I’d like to throw out a few topics for discussion.

One of the interesting aspects of the Movement was the emphasis on craftsmanship that those in the earlier years intended to be work done by an individual, from start to finish.

This idea was resurrected from the Guild societies of the middle ages or thereabouts. As interpreted in the American movement, that extended to the process of furniture making by partial mechanization and participation of more than one on producing a piece of furniture.

What brings this to mind is the Craftsman Auction last week. An early G. Stickley floriform table c. 1900 sold for $13k. The price was not a shock given the rarity and condition of the table. The interesting thing is that the very next lot was a Charles Rohlfs table of very similar design. Actually, the Stickley table was derived from the earlier Rohlfs table. Rohlfs was known for his hand craftsmanship and virtually one of a kind pieces, whereas Stickley made his version a production piece. The Rohlfs piece went for $5k, which was $2k over estimate. Go figure.

Just curious on other people’s thoughts on the importance people put on name recognition and status (my Stickley is older than your Stickley…) over, in my opinion, a more artistically and historically important piece of work.

Second topic. Comments and opinions of the sale of the Elbert Hubbard sideboard at the same auction. This was definitely one of a kind, custom made for Hubbard’s use. And the historic value that it was used by him and kept in the family until this sale. The final price was barely over what many thought to be a way too low estimate (est. $20-30k. sale $35k. I was sure there would be several collectors that would fight over this and drive the price way up there.

Also at auction was the lectern Hubbard used for his “chalk talks” to the residents and artisans. I thought the historical significance of this would also create a high price. It didn’t make estimate. (est. $7-10k sale $5k)

Sorry about the ramblings, but it is interesting to think about what drives people’s collecting habits.

topic one

Rohlfs had a small shop with less than 10 employees, Gus had a couple hundred. Rago has said that even with the recognition and prices for Gus, he expects that a lot more Gus is bound to turn up because of the shear volume of pieces that his 200 workers must have turned out. Where are these pieces? Well most of these were bought one generation ago so in theory most have been passed on only once. They are on back porches, in basements, in garages, in barns, and so on; too big to dispose of and maybe with a coat of white paint on them and good for piling laundry baskets on or using as work benches. Rohlfs pieces on the other hand??? Maybe a few more will turn up, like that candle stick on eBay (discussed in the lighting forum, assuming it is a Rohlfs, and his smalls were more common than his furniture) but that will be it. Its all about the name and the market that has been created for that name, even at the high end. Rohlfs may be more artistic, true to hand craftmanship, and so on, but Gus was more in the face of the public back then and I think is easier to understand and analyze and so makes a better candidate for top billing.

Now to introduce a paradox in the other direction...


topic two

There has to be more to it than meets the eye. I'm going to start a rumour right now unless it already has been started. Maybe there was something wrong with the provenance. Maybe the piece only looks good in the pictures - maybe it's banged together with nails. Maybe there is something wrong with the carved orb and cross (easy to fake). Maybe this, maybe that, and so on. Elberts own sideboard! Next to the bed he slept in and the toilet he .... in, what do you want people???

my understanding is that it was elberts family putting it on the market. no, i hadnt heard of question of authenticiy or of poor quality/repairs.

that could answer a lot of questions.

back to rolhfs, that is my point exactly, with so few pieces likely to turn up, you would think the prices would skyrocket.

and i love the contrast in the two "stickley" tables. i would definitely settle for the lower priced on. but then i am a user, not a collector per se. but after i got a few pieces, i might feel the pull to upgrade...

Good post, interesting discussion, my preference was for the more expensive one before I noticed the price.

LOL I feel the need to upgrade from generic to Stickley Brothers I guess you have to have the money, the lifestyle, the contacts in the business, knowledge of who you're competing against, and so on, to appreciate how to add up all the factors that make Gus' table 25 grand. Rarity has to be 98-100% of the difference in this case and some magic formula of how rare equals how much, and maybe 2% materials/construction. That said, the other variable is the 'flattery factor'. Stickley Bros are obviously the imitator in this table so I guess Gus just gets an automatic default higher value, to start from, for just being Gus the originator. This doesn't apply in all cases but it certainly seems to dominate in the stuff that Rago/Cohen sell - there is more Gus than anyone else, sale after sale, and always good stuff in terms of finish and rarity.

Back to the sideboard. There was something in the description about how the top was attached to the base so maybe there was a problem here or maybe something was even missing. Honestly I don't know, I'm just throwing around ideas. I think you can request or buy more detailed condition reports and I would bet that the high end bidders are generally up on things but probably also hire their own agents/experts to do thorough previews and to do bidding/purchasing on their behalf as they build a collection. Whatever kept the price down, relatively speaking, must have been fairly well known you would think.

Good Afternoon Friends,
I truly believe that there is a lot to be said about a name product such as the tables above where Gus's table sold for so much while his brother's table was sold for much less.

The same holds true today in the designer named brands that bring higher dollars than a product of equal value but not a name product. e.g. Calvin Cline to Wrangler jeans as an example.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Good Evening Friends,
Everything I make I virtually burn in the wood someplace on the item " Hand Crafted by Ralph Jones London Ohio"
Though I don't make many pieces at a time and most of them are only typical of the other ones that I have made in the same style. No piece that is hand made will be an exact copy of the one made before.
My question is, I wonder how much my pieces will be worth 75 or 100 years down the road?

I do have clientèle from all over the continental United States but it usually takes me around four to six weeks to make a piece and sometimes longer. Here is an example of what I am talking about. This one is in Boston MA.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones