Hi, I have an Oscar Onken Cabinet and I wonder if anyone knows of someplace where I might be able to find out more information on Oscar Onken and his Arts and crafts style furniture. I have found a few items online but none look like the one I have which is an Orchid color cabinet. Many thanks if someone can point me in the proper direction. Arielle
oskar onken was the owner of a company called Shop of the Crafters in Cincinnati ohio. he started out as a frame maker and moved to mission/arts and crafts furniture in 1904. there is a reprint of a SOC catalog from 1906 that has many of the best know pieces.
i think (i dont have the catalog here for reference) SOC closed in around 1915-19 and he continued for a short time as Oskar Onken company.
although not as well known as the stickley's limberts or roycrofters, SOC made high quality well designed stuff with more of a european influence. more stuff seems to surfacing as they become known, although most is still relatively rare. price/value depends, as usual, on particular design, condition and collectors wanting that particular piece. i have seen some pieces bring high dollar and some really great pieces not get a bid. it would help if you could post a pic.
Thanks Don! I have been trying to find out more information for years! I fell in love with this piece, it was so funky and unusual. Ok lets see if I can do the picture thing...I just took these quick, the lighting isn't the best....but it's a general idea. Here is a full view of the cabinet:
The top:
The sides have this design:
and the top opens, but this section also comes out as a drawer. As you can see I have jewelry in it, the inside has some shelves, but they all have jewelry boxes on them so I didn't take a picture. I can if you need to. But here is the inside of the top. This section has a tag that says Oscar Onken Company with some information and also a tag that says what colors this cabinet comes in (also green and cream I think)
...Ok just looked this up; Shop of the Crafters closed in 1920 but the Oscar Onken Co. remained in business to 1931. This has to be a 20s piece as a result, but that paint...
Um, the color is much nicer in person, it's really a fabulous color. It looks very washed out with the flash hitting it. I love the color and design, thats why I got it.
I guess it's not what 'we' would commonly associate with Shop of the Crafters/Oscar Onken. If you do a Google images search for either of these names you'll see what I mean. If this is original 20s or early 30s paint, it is a huge departure from SOC/OO. If it's not, well then maybe there is some nice wood under there somewhere (and maybe some inlay as well). Honestly it looks like a 50s/60s/70s, or something, overpaint job to me, unless someone has definate proof it's original.
I've done a google search for his stuff. I don't think this has been repainted, here are pictures of the tags inside the drawer. By the way, these pictures show the color better, it really is a lovely color. The other stuff I have seen by him online is fairly ugly IMO.
I was going to follow up this morning and say "Can you take a picture of the shop mark?" Given that the mark is over the paint I guess this proves it's all original.
This piece is a departure, no doubt. I guess you would call this a mix of 20s flapper style and 30s art deco. Unfortunately for Oscar this was also probably one of the last things his company made. I have a different opinion about his other stuff being ugly though; I prefer it over this - it didn't always work in the style department, a little over the top at times, but there are some real gems in the SOC line from earlier times (and I bet Don S. will comment on this as well). Thanks for sharing...you see something new everyday.
My Wife and I have a SOTC piace, it is a drop front desk and the label is in excellent condition. I just realized what I had the other day just goofing around on line. How can I get this thing appriased?
Originally posted by Billy: My Wife and I have a SOTC piace, it is a drop front desk and the label is in excellent condition. I just realized what I had the other day just goofing around on line. How can I get this thing appriased?
Post a picture here, if you can, because we always like seeing this sort of thing and we can look up various auction prices to give you an idea. If we can't find a price, which might be the case because there isn't that much of it out there really, then you can try emailing the appraiser for Craftsman Auctions, Jerry Cohen http://www.craftsman-auctions.com/main.php?html=appraisals.php ...and he might be able to help, but his service is really geared towards you potentially consigning it for sale
