Hi all,

Great forum. I'm pleased to have found it. Someone just posted this to the local Craigslist and they're asking a fairly steep price for it ($1800). On talking with them, it's been refinished, new leather seat, and there's no maker's mark. But, he claims it's a Gustav Stickley, due to style elements. I'm a bit dubious.

Here's some pics:








Any thoughts? Is this worth it? I'm seeing it tonight, along with another, smaller rocker that he's not claiming as a Stickley.

Thanks,
Keith

Hey Keith, This is in Grand Rapids and if its pegged it's gustav if it's not pegged and has little wood plugs behind the arms then it's Stickley brothers. Either way, 1,800 is a very good price for Gustav and about the high end on Stickley brothers for this rocker. You might want to buy the table if your smart. I want both of those pieces but I am broke.

It looks like a G. Stickley 323.

Height of back from the floor 40 in.
Height of seat from the floor 15 in.
Size of seat 22 wide 25 deep.
These are the numbers from his catalog, I don't know if they need to match exactly though.

I agree it's a little high if it's Stickley Bros and ok for Gus, but there is the issue of refinish and new leather also being attributed to Gus without the proof would make me hesitate as well. Can always haggle if you like it but not sure on maker. It looks nice though...

Dano

Thanks for the advice everyone. I ended up not getting it, based on a kind of poor job on the new leather (actually a whole new seat, as it turned out) and some issues with the rear legs having cracking down near the rockers (one had a ~1/16" wide by 6" long tapering crack along one of the rays of the wood and it went through to the other side). But, I greatly appreciate the advice and I'm loving the forum for the great info provided here.

Keith

Hey Keith, how did the library table look to you?

Thanks Again
Mark & Melissa

Good Morning All,
Welcome to you new users as you will find a lot to learn from all of the forums on this location as well as knowledgable people who are more than happy to answer your questions.
However we frown on trying to give an estimated value on any piece that is posted, as pictures don't tell the whole story about a piece and we suggest that you find a professional appraisor for finding the value of a piece.I do doubt that chair in question is a Stickley as there would be a brand or label on the chair some place indicating it to be a Stickley chair.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Are the corbels pegged? That's a good way to tell a Gus chair. I agree with most others: if it's Gus, not a bad price. But not great either. I'd wait like you did.

Ralph, I own several pieces of Gus, L&JG, and Stickley Bros. that are unmarked. This is typically how I'm able to afford such pieces. So there are quite a few unsigned pieces out there. Considering this piece is refinished, it is quite reasonable that the Gus decal would have been removed during this process.

Sorry, I didn't get to see the table. He brought the chairs both by for me to look at, as he was in town getting some furniture for friends. He said it was nice, but I'd really want to look it over in person, as there were some flaws that he pretended not to have seen in both of the chairs we looked at...

Keith

quote:

Originally posted by Ralph Jones:
Good Morning All,
Welcome to you new users as you will find a lot to learn from all of the forums on this location as well as knowledgable people who are more than happy to answer your questions.
However we frown on trying to give an estimated value on any piece that is posted, as pictures don't tell the whole story about a piece and we suggest that you find a professional appraisor for finding the value of a piece.I do doubt that chair in question is a Stickley as there would be a brand or label on the chair some place indicating it to be a Stickley chair.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Thanks, Ralph. I wasn't really trying to get an exact quote, just get a feel for if what was being asked was a decent price or not, given what little info I had on it. I think I made the right choice in turning it down, but we'll be looking for another one of these rockers, as I really liked the fit and feel of it...

Keith

Ok lets get this straight for the people who do not understand. A piece of furniture does not have to be labled to identify. Have you ever heard a person say that this piece is labled all over the place? Just cuz that rocker is not labled does not mean that rocker is not made by Gustav Stickley and you of all people ( Ralph) should know this.

Thanks Again,
Mark & Melissa

ballzy is correct, I collect Limbert and own a couple things with no label or stamp and some Stickley that is unmarked. There is a lot of unmarked high end furiture but dont trust dealers passing off lesser items as unmarked, most of the time antique dealers dont know what they are talking about this is why if you are a collector you need reissue catalogs to be sure.
This rocker is NOT gus. Find out who the best dealers in the country are and dont be afraid to ask questions or send pics most folks are helpful.

Hi,
I did not see the pieces but read one comment about the "pegged" corbels. Keep in mind that J M Young consistently pegged his corbels on his early chairs and many of his later pieces are virtually identical to L & J G Stickley. There are also several other upstate makers that have pieces identical to both Gus and L & J G. Perhaps someday I will get around to finishing up the book on the second tier companies, but for now please be aware that a lot of Gus and L & J G's workers went out on their own (one finisher was working for Young during the teens). Craftstyle set up a company across the street from Leopold's place in Fayetteville in 1906 and was there until it burned. So many pieces are identical that it is often very difficult to be absolute because of one or even two characteristics. Labels could be purchased and can still be purchased and applied. Identification is not easy. The bottom line is whether you like the piece and it works for you. I think most people will go for that philosophy.
My best,
Dr. Michael Clark