. Some of his most famous books were written in the 1950s and 60s and continue to be the most popular children's books in the world. Identifying Suess's first edition books is a challenge. The publishers did not explicitly print "First Edition" but printed a copyright date. There are experts that can help identify books that may be valuable first editions. Recent high-priced books include "The Cat in the Hat," "Horton Hears a Who" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." They have sold for $300 to $2,400.
TIP: When the weather is warm, open the windows so your books can get a breath of fresh air.
CURRENT PRICES
Wooden abacus, four turned sides, painted, 10 rows of beads, metal base, 1800s, 14 3/4 x 12 1/4 inches, $110.
Doll, Greiner, papier-mache, painted features, black molded hair, stuffed body, cotton gingham dress, black boots, label on shoulder, 29 inches, $425.
Folk art figure, owl, wood, intricately painted details, brown, orange, black, white, perched on log, indistinct signature on bottom, 20 3/4 inches, $675.
Firefighting, fire mark, cast iron, raised fireman blowing horn, holding lantern, coattails flapping, oval, Associated Firemen's Ins. Co., Baltimore, 12 inches, $735.
Satsuma charger, allover Japanese figures, multicolor, gold trim, gold scrollwork on reverse with characters, Japan, c. 1800, 15 5/8 inches, $1,165.
For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com
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