I was at an estate sale last Saturday and saw this chair; the asking price was $125.





It has an arts and crafts look to it, but no label that I could find. I came back later and it was sold, but I wondered if anyone recognizes the style?

Thanks!

Possibly a great find. It looks similar to the styles which were the predecessors to American Arts and Crafts furniture. Do you know if it's English?

I think I recall a similar looking piece going for a lot more on ebay or on Rago.

It certainly could have been English, I simply don't know. And the folks running the estate sale had no idea. I liked it because it was a beautifully made, rock-solid kind of chair, and was hoping to find out more about it, so that next time I see one (hah!), I'll grab it!

I thought your chair looked familiar, an antique shop was selling a set on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/MISSION-CHAIRS-MICHIGAN-CHAIR-McHUG...sidZp1742.m153.l1262

Here's the text on it:

Set of (4) rare and early Arts & Crafts style chairs made by "Michigan Chair Co." Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chairs are crafted of solid quartersawn oak with mortise and tenon construction. Arm chair is signed with 1905 label. Chairs retain original finish and red leather seats. Normal wear with minor dings to some edge areas. Seats have some spots but are still pliable with original webbing in place providing very good support. This style chair was a catalog item as early as 1898 although Joseph McHugh of New York is more often associated with this style chair.

Maybe you have the real McHugh?

Sigh... Excuse me while I go kick myself. I knew at the time I should have grabbed that chair, and by the time I came back, it had been sold.

Oh well, live and learn. Thanks so much for the information.

Or perhaps I should say, "'Scuse me while I kick this guy."

In Seattle, Jimi Hendrix is spinning in his grave...

Definitely Michigan Chair Company. I'm restoring the exact chair now. If anyone comes across one without arms, let me know. I have seven and want one more. Thanks.

Good Morning Friends,
I would like to welcome you both to the Arts and Crafts Society forums and we hope that this will not be your last trip as there is so much on these forums for a person to enjoy that you can be here for days and not see all that is offered. Feel free to jump right in if you have a comment or a topic.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones